Any visible or invisible particle or gas found in the air that is not part of the original, normal composition.

Natural: forest fires, pollen, dust storm

Unnatural: man-made; coal, wood and other fuels used in cars, homes, and factories for energy

AQI: Air Quality IndexIndicates whether pollutant levels in air may cause health concerns.Ranges from 0 (least concern) to 500 (greatest concern)

Air QualityAir Quality IndexProtect Your HealthGood0-50No health impacts are expected when air quality is in this range. Moderate51-100Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups101-150Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.Unhealthy151-200Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion, everyone else, especially children should limit prolonged outdoor excertion. Very Unhealthy (Alert)201-300Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.

5 Major Pollutants:1..) Carbon Monoxide2.) Sulfur Dioxide3.) Nitrogen Dioxide4.) Particulate Matter5.) Ground Level Ozone

Carbon Monoxidecolorless, odorlessproduced when carbon does not burn in fossil fuelspresent in car exhaustdeprives body of O2 causing headaches, fatigue, and impaired vision

Sulfur Dioxideproduced when coal and fuel oil are burnedpresent in power plant exhaustnarrows the airway, causing wheezing and shortness of breath, especially in those with asthma

Nitrogen Dioxidereddish, brown gasproduced when nitric oxide combines with oxygen in the atmospherepresent in car exhaust and power plantsaffects lungs and causes wheezing; increases chance of respiratory infection

Particulate Matterparticles of different sizes and structures that are released into the atmospherepresent in many sources including fossil fuels, dust, smoke, fog, etc.can build up in respiratory systemaggravates heart and lung disease; increases risk of respiratory infection

Ground Level Ozoneat upper level, ozone shields Earth from suns harmful UV raysat ground level, ozone is harmful pollutantsformed from car, power and chemical plant exhaustirritate respiratory system and asthma; reduces lung function by inflaming and damaging lining of lungs

Combination of gases with water vapor and dustCombination of words smoke and fogForms when heat and sunlight react gases (photochemical smog)Occurs often with heavy traffic, high temperatures, and calm winds

1st smog related deaths were in London in 1873; death toll 500 people; can you imagine how much worse the atmosphere is now?!Limits visibilityDecreases UV radiationYellow/black color over citiesCauses respiratory problems and bronchial related deaths

Ride your bike

Tell your friends and family about pollution

Make sure your parents get pollution checks on their cars

Ride the school bus

Learn more; stay up to date

Join a group to stop pollution

Encourage your parents to carpool to work

Switch off lights, fan, heat, etc. when you leave the room