Protocol - Air Quality Index
- Neighborhood Concentrated Disadvantage
- Race/Ethnic Residential Segregation - American Community Survey
- Race/Ethnic Residential Segregation - Separation (S) Index, Unbiased
- Race/Ethnic Residential Segregation - U.S. Census
Description
This protocol is based on extracting air quality data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) AirData Air Quality Index Summary Report. This report displays an annual summary of Air Quality Index (AQI) values for states, counties or cities (defined by core-based statistical areas [CBSAs]). The AQI is determined using measured concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Standard EPA formulas convert the measured pollutant concentrations to an AQI value between 0 and 500. AQI values are associated with risk categories (e.g., good, moderate, unhealthy). The pollutant with the highest AQI is reported as the overall AQI value for the day. Each row of the AQI Summary Report lists several qualitative measures (e.g., days with "good" air quality) and descriptive statistics (e.g., median AQI value) for 1 year for one county or CBSA.
Specific Instructions
None
Availability
Protocol
US Environmental Protection Agency Air Quality Index Report
The US Environmental Protection Agency Air Quality Index Report (https://www.epa.gov/outdoor-air-quality-data/about-air-data-reports#aqi) includes the annual summary of AQI values for counties or core based statistical areas (CBSA). The report includes the following columns.
# Days with AQI
Number of days in the year having an Air Quality Index value. This is the number of days on which measurements from any monitoring site in the county or MSA were reported to the Air Quality System (AQS) database.
# Days Good
Number of days in the year having an AQI value 0 through 50.
# Days Moderate
Number of days in the year having an AQI value 51 through 100.
# Days Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Number of days in the year having an AQI value 101 through 150.
# Days Unhealthy
Number of days in the year having an AQI value 151 through 200.
# Days Very Unhealthy
Number of days in the year having an AQI value 201 or higher. This includes the AQI categories very unhealthy and hazardous. Very few locations (about 0.3% of counties) have any days in the very unhealthy or hazardous categories.
AQI Max
The highest daily AQI value in the year.
AQI 90th %ile
90 percent of daily AQI values during the year were less than or equal to the 90th percentile value.
AQI Median
Half of daily AQI values during the year were less than or equal to the median value, and half equaled or exceeded it.
# Days CO
# Days NO2
# Days O3
# Days SO2
# Days PM2.5
# Days PM10
A daily index value is calculated for each air pollutant measured. The highest of those index values is the AQI value, and the pollutant responsible for the highest index value is the "Main Pollutant." These columns give the number of days each pollutant measured was the main pollutant. A blank column indicates a pollutant not measured in the county or CBSA.
US EPA Air Quality Index Ranges and Associated Categories
Range | Category |
0-50 | Good |
51-100 | Moderate |
101-150 | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups |
151-200 | Unhealthy |
201-300 | Very Unhealthy |
301-500 | Hazardous |
Personnel and Training Required
None
Equipment Needs
None
Requirements
| Requirement Category | Required |
|---|---|
| Major equipment | No |
| Specialized training | No |
| Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection | No |
| Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual | No |
Mode of Administration
Secondary Data Analysis
Lifestage
Infant, Toddler, Child, Adolescent, Adult, Senior, Pregnancy
Participants
Not applicable; derived from publicly available data
Selection Rationale
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI) is a standard, widely used measure that includes six National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) pollutants. It has been maintained by the federal government for decades and is reported on a daily basis by ZIP Code.
Language
English
Standards
| Standard | Name | ID | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) | PhenX - air quality index protocol 290101 | 105371-9 | LOINC |
Derived Variables
None
Process and Review
The Expert Review Panel has not reviewed this measure yet.
Protocol Name from Source
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Quality Index (AQI)
Source
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). AirData. Retrieved from
https://www.epa.gov/outdoor-air-quality-data/about-air-data-reports#aqi
General References
AirNow. (2019). Air Quality Index (AQI) basics. Retrieved from https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.aqi
Kumari, S., & Jain, M. K. (2018). A critical review on Air Quality Index. In V. Singh, S. Yadav, & R. Yadava (Eds.), Environmental pollution. Water Science and Technology Library (vol. 77). Springer.
Rice, M. B., Ljungman, P. L., Wilker, E. H., Gold, D. R., Schwartz, J. D., Koutrakis, P., … Mittleman, M. A. (2013). Short-term exposure to air pollution and lung function in the Framingham Heart Study. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 188(11), 1351–1357.
Talbot, T. O., Haley, V. B., Dimmick, W. F., Paulu, C., Talbott, E. O., & Rager, J. (2009). Developing consistent data and methods to measure the public health impacts of ambient air quality for Environmental Public Health Tracking: Progress to date and future directions. Air Quality, Atmosphere, & Health, 2(4), 199–206.
Thach, T. Q., Tsang, H., Cao, P., & Ho, L. M. (2018). A novel method to construct an air quality index based on air pollution profiles. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 221(1), 17–26.
Wellenius, G. A., Burger, M. R., Coull, B. A., Schwartz, J., Suh, H. H., Koutrakis, P., … Mittleman, M. A. (2012). Ambient air pollution and the risk of acute ischemic stroke. Archives of Internal Medicine, 172(3), 229–234.
Protocol ID
290101
Variables
Export Variables| Variable Name | Variable ID | Variable Description | dbGaP Mapping | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PX290101_Air_Quality_Index_AQI_90_Percentile_Value | ||||
| PX290101080000 | AQI 90th %ile - 90 percent of daily AQI more | N/A | ||
| PX290101_Air_Quality_Index_AQI_Max_Value | ||||
| PX290101070000 | AQI Max - The highest daily AQI value in the year. | N/A | ||
| PX290101_Air_Quality_Index_AQI_Median_Value | ||||
| PX290101090000 | AQI Median - Half of daily AQI values during more | N/A | ||
| PX290101_Air_Quality_Index_Days_AQI | ||||
| PX290101010000 | # Days with AQI - Number of days in the year more | N/A | ||
| PX290101_Air_Quality_Index_Days_AQI_Good | ||||
| PX290101020000 | # Days Good - Number of days in the year more | N/A | ||
| PX290101_Air_Quality_Index_Days_AQI_Moderate | ||||
| PX290101030000 | # Days Moderate - Number of days in the year more | N/A | ||
| PX290101_Air_Quality_Index_Days_AQI_Unhealthy | ||||
| PX290101050000 | # Days Unhealthy - Number of days in the more | N/A | ||
| PX290101_Air_Quality_Index_Days_AQI_Unhealthy_Sensitive_Groups | ||||
| PX290101040000 | # Days Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups - more | N/A | ||
| PX290101_Air_Quality_Index_Days_AQI_Very_Unhealthy | ||||
| PX290101060000 | # Days Very Unhealthy - Number of days in more | N/A | ||
| PX290101_Air_Quality_Index_Days_CO | ||||
| PX290101100000 | # Days CO | N/A | ||
| PX290101_Air_Quality_Index_Days_NO2 | ||||
| PX290101110000 | # Days NO2 | N/A | ||
| PX290101_Air_Quality_Index_Days_O3 | ||||
| PX290101120000 | # Days O3 | N/A | ||
| PX290101_Air_Quality_Index_Days_PM10 | ||||
| PX290101150000 | # Days PM10 | N/A | ||
| PX290101_Air_Quality_Index_Days_PM2 | ||||
| PX290101140000 | # Days PM2.5 | N/A | ||
| PX290101_Air_Quality_Index_Days_SO2 | ||||
| PX290101130000 | # Days SO2 | N/A | ||
Measure Name
Air Quality Index
Release Date
May 11, 2020
Definition
The Air Quality Index is a location-based estimation of air pollution that can be used as a proxy for exposure (i.e., exposure risk) to air pollution.
Purpose
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Air Quality Index includes several air pollutants that have been shown to cause respiratory disease and adverse pulmonary effects (e.g., decreased lung function, chronic bronchitis, asthma) and have been linked to cardiovascular disease (e.g., stroke onset). Additionally, long-term exposure to fine particulate matter increases premature death risk among people aged 65 or older, even when exposure is at levels below the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
Keywords
Air Quality Index, AQI, Environmental Protection Agency Air Quality Index, environmental health disparities
Measure Protocols
| Protocol ID | Protocol Name |
|---|---|
| 290101 | Air Quality Index |
Publications
Burnett-Bowie, S. A. M., et al. (2024) The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Task Force on clinical algorithms for fracture risk report. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 2024 May; 39(5): 517-530. doi: 10.1093/jbmr/zjae048
Bartholomew, T. S., et al. (2024) Project CHARIOT: study protocol for a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation study of comprehensive tele-harm reduction for engagement of people who inject drugs in HIV prevention services Addiction Science & Clinical Practice. 2024 March; 19(1). doi: 10.1186/s13722-024-00447-9
Davidson, J., et al. (2022) From Genes to Geography, from Cells to Community, from Biomolecules to Behaviors: The Importance of Social Determinants of Health. Biomolecules. 2022 December; 12(10): 7. doi: 10.3390/biom12101449