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British Columbia Air Quality Health
Index
A pilot study for a new Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)
that provides forecasts on air quality similar to the
UV Index has been launched in eight communities throughout
British Columbia.
The AQHI pilot is a partnership with Environment Canada,
Health Canada and participating municipal governments.
British Columbia is the first province in Canada to
pilot the index. Public testing began in the fall of
2005 in four communities in the Thompson-Okanagan region.
This pilot study is a successful expansion of last year’s
test and is accessible at www.airplaytoday.org.
The AQHI will provide British Columbians
information about:
- The level of risk with a number and colour scale of zero to 10 or higher;
- The level of health risk as 'low', 'moderate', 'high' or 'very high'.
- Actions they can take to minimize their health risks;
- A forecast of the health risk from air quality; and
- Information on how we can reduce air pollution.
Healthy, fit and active Canadians can also use the
index to decide when and how much to exercise or work
outdoors. The higher the reading, the greater the risk
and need to take precautions.
The AQHI pilot study encompasses
the Greater Vancouver Regional District and eight communities
across the province including:
- Kamloops
- Vernon
- Osoyoos
- Nanaimo
- Victoria
- Quesnel
- Prince George
- Kelowna
Health Canada scientists estimated that in 8 Canadian
cities, a total of 5,900 deaths, or 8 per cent of all
deaths in these cities, could be linked to air pollution
every year. Research also shows that poor air quality
sends thousands more Canadians to hospital each year.
The World Health Organization recently estimated that
800,000 deaths per year worldwide – or 1.4 per
cent of all deaths – could be attributed to urban
outdoor-air pollution.
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