Wildfire SmokeAir pollution is a serious public health issue that affects millions of people around the world. In Canada, the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a tool that is helping to raise awareness about the risks associated with air pollution and to provide the public with accurate and timely information about air quality, especially during wildfire season. The primary contaminant of concern that is easily measured is PM2.5. What is PM2.5 Relative Particle Size - source EPA PM stands for particulate matter (also called particle pollution): the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope. Particle pollution includes:
What's the Air Quality In My NeighborhoodClick the link below to see the AQI levels in Western Canada. The map is interactive and can be used to look up the AQI around the world. Interpreting PM2.5 ReadingsAQHI Tables AQHI Risk Rankings - Source Environment Canada The Air Quality Index (AQI) and the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) are both metrics used to communicate air quality levels to the public, but they serve different purposes and utilize different methodologies and scales. The AQI is a numerical scale used worldwide to provide a daily snapshot of air quality levels, focusing on the concentration of individual pollutants like ground-level ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Each of these pollutants has its own sub-index, and the highest sub-index value on a given day determines the overall AQI. The AQI scale ranges from 0 to 500, with higher values indicating worse air quality and greater potential health risks. Specific ranges are associated with different health advisories, from "Good" (0-50) to "Hazardous" (301-500), helping to inform the public about the potential health risks associated with current pollution levels and guide regulatory actions. The AirNow website provides calculator to convert PM2.5 to AQI value On the other hand, the AQHI, primarily used in Canada, provides a more health-focused perspective on air quality. Instead of concentrating on individual pollutants, the AQHI combines the health risks from multiple pollutants (ozone, particulate matter, and nitrogen dioxide) into a single, unified index. This index is calculated using a formula that considers the cumulative health risks from these pollutants, providing a more holistic view of air quality's impact on human health. The AQHI is expressed on a scale from 1 to 10+, with higher values indicating greater health risks, especially for vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions. Specific ranges on the AQHI scale include "Low" (1-3), "Moderate" (4-6), "High" (7-10), and "Very High" (10+), offering clear guidance on how to protect health during periods of poor air quality. By emphasizing the overall health impact rather than individual pollutant levels, the AQHI aims to give the public clearer guidance on managing health risks during varying air quality conditions. AQI Tables AQI Risk Rankings - Source Airnow.gov How to Use AQI and AQHI to Protect Workers During Wildfire SeasonIn Canada the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations do not specifically address how to protect worker with respect to wildfire smoke. However other parts of the regulations do apply such as:
Cal/OSHA references AQI for PM2.5 of greater than 151 as criteria to provide workers with a NIOSH approved respirator such as an N-95 for voluntary use and in respirators. When the AQI for PM2.5 is higher than 500 workers are required to wear a NIOSH-approved particulate respirators that will reduce employee exposure to PM2.5 to an equivalent of an AQI less than 151. WHS Occupational Hygienist can assist employers in conducting a risk assessment and implementing an exposure control plan to minimize worker exposure to wildfire smoke. Also check out the services WHS can provide following a wildfire in your area or fire in your home or business. Wildfire Smoke Resources:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |