Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

Southwestern Public Health Logo

Contact Us
A - Z TopicsNewsroomLocations and HoursContact Us1-800-922-0096
  • Classes, Clinics and Services
    • Dental Clinics
    • Food Handler Certification
    • Immunization Clinics
    • Influenza (Flu) Clinics
    • Needle Exchange Program
    • Pregnancy and Baby Supports
    • Sexual Health Clinics
    • TB Skin Testing
    • Tick Identification
    • Well Water Testing
    • Quit Smoking
  • My Health
    • Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
    • Body Art and Personal Care
    • Child and Family Health
    • Dental Health
    • Immunization and Vaccines
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Food and Eating
    • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
    • Mental Health
    • Physical Activity
    • Sexual Health
    • Vector-Borne Diseases
  • Community Health
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Enforcement of Smoke-Free Spaces
    • Environmental Health
    • Food Safety
    • Health Inspect
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Road Safety
    • Safe Needle Disposal
    • School Health
    • Walking, Biking, Hiking
  • Partners & Professionals
    • Child Care Centres
    • Congregate Living Settings
    • Educators
    • Food Service Operators
    • Health Care Providers
    • Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
    • Outbreak Status Reports
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Recreational Facilities
    • Southwest IPAC Hub
  • Reports & Statistics
    • Community Health Status
    • Evaluations and Situational Assessments
    • Evidence Reviews
    • Health Inspect
    • General Reports
    • Position Statements
    • Surveillance Dashboards
  • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Board of Health
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Corporate Culture and Values
    • Events Calendar
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Locations and Hours
    • News and Media
    • Performance and Accountability
    Click to view About Us
    About Us

Air Quality

HomeCommunity HealthEnvironmental HealthAir Quality
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email
cloudy blue sky

The air around us is made up of nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%) and small amounts of other gases. Both natural and human activities release gases that cause an imbalance in the air. These releases are called air pollutants.

People exposed to high enough levels of certain air pollutants may experience:

  • Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
  • Wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and breathing difficulties
  • Worsening of existing lung and heart problems, such as asthma
  • Increased risk of heart attack 

In addition, long-term exposure to air pollution can cause cancer and damage to the immune, neurological, reproductive and respiratory systems. In extreme cases, it can even cause death. While air pollution can affect everyone’s health, infants, children, older adults and people with breathing or heart problems are more vulnerable to the effects. 

Types of Pollutants

Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas. It is a by-product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. In Ontario, the main sources of CO emissions come from road vehicles and other forms of transportation. When CO is inhaled, it enters the blood stream and reduces our bloods ability to carry oxygen to our tissues and organs. Exposure to high levels of CO has been associated with impaired vision, headache, dizziness, weakness, confusion and may also lead to death.
Sulphur Dioxide
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) is a colourless gas, but unlike carbon monoxide, has an odour of burnt matches. In Ontario, the main source of SO2 emissions comes from utility and smelting industries. When SO2 is inhaled. it can cause severe irritation of the nose and throat and can result in various respiratory symptoms and conditions including asthma. Exposure to high concentration of SO2 can cause death.
Nitrogen Dioxide
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) is a reddish-brown gas with a strong, irritating odour. NO2 is a major product of all combustion and plays a big role in the production of ground-level ozone. In Ontario, the main sources of NO2 emissions come from road vehicles and other forms of transportation. When NO2 is inhaled, it can irritate the lungs and may lower the resistance to respiratory infections.
Particulate Matter 

Particulate Matter (PM) is a mixture of solid and liquid particles in the air. It can come in a wide variety of sizes including PM10 and PM2.5.

  • Inhalable Particulate Matter or PM10 is 10 microns in diameter and less.
  • Respirable Particulate Matter or PM2.5 is 2.5 microns in diameter and less.

In Ontario, the major sources of PM include residential sectors, transportation sectors and industrial processes. Breathing in both PM10 and PM2.5 can cause a variety of health problems including respiratory illness. Since PM2.5 is smaller than PM10, it can travel deeper into our lungs and has the potential to cause more serious health effects. Exposure to PM2.5 has been associated with hospital admissions and premature death.

Ozone 
Ozone (O3) is a colourless and odourless gas that is created when emissions, containing nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, react in the presence of sunlight. Ozone tends to be a problem around cities during hot summer days. When ozone is inhaled, it can irritate the respiratory tract and eyes. Exposure to high levels of ozone has been associated with various respiratory problems including chest tightness, coughing and wheezing. It has also been associated with an increase in hospital admissions and premature death.

What is the Air Quality Health Index?

The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a scale designed to help you understand what the air quality around you means to your health. This can help you make decisions to protect your health by limiting short-term exposure to air pollution.

