How the Air Quality Index can help keep you safe from wildfire smoke entering New Jersey – Bergen Record

Report on the Air Quality Index (AQI) and its Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

Recent environmental events, such as widespread wildfires in Canada, have resulted in significant air quality degradation across the northern United States. This situation underscores the critical importance of monitoring air quality as a key component of public health and sustainable living, directly aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Understanding the Air Quality Index (AQI)

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a standardized system used to measure and report daily air quality. It provides a clear indication of how clean or polluted the air is and what associated health effects might be a concern. The AQI is fundamental to achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by empowering the public and policymakers with actionable environmental health data.

How the AQI is Calculated

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with state-level agencies, calculates the AQI. The calculation is based on measurements of five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also known as particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. The resulting AQI value, which ranges from 0 to 500, represents the highest level of pollution recorded among these pollutants for a given day. A higher AQI value signifies a greater level of air pollution and a greater health concern.

AQI Levels and Public Health Implications (SDG 3)

The AQI scale is divided into six categories, each corresponding to a different level of health concern. This framework is essential for protecting public health and advancing SDG 3 by providing clear warnings and guidance.

• 0-50 (Good): Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk to public health.
• 51-100 (Moderate): Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants, there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
• 101-150 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups): Members of sensitive groups, including individuals with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children, may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.
• 151-200 (Unhealthy): Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
• 201-300 (Very Unhealthy): This triggers a health alert, signifying that everyone may experience more serious health effects.
• 301-500 (Hazardous): This level triggers health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more than likely to be affected.

Communicating Air Quality for Sustainable Communities (SDG 11)

To ensure information is accessible and easily understood, promoting the goals of SDG 11, each AQI category is assigned a specific color. This color-coded system allows the public to quickly determine whether air quality is reaching unhealthy levels in their communities.

• Good: Green
• Moderate: Yellow
• Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: Orange
• Unhealthy: Red
• Very Unhealthy: Purple
• Hazardous: Maroon

Guidance on Public Response and Protective Measures

As the AQI value increases, specific protective measures are recommended to mitigate health risks, contributing to community resilience and well-being.

• Good (0-50): No restrictions on outdoor activities are necessary.
• Moderate (51-100): Unusually sensitive individuals should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. It is advisable to close windows.
• Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150): Sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. Indoor spaces should be kept clean with air purifiers, and windows should remain closed.
• Unhealthy (151-200): Everyone should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. Consider wearing a mask if outdoor activity is necessary. Do not ventilate indoor spaces from the outside.
• Very Unhealthy (201-300): Everyone should avoid all physical activity outdoors. Remain indoors in a filtered environment.
• Hazardous (301-500): Everyone should remain indoors and keep activity levels low. Windows must be kept shut, and air purifiers should be used.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article’s primary focus is on the health implications of poor air quality. It explicitly mentions that “unhealthy” air can cause “respiratory effects” and “serious health effects,” directly linking air pollution to human health and well-being.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article discusses air pollution affecting a populated region, New Jersey, as a consequence of an event elsewhere. This relates to the environmental quality and safety of human settlements.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The wildfires causing the smoke are described as a hazard impacting a large region. While not explicitly stated, large-scale wildfires are climate-related hazards. The article’s discussion of public health advisories and monitoring systems relates to building adaptive capacity to such hazards.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The root cause of the air pollution discussed in the article is wildfires. Wildfires are a direct threat to terrestrial ecosystems, forests, and biodiversity, which this goal aims to protect.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. The article is centered on the health risks posed by air pollution from wildfire smoke, directly aligning with this target’s aim to reduce illness from air contamination.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality. The article’s entire subject is the measurement and impact of air quality (specifically, the Air Quality Index or AQI) on a populated area.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The detailed explanation of the AQI levels and the corresponding safety precautions (e.g., “remain indoors,” “wear masks”) represents a system for adapting to and managing the health impacts of a climate-related hazard.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. The wildfires mentioned as the source of the smoke are a major cause of land degradation, which this target seeks to combat and reverse.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Air Quality Index (AQI): The article explicitly defines and details the AQI as “the measure of how healthy or unhealthy the air is.” It states that the EPA measures “pollution and gasses like ozone to come up with a number.” This numerical value (0-500) serves as a direct indicator for Target 11.6 (air quality in cities) and Target 3.9 (illness from air pollution). The article provides a clear scale for this indicator:
  • 0-50: Good
  • 51-100: Moderate
  • 101-150: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
  • 151-200: Unhealthy
  • 201-300: Very Unhealthy
  • 301-500: Hazardous
• Air Quality Alert System: The color-coded system described in the article (“Good: Green,” “Unhealthy: Red,” etc.) and the associated public health advice function as an implied indicator of adaptive capacity (Target 13.1). The existence and implementation of such a warning system demonstrate progress in strengthening resilience to environmental hazards.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: northjersey.com