The Air Quality Index, or AQI, is a nationally uniform index for reporting and forecasting daily air quality. In the United States, State and local government agencies use EPA's AQI to provide these reports to the public. People can know when to reduce their exposure to ozone by paying attention to air quality reports and forecasts that notify the public when ozone levels are at unhealthy levels, thereby giving them the opportunity to plan activities accordingly. For example, high ozone concentrations can occur throughout the year in some southern and mountain locations (see What is Ozone? section of this course for more details).

In some locations, where there are high VOC levels combined with intense UV radiation, ozone levels can be high even during winter months. Ozone levels are typically highest in the warmer months (approximately April through October) and in the afternoon and early evening hours for most locations, but this can vary by location. People can reduce their exposure by reducing the time they spend outdoors or by reducing the level or duration of outdoor activity during the times of the day that ozone levels tend to be high. How can my patients reduce exposure to ambient ozone and the consequent health effects? The Clinical Scenarios and Frequent Questions sections contain more clinically relevant interpretations of these data and suggestions for when and how to advise patients to reduce their exposure or increase medication usage. Health care providers should recommend that patients reduce their ozone exposure on days when air quality is bad, especially people with asthma, who are more susceptible to the effects of exposure. One of the main functions of the Air Quality Index (AQI) advisories is to notify the public when ozone levels are, or are expected to be, unhealthy, thereby giving people the opportunity to reduce their exposure. For example, reduction in traffic congestion in Atlanta during the summer Olympic Games resulted in a prolonged reduction in ozone pollution and this reduction was associated with significantly lower rates of childhood asthma events. People with asthma or other respiratory diseases who know they are affected by ozone exposure will benefit the most from exposure reductions others may experience little or no benefit.Įvidence also indicates that, across the population, reducing exposure to ozone will reduce public health impacts. As with most triggers, some people are more severely affected than others.īecause ambient ozone exposure is a risk factor for triggering both acute and chronic health effects, it is desirable for people to reduce both short-term and cumulative exposure to ozone. For example, during and following days when ozone levels are high, people with asthma may experience worsening respiratory symptoms, need more medication, and be more likely to go to emergency rooms or be admitted to the hospital. These include chest discomfort, cough, and shortness of breath and increases in daily mortality and hospital admissions for respiratory disease in the general population as well as those with lung disease asthma attacks in people with asthma and the possible development of new cases of asthma and other respiratory disease in people exposed to ozone over many years. Information from clinical, epidemiological, and animal studies summarized above indicates that exposure to ambient ozone is a risk factor for triggering acute and chronic health effects. Should I recommend that my patients reduce their exposure to ozone? How can my patients get the daily AQI delivered to their email inbox?.How effective are air quality alerts in reducing adverse effects in the real world?.What can I advise my patients to do when air quality is forecast to be unhealthy?.How can my patients reduce exposure to ambient ozone and the consequent health effects?.

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