Air Quality & Sensitive Groups
Did you know that May is Asthma Awareness Month? It's a great time to educate friends, family, and patients about asthma and other illnesses caused by air pollution.
Air pollution affects groups differently. Children, the elderly, pregnant people, and people with cardiac and pulmonary diseases are particularly sensitive to ozone and particulate matter (PM).
Knowing Your Air can help control these serious, sometimes life-threatening, diseases.
Air Pollution in Austin Neighborhoods Linked to Asthma Disparities, UT Study Finds
According to a 2024 study by researchers at Dell Medical School and the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin, air pollution in Austin neighborhoods is linked to an increased rate of asthma-related trips to the emergency room, especially in areas with a high proportion of Black and Latinx residents.
It’s well established that a day of bad air quality carries a risk of worsening asthma symptoms. This study breaks new ground by examining whether higher long-term trends in air pollution in some Austin neighborhoods set those areas apart from less polluted neighborhoods in the rate of asthma-related ER visits among those living there. This particularly affects Black and Latinx people, as neighborhoods with higher air pollution also tend to have a greater share of residents of color. Researchers found that despite relatively low air pollution levels within the Austin metro area, there was a significant linkage between ER visits triggered by asthma symptoms and higher pollution areas.
“We are exploring the connections between the neighborhood environment and lung health so that people can understand the risks they face when they live in places with consistently poor air quality,” said Sarah Chambliss, lead author of the study and a research associate in the Department of Population Health at Dell Med. “But beyond understanding personal risks, this is also a critical piece to the puzzle of why Black and Latinx Austinites suffer a greater burden of asthma. We know the placement of highways and industry in East Austin contributes to greater local air pollution, and this research points to the consequences that may have for racial and ethnic health disparities.”
What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?
EPA establishes an AQI for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act. Each of these pollutants has a national air quality standard set by EPA to protect public health:
- ground-level ozone
- particle pollution (also known as particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM10)
- carbon monoxide
- sulfur dioxide
- nitrogen dioxide
Everyday the Air Quality Index (AQI) tells you how clean or polluted your outdoor air is, along with associated health effects that may be of concern. The AQI translates air quality data into numbers and colors that help people understand when to take action to protect their health.
Sensitive groups: Reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. It's okay to be active outside, but take more breaks and do less intense activities. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.
People with asthma should follow their asthma action plans and keep quick relief medicine handy.
If you have heart disease: Symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your healthcare provider.
See your Current AQI
- At www.airnow.gov
- Through EnviroFlash email alerts
- With the free AirNow App for iPhones and Android
- With the customizable AirNow Widget for your organization
AQI Forecasts
Like the weather, a forecast is created for the AQI for the next few days. You can see the current AQI forecasts at AirNow.gov when you input your location or through the TCEQ to see the forecast for Texas regions. The forecast is helpful so that you can plan accordingly if you're sensitive to poor air quality.
Health Effects of Ozone
Health Effects of Particulate Matter
Asthma is not the only adverse health outcome experienced from poor air quality exposure.
Did you know...
Heart disease and stroke are the first and fourth leading causes of death in the U.S.
Air pollution can affect heart health and can trigger heart attacks and strokes that cause disability and death in those predisposed.
One in three American adults has heart or blood vessel disease and is at a higher risk from air pollution.
EPA is raising awareness of heart disease and its link to air pollution and other environmental factors as a partner in Million Hearts, a national initiative to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Check out our Healthy Heart Toolkit and Research today!