The index ranks air quality from 1 to 10+. The lower the number, the lower the risk.

air quality health index

When the AQHI reading rises, people can:

  • Reduce or reschedule outdoor physical activities
  • Monitor possible symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, coughing or irritated eyes
  • Follow their doctor’s advice to manage existing conditions such as asthma
  • Do their part by taking public transit

Where can I find the current AQHI values?

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change provides the current and forecasted AQHI values. The AQHI does not list forecasts for Oxford County - please refer to the London or Kitchener forecast for the most accurate forecast for our area. For Elgin, please refer to the Port Stanley forecast.

What is public health's role in air quality?

We work with community partners, the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and Public Health Ontario to identify and study air quality issues. We also provide air quality education to the public, respond to complaints and advocate for healthy public policy.

Subscribe to page updates
Community Health
  • Environmental Health
    Toggle Section Environmental Health Menu
    • Air Quality
      Toggle Section Air Quality Menu
      • Open-air Burning
      • Beachville Area Air Quality
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
      Toggle Section Animal Bites and Rabies Menu
      • Rabies
    • Drinking Water
      Toggle Section Drinking Water Menu
      • Boil Water Advisory FAQ
      • Municipal Water
      • Small Drinking Water Systems (SDWS)
      • Well Water Testing
    • Health Hazards
      Toggle Section Health Hazards Menu
      • Bed Bugs
      • Climate Change
      • Housing
      • Invasive Species
      • Mould
      • Rodents
      • Radon
    • Opening a Business
    • Recreational Camps
    • Recreational Water
      Toggle Section Recreational Water Menu
      • Beaches
      • Pools, Spas and Splashpads
    • Seasonal Housing Inspections
    • Vector-Borne Diseases
      Toggle Section Vector-Borne Diseases Menu
      • Ticks and Lyme Disease
      • West Nile Virus
    • Weather Alerts
      Toggle Section Weather Alerts Menu
      • Extreme Cold
      • Extreme Heat
  • View Full Community Health Menu
    Toggle Section
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Enforcement of Smoke-Free Spaces
      Toggle Section Enforcement of Smoke-Free Spaces Menu
      • Smoke-Free Housing
      • Smoke-Free Workplaces
      • Submit a Complaint
    • Food Safety
      Toggle Section Food Safety Menu
      • Foodborne Illness
      • Food Handler Certification
      • Food Premises Inspections
      • Food Safety at Home, School and Work
      • Special Events and Farmers' Market Forms
      • Opening a Food Premises
    • Health Inspect
      Toggle Section Health Inspect Menu
      • Beaches
      • Child Care Settings
      • Drinking Water Advisories
      • Enforcement Activities
      • Food Premises Inspections
      • Hair, Beauty, Tattoo and Piercing Inspections
      • Infection, Prevention and Control Lapses
      • Pools, Hot Tubs and Splash Pads
      • Recreational Camps
      • Small Drinking Water Systems
      • Tanning Salons
      • Tobacco and eCigarette Retailers
    • Health Equity and Fairness
      Toggle Section Health Equity and Fairness Menu
      • Healthy Public Policy
      • Social Determinants of Health
      • The Cost of Eating Well
    • Personal Service Settings
      Toggle Section Personal Service Settings Menu
      • Opening a Personal Service Setting
      • Personal Service Setting Inspections
      • Health Inspect
    • Road Safety
    • Safe Needle Disposal
    • School Health
      Toggle Section School Health Menu
      • Agricultural Safety for Children
      • COVID-19 Resources for Schools and Child Care Centres
      • Educators and Teachers
      • Food in Schools
      • Getting Ready for Kindergarten
      • Healthy Relationships
      • Immunizations in Schools
        Toggle Section Immunizations in Schools Menu
        • Grade 7 Immunization Program
      • Meet the Healthy Schools Team
      • Mental Health in Schools
      • Oral Health in Schools
      • Parents and Guardians
      • Physical Activity in Schools
        Toggle Section Physical Activity in Schools Menu
        • Physical Activity Guidelines
        • Walking, Biking, Hiking
      • School-Based Vision Screening
    • Walking, Biking, Hiking

Contact Us

Work with Us

Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) values our people! We pride ourselves on our positive and flexible work environment.

Learn More

Southwestern Public Health footer logo

Southwestern Public Health strives to ensure the comfort and safety of staff and visitors by encouraging a scent free environment.

  • Classes, Clinics and Services
  • My Health
  • Community Health
  • Partners & Professionals
  • Reports & Statistics
  • About Us

Links:

  • Privacy and Records Access
  • Accessibility
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer and Terms of Use
  • Location and Hours
  • Sitemap
  • Website Feedback
Scroll to top of page

© 2020 Southwestern Public Health

Designed by eSolutionsGroup
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.