Air Quality: What You Should Know

We're fairly used to our clear air here in North Dakota, but this summer has shown that even our state can experience less-than-ideal air quality. Here in Bismarck as of this writing, the air quality is 172, which is squarely in the 'unhealthy' portion of the air quality index. More on that soon.

Air quality is very location-specific. Today air quality in North Dakota seems to range from 62 (moderate hazard) in some eastern parts to 195 (unhealthy) in northwest ND. You can check on your current air quality at AirNow.gov.

This chart (also from AirNow.gov) shows the potential health concerns for each portion of the air quality index:

This activity guide provided by the same site tells you what changes you need to make based on your air quality index category. For instance, if you're in the 151 to 200 air quality range ('unhealthy'), the guide makes the following recommendations:

    Sensitive groups: Avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.
    Consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling.
    Everyone else: Reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.
    Take more breaks during outdoor activities.

Starting in the Purple / Very Unhealthy category, the guide begins to recommend sensitive groups remain indoors. In the Maroon / Hazardous category, the guide recommends everyone avoid physical activity outdoors.

Keep yourselves informed and safe during these periods of less-than-great air quality. We all hope to have clearer skies soon.