implementing the air quality health index in alberta richard sharkey alberta environment
TRANSCRIPT
Implementing the Air Quality Health Index in Alberta
Richard SharkeyAlberta Environment
What is the AQHI?
• A tool designed to help you understand what the air quality around you means to your health
• It is intended to provide you with the information you need to protect your health by:– limiting short-term exposure to air pollution
during air quality events– adjusting your activity levels during air
pollution events
What is the AQHI?
• It is also intended to also provide advice on how you can improve the quality of the air you breathe– especially in urban areas
• It is reported on a scale of 1 to 10+, with higher numbers indicating a higher health risk (similar to the UV index)
• Being implemented across Canada
What is the AQHI?
• Provides current air quality conditions
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 +
Air Quality Health Index
Red Deer
Risk: Low Moderate High Very High(1 - 3) (4 - 6) (7 - 10) (Above 10)
CurrentObserved at1:00 PM MDT Tuesday 19April 2011
At-Risk Population• Enjoy your usual outdoor activities.• Find out if you are at risk.
General Population• Ideal air quality for outdoor activities.
2Low Risk
www.airhealth.ca
What is the AQHI?
• Provides an air quality forecast
www.airhealth.ca
Forecast MaximumsIssued at 4:00 AM MDT Tuesday 19 April 2011
5Moderate Risk
2Low Risk
2Low Risk
Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
Health Message Health Message Health Message
Who is at risk?
People with heart and lung conditionsare most affected by air pollution.
To find out if you are at risk, consultthe health guide, your physician, oryour local health authority.
Visit the national AQHI Web site tolearn more about the AQHI.
Did you know…?
To reduce air pollution, you should limitthe use of small gas-powered machinessuch as lawnmowers, leaf blowers,chainsaws and snow-blowers.
Standard AQHI Messaging
Health Risk Air Quality Health Index
Health Message
At-Risk Population*
General Population
Low Risk 1 – 3 Enjoy your usual outdoor activities.
Ideal air quality for outdoor activities.
Moderate Risk
4 – 6 Consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors if you are experiencing symptoms.
No need to modify your usual outdoor activities unless you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.
High Risk 7 – 10 Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors. Children and the elderly should also take it easy.
Consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.
Very High Risk
Above 10 Avoid strenuous activities outdoors. Children and the elderly should also avoid outdoor physical exertion.
Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors, especially if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.
Why is Alberta changing the air quality index?
• Driven by stakeholder interest– the need for consistency across the country
• Collaborating with federal government to make the AQHI more useful for Alberta– Add messaging for odour (H2S, SO2) and
visibility (PM2.5)– The AQHI value will change when there is an
exceedance of an Alberta air quality objective– The Alberta AQHI will better account for rapidly
changing air quality
How will we improve the national AQHI for Alberta?
• National AQHI based on 3-hour rolling average and includes PM2.5, O3 and NO2
• Alberta AQHI will also include SO2, H2S, TRS and CO
• “Trumping” in the case of exceedances of Alberta’s Ambient Air Quality Objectives (AAQOs)
• Odour and Visibility effect messaging
“Trumping” the AQHI
• If Alberta’s one-hour Ambient Air Quality Objectives are exceeded– 80 μg/m3 for PM2.5 – 172 ppb for SO2
– 82 ppb for O3 – 13 ppm for CO
– 159 ppb for NO2 – 1 ppm for H2S or TRS
• The AQHI value will be replaced with the a value of 7 or greater and air quality will be rated as High Risk
• Will respond quicker to rapidly changing air quality– forest fire smoke (high PM)– smog events (high ozone)
Messaging for Odour and Visibility
• This additional messaging will be added if the AQHI is Low or Moderate Risk and the and levels of pollutants exceed the following thresholds:– 25 μg/m3 for PM2.5 (visibility)
– 100 ppb for SO2 (odour)
– 10 ppb for H2S or TRS (odour)
• Messaging will be issued during visibility and major odour events
• While you may detect an odour or change in visibility or clarity, enjoy your outdoor activities unless you experience symptoms.
What does this mean for Calgary?
• 2010 results– Low Risk 78.27% of the time– Moderate Risk 21.10% of the time– High Risk 0.55% of the time– Very High Risk 0.08% of the time
• How often would an odour/visibility message be issued in 2010?– 660 hours (7.54%)
• How often would the AQHI be trumped?– 14 hours (0.16%)
Implementation in Alberta
• Alberta Environment will be reporting the AQHI at all current AQI stations– 23 locations
• The transition will take place in June 2011 on Alberta Environment's air quality website
• Environment Canada will begin forecasting the AQHI at 5 locations in June 2011– Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Fort McMurray and
Fort McKay
• Other areas of Alberta will have forecasting phased in beginning in Fall 2011
Fort McKaySyncrude UE1
Fort McMurray-(AV)
Anzac
Fort McMurray-(PM)
Fort SaskatchewanLamontEdmonton East
Edmonton CentralEdmonton South
GeneseeTomahawk
Elk Island
Fort Chipewyan
Cold Lake
BeaverlodgeGrande Prairie
HightowerRidge
Red DeerCaroline
Calgary NorthwestCalgary Central
Medicine Hat
Lethbridge
Calgary RegionAirshed Zone
PalliserAirshedSociety
Parkland AirshedManagement Zone
West CentralAirshed Society
Alberta CapitalAirshed Alliance
Fort AirPartnership
LakelandIndustry andCommunityAssociation
Wood BuffaloEnvironmental
Association
Peace AirshedZone Association
Legend AQHI Reporting Stations Other Ambient Stations Airsheds
Wood Buffalo Stations
Edmonton & Area Stations
* Stations include Alberta Environment, Environment Canada,and Airshed ambient stations, but not Industry stations.
Steeper
Bruderheim
St. Lina
AlbertaStations
Airshed Involvement
• First and foremost – Data Submission & Transfer– EC requires data by 30 minutes past the hour– Many AB stations currently do not make this
cut on a consistent basis– AENV will be making changes to speed data
transfer
• Educating airsheds on the AQHI
• Airsheds can, in turn, educate their stakeholders
Communications Strategy
• How do we get from this…– AQHI=1000/10.4*(EXP(0.000871*NO2)-1
+EXP(0.000537*O3)-1 +EXP(0.000487*PM2.5)-1))
• … to this– Is the air quality affecting your health?– How is the air affecting you today?– What is the air like in your community today?
Proposed Key Messages
• Air quality affects everyone
• Some people will experience a greater health impact
• There are actions you can take to protect your health
Summary
• National Air Quality Health Index will be implemented in Alberta beginning in June
• The Alberta version will contain improvements over the national AQHI
• Government will need stakeholder support for effective deliver
• Other provinces are watching Alberta’s progress
