Monitoring Air Quality
Some harmful impacts of human activities can be offset with informed and responsible management by our public officials and by changes individuals make in their own lifestyle and habits.
Air Quality Index (Click to start interactive)
Connections to Common Core State Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects: RST.6-8.7. Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).
In this interactive activity, you’ll learn how the Environmental Protection Agency collects and reports data related to pollutants in the air. The activity explains the values used to indicate air quality and describes the pollutants being actively monitored. It also details each pollutant's primary sources and health effects, including which members of the public may be at greatest risk from exposure. As you view the interactive, think about how the presentation of information in chart form makes it easier to understand. Click on the left to begin the interactive.
Use the Internet to determine the current AQI for your location. Then consult the chart in the interactive to see how the current air quality might impact your community’s health.
