Outdoor Air Quality

The air you breathe can affect your health. But this is especially important for children, seniors, or anyone living with asthma, heart disease, or other breathing problems. This page will help you stay safe on days when the air isn’t clean, check local air quality, and understand what might be in the air.

How to protect yourself on poor air quality days

Here’s what you can do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe when the air isn’t great:

• Stay indoors: Try to avoid outdoor activities, especially exercise or chores. If the air feels smoky or smells bad, it’s best to stay inside.

• Keep your indoor air clean:

• Close windows and doors to keep polluted air out

• Use an air purifier if you have one

• Pay attention to symptoms: Watch for things like coughing, trouble breathing, or irritated eyes.

• Stick to your care plan: If you have asthma, COPD, or a heart condition, follow the plan your doctor gave you.

How to check air quality in Oxford and Elgin Counties

Checking the air quality where you live can help you plan your day. Use these resources:

• Oxford County: Check the London or Kitchener AQHI forecast

• Elgin County: Use the Port Stanley AQHI forecast

• Ontario-wide updates: Visit the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change website for real-time AQHI readings

How air pollution affects your health

Air pollution can cause problems right away or over time. Here’s what you might notice:

• Short-term effects:

• You might feel like you have a cold, with itchy eyes, a sore throat, or coughing

• It might be harder to breathe, or you could feel tightness in your chest

• If you already have asthma or heart problems, you might feel worse than usual

• Long-term effects:

• Breathing polluted air for a long time can lead to serious illnesses like heart disease or lung damage

If you notice these symptoms, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor or nurse.

What are air pollutants?

Air pollutants are things in the air that can make it harder to breathe. They come from traffic, factories, wildfires, and even some natural sources.

Common pollutants and what they do:

• Carbon Monoxide (CO):

• Where it comes from: Cars and burning fuels like gasoline

• How it affects you: It can make you feel dizzy or give you a headache

• Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂):

• Where it comes from: Factories and burning coal or oil

• How it affects you: It can irritate your throat and make asthma worse

• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂):

• Where it comes from: Car exhaust and factory smoke

• How it affects you: It can irritate your lungs and make it easier to get sick

• Particulate Matter (PM):

• Where it comes from: Dust, smoke, and pollution

• How it affects you: Tiny particles can get into your lungs and make breathing harder

• Ozone (O₃):

• Where it comes from: Made on sunny days when pollution reacts with heat

• How it affects you: It can make your chest feel tight and cause coughing or trouble breathing
  

What should I do next?

Here’s a checklist to help you stay safe:

1. Check the AQHI forecast every day:

• Use the Oxford County or Elgin County forecasts

2. Plan indoor activities:

• Skip outdoor chores or exercise on poor air quality days

3. Keep your home safe:

• Close windows and avoid burning candles or wood

4. Watch for symptoms:

• Be alert for coughing, shortness of breath, or sore throat

5. Call your doctor if needed:

• If you have a lung or heart condition, ask your doctor how to stay safe on bad air quality days

For more resources, visit the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change website.