Outdoor Air Quality

The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) helps people understand how the quality of the air can affect their health. It was developed jointly by Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada and is in use across Canada. 

The AQHI provides real-time measurement of air-pollution levels and recommendations on how people can limit their exposure and adjust their activity level during times of high air pollution.

Sign up for air quality alerts by visiting airqualityontario.com and check out the national AQHI website to learn more about this important tool. You can also get AQHI readings by calling 1-800-387-7768 (toll-free) or 416-246-0411 in Toronto. To obtain AQHI readings in French, dial 1-800-221-8852. 

Download the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) WeatherCAN app on your phone and check the AQHI before your next outdoor activity. WeatherCAN is available for Android and Apple Devices.

Learn more about the Air Quality Health Index and the WeatherCAN app

• Understanding the Air Quality Health Index – Health Canada
• Canada’s weather app - WeatherCAN

What do the Numbers Mean?

Health Risk	Air Quality Health Index	Health Messages for At Risk Population	Health Messages for General Population
Low Risk	1-3	Enjoy your usual outdoor activities.	Ideal air quality for outdoor activities.
Moderate Risk	4-6	Consider reducing or re-scheduling outdoor activities, 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 re-schedule strenuous activities outdoors. Children and the elderly should also take it easy.	Consider reducing or re-scheduling strenuous activities outdoors if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.
Very High Risk	10+	Avoid outdoor activities. Children and the elderly should also avoid outdoor physical exertion.	Reduce or re-schedule strenuous activities outdoors, especially if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.

 What you need to know

• Wildfire smoke is a significant health concern and can be harmful to everyone’s health, even at low levels, especially to individuals at higher risk
• Air quality can change over short distances and can vary from hour to hour. During concerns of wildfire smoke, check your Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) or sign up for air quality alerts on the Air Quality Ontario website
• Wildfire exposure symptoms can range from milder symptoms like headaches, eye and throat irritation, cough, runny nose to more serious symptoms like difficulty breathing, wheezing, heart palpitations, dizziness or chest pain
• People at higher risk to health effects caused by wildfire smoke include: children, seniors, pregnant women, people who smoke, people who work outdoors, indigenous peoples, people involved in strenuous outdoor exercise, people living in situations of lower socio-economic status, and those who have underlying medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease, diabetes or cancer
• If you have any serious symptoms, talk to a healthcare professional or seek urgent medical attention
• For any health-related concerns, including mental health concerns, call Ontario Health at 811 or 1-866-797-0007
• Residents are encouraged to check in on people in your care and those around you who may be more at risk of negative effects from outdoor air pollution

To protect your health from outdoor air pollution, including wildfire smoke, consider:

• Limiting or rescheduling strenuous outdoor activities if experiencing symptoms such as coughing, eye and throat irritation
• Staying indoors and preventing poor air quality from entering your home by keeping doors, windows and fire dampers shut if possible
• Using exhaust fans only when needed
• Replacing your furnace/central air filters every 3 months, if feasible. Using high quality air filters appropriate for your ventilation system (if you have an HVAC system in your home) and setting the fan to recirculate the air. Visit our Indoor Air Quality page for more information
• Purchasing a portable air purifier with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter suitable for the size of the room; refer to Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Using a portable air cleaner to improve indoor air
• Reducing sources of indoor air pollutants and protecting your indoor air
• Keeping your car windows closed and recirculating the car air when driving through areas with poor air quality
• Doing your part to reduce air pollution by using transit or carpooling and reducing your energy use

In the warmer weather, if you don’t have air conditioning, consider taking a break from by temporarily relocating or finding a place in your community with clean, cool air such as a library, shopping mall or community centre. Visit york.ca/ExtremeHeat for more information on ways to stay safe in the heat.

Additional Precautions for High Risk Individuals

High risk individuals who must spend time outdoors may want to consider wearing a well-fitted respirator type mask such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator that does not allow air to pass through small openings between the mask and your face. These respirator type masks may help reduce your exposure to fine particles, but do not reduce exposure to the gases in wildfire smoke. They should not be used by children under two years of age, individuals who have trouble breathing while wearing respirators or individuals who have difficulty removing the respirator. Be sure to practice proper hand hygiene when putting on and removing a mask, either by washing hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub.

The design of our communities can impact the amount of outdoor air pollution in the air we breathe. In communities where homes are located far from schools, jobs and shopping, people must drive more often and for longer distances to get to where they need to go. This contributes to more vehicle emissions in the air, which results in more outdoor air pollution. Vehicle emissions from driving; from idling on city streets, in parking lots and while waiting at a drive-thru; and from the number and location of industries and high traffic corridors in an area can also affect the level of air pollution in a community.

When we design and plan our communities, we need to carefully consider the location of homes, schools, child care centres, retirement homes and long-term care facilities in relation to high traffic corridors and other areas where there may be higher levels of air pollution.

We also need to be aware of how our day-to-day actions can help reduce air pollution. For example, choosing to walk, cycle or take public transit instead of driving reduces air pollution. If you have to drive, avoid idling your engine to reduce emissions and save you on fuel costs. For more ideas on how you can make a difference and improve air quality see the resources below.

York Region works to improve air quality and reduce exposure to air pollution by:

• Promoting outdoor air quality awareness
• Working with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and other agencies to respond to outdoor air quality complaints
• Working with transportation, community planning and forestry partners to develop healthy public policy relating to the built and natural environment
• Implementing the actions outlined in the Regional Climate Change Action Plan