# Presentation: 102193

## Using the AQI to Communicate About Particles

- <date/time>

**Using the AQI to Communicate About Particles**

- Susan Lyon Stone
- U.S. EPA
- stone.susan@epa.gov

## Health Advisories Make a Difference

- <date/time>

**Health Advisories Make a Difference**

- Roper 2002 “Green Gauge Poll”
- Survey of 2000 people across the US
- 52% have heard of “Code Orange” or “Code Red” air quality days
- Of those, 46% have reduced exposure to air pollution
- UCLA – Neidell et al.
- 4 to 7% reduction in pediatric hospital admissions for asthma attributable to advisories

## PM 2.5:The Time To Act Is Now!

- <date/time>

**PM ****2.5****:The Time To Act Is Now!**

- Health effects of fine particles are serious
- Monitoring network in place
- PM2.5 NAAQS are being implemented
- Successes and partnerships of AIRNOW project form excellent foundation for this effort

## AQI for Particles	

- <date/time>

**AQI for Particles**

- One set cautionary statements for PM2.5 and PM10
- Cautionary statement in Moderate category
- Broad range of air quality – from 15 to 40 μg/m3
- Emphasis on reporting at upper end of range
- Two exposure scenarios – prolonged or heavy exertion
- Guidelines for Daily Reporting of Air Quality to be revised this Spring

## Air Quality Index for PM2.5

- <date/time>

| Descriptors and
AQI Values | PM2.5 
(μg/m3)  | Cautionary
Statements    |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Good
0 – 50 | 0 – 15 | None |
| Moderate
51 – 100 | 16 – 40 | Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. |
| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
101 – 150 | 41 – 65 | People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. |
| Unhealthy
151 – 200 | 66 – 150 | People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. |
| Very Unhealthy
201 – 300 | 151 – 350 | People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid all physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. |

- Air Quality Index for PM2.5

## AQI

- <date/time>

**AQI**

- Identifies groups at risk
- Describes potential health risks
- Recommends steps to reduce exposure
- Requires supporting information
- Health
- Local air quality

## Groups At Risk	

- <date/time>

**Groups At Risk**

**People with heart or lung disease**
- Conditions make them vulnerable
- Greater particle deposition with COPD
**Older adults**
- Greater prevalence of heart and lung disease
**Children**
- More likely to be active
- May have greater particle deposition than adults
- Developing bodies make them vulnerable

## More Generally......

- <date/time>

**More Generally......**

- Continuum of risk – high early in life, low during young adulthood, then rises again as risk of heart or lung disease increases
- People at risk of heart disease may also be at risk from particles:
- Smokers
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol levels
- Overweight
- Family history of heart disease

## How to Reduce Risk

- <date/time>

**How to Reduce Risk**

**Dose = Concentration x Ventilation Rate x Time**
- Reduce concentration – schedule activities when pollution levels lower
- Reduce ventilation rate by taking it easier
- Reduce time spent in vigorous outdoor activities
- Pay attention to symptoms
- Follow asthma action plan
- Risk trade-offs

## Symptoms of Heart and Lung Disease

- <date/time>

**Symptoms of Heart and Lung Disease**

- Symptoms of heart disease
- Chest pain
- Palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Symptoms of lung disease
- Coughing
- Phlegm
- Wheezing or shortness of breath
- If you have heart or lung disease – pay attention to your symptoms

## Indoor Particle Levels

- <date/time>

**Indoor Particle Levels**

- When particle levels are high outdoors, they may also be high indoors
- Prevent particles from entering residence or vehicle
- Close windows
- Run air conditioning on recycle mode
- Reduce indoor sources of particles
- Don’t smoke inside
- Reduce use of gas or wood stoves
- Don’t vacuum
- Air cleaner with HEPA filter will reduce particle levels indoors

## Adapting the AQI

- <date/time>

**Adapting the AQI**

- Short-term peaks of PM2.5
- Use health message in moderate as platform
- Caution sensitive groups to pay attention to symptoms
- Seriousness of health effects in Moderate category
- Educate the public about health effects and symptoms
- Get the message out when air quality is in the upper end of Moderate category
- Use “emerging evidence” in supporting information

## Support for State and Local Agencies

- <date/time>

**Support for State and Local Agencies**

- Fact sheet - more detailed health effects information
- List of example studies, with short summaries, for different health endpoints
- EPA outreach presentation - NAAQS implementation
- Development of simple media messages
- Partnerships with health organizations

## NEW PRODUCTSAir Quality Guide for PM

- <date/time>

*NEW PRODUCTS***Air Quality Guide for PM**

## NEW PRODUCTSParticles and Your Health

- <date/time>

*NEW PRODUCTS***Particles and Your Health**

## NEW - Smoke Effects

- <date/time>

*NEW*** - Smoke Effects**

- Smoke web site (Spring 2003) _[http://www.epa.gov/airnow/smoke](http://www.epa.gov/airnow/smoke)_
- 		**Smoke and Your Health**