The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a measure of outdoor air quality and allows the non-scientist to monitor air quality easily. An air monitoring station must monitor four out of five parameters to produce an air quality index. Carbon monoxide, fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and sulphur dioxide are the five major air emission parameters monitored to formulate an AQI reading. Five WBEA ambient air monitoring stations have the technology to measure and monitor these air emissions. It should be noted that factors such as weather changes and forest fires can increase an AQI reading.

How is the Air Quality Index Calculated?

The AQI is calculated every hour for each air quality parameter using the formulas indicated below. The highest number calculated for a specific hour is used as the AQI for that hour. For more information on the AQI and comparative, historical AQI values throughout Alberta visit the Clean Air Strategic Alliance website.

WBEA Air Monitoring Stations that calculate an AQI

The following statations calculate an AQI:

• Air Monitoring Station 1 - Fort McKay
• Air Monitoring Station 6 - Patricia McInnes (Timberlea, Fort McMurray)
• Air Monitoring Station 7 - Athabasca Valley (Downtown, Fort McMurray)
• Air Monitoring Station 8 - Fort Chipewyan
• Air Monitoring Station 13 - Syncrude UE-1

The air quality index data are also sent to Alberta Environment, displayed on their telus geomatics website and made available the Alberta Environment AQI Hotline (1-877-247-7333), allowing the user to compare the air quality in one region (or city) to another. The Alberta Environment table below defines the Air Quality Index values for Alberta.

AQI Rating	Frequency in Alberta	Description
Good 0 - 25	Almost all the time (>90%)	Desirable range: no known harmful effects to soil, water, vegetation, animals, materials, visiblilty or human health. The long-term goal is for air quality to be in this range all of the time in Canada.
Fair 26 - 50	Occasional - typical when weather conditions inhibit pollutant dispersion (<10%)	Acceptable range: adequate protection against harmful effects to soil, water, vegetation, animals, materials, visibility and human health.
Poor 51 - 100	Seldom (<1%)	Tolerable range: not all aspects of human health or the environment are adequately protected from possible adverse effects. Long-term control action may be necessary, depending on the frequency, duration and circumstances of the readings.
Very Poor > 100	Rare	Intolerable range: in this range, continued high readings could pose a risk to the public heath.