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Air Quality and Physical Limitations

© Floyd Tilton

The Air Quality Index (AQI) can help you determine the type of activities that you should engage in, depending on your medical condition and the health concerns that face you. In general, as was previously stated in a prior article, the higher the AQI, the more you should limit your activities if you have COPD or other lung conditions. Below is a list of AQI values and what types of activities should/shouldn't be engaged in if you have respiratory problems.

• 0-100 There are NO LIMITATIONS for those with respiratory problems because of air quality.
• 101 - 150 People with respiratory disease, the elderly and very young should LIMIT EXERTION when engaging in outdoor activities. This also holds true for individuals with heart disease.
• 151-200 Those with respiratory problems should AVOID OUTDOOR EXERTION. Others should limit it.
• 201 - 300 People with respiratory problems should AVOID ANY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. Others, especially the elderly and young children should avoid outdoor exertion.
• 300 - 500 People with respiratory disease should REMAIN INDOORS and not venture outside at all. Children and the elderly should also avoid any outdoor activities.

In areas with populations of more than 350,000, state and local agencies are required to report the AQI to the public on a daily basis. When the AQI is above 100, they must also report which groups may be sensitive to the specific pollutant which is causing the increased values of the AQI. If two or more pollutants have AQI values above 100 on a given day, agencies will report all the groups that are sensitive to those pollutants. Many smaller communities also report the AQI as a public health service, even though they are not required to do so by law.

Many areas also report an AQI forecast that allows local residents to plan their activities to protect their health.

The AQI is a national index, so the values will be the same everywhere you go in the U.S. Look for the AQI to be reported in your local newspaper, on television and radio, on the Internet, and on state and local telephone hotlines.

By finding out what the AQI is in your area, you can help yourself to have better lung functioning and avoid the health risks posed by several different environmental pollutants.

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