Understanding Air Quality

What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?
The AQI is a yardstick that measures how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. It provides simple, color-coded ratings that help us understand the quality of the air we're breathing.

AQI Meter

Here's a quick breakdown:

• Green (0 - 50): Good - Minimal impact.
• Yellow (51 - 100): Moderate - Sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
• Orange (101 - 150): Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups - Children, seniors, and individuals with respiratory or heart ailments should reduce outdoor activities.
• Red (151 - 200): Unhealthy - Everyone may begin to experience health effects and should limit outdoor activities.
• Purple (201 - 300): Very Unhealthy - Health warnings of emergency conditions. Everyone should avoid outdoor activities.
• Maroon (301 - 500): Hazardous - Serious health effects. Everyone should avoid all outdoor activities.

Why Should You Care?
Air quality can impact our health in several ways. Short-term effects include irritation in the eyes, nose, and throat, shortness of breath, and exacerbation of asthma and other respiratory conditions. Long-term exposure to poor air quality can lead to chronic respiratory diseases and other health problems. It's also crucial for physical activities - poor air quality can make exercising outdoors difficult and even harmful.

What Can You Do?
First and foremost, stay informed! You can check the AQI for the Hanover area by clicking here.

When air quality is poor, try to limit outdoor activities, especially strenuous ones like running or biking. Consider indoor alternatives like utilizing the college fitness centers or doing an at-home workout.

Also, don't forget about your indoor air quality. Small actions, like keeping your living space clean, avoiding indoor smoking, and even keeping indoor plants can contribute to better indoor air quality.