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U.S. Consulate Air Quality Monitor

U.S. Consulate Guangzhou Air Quality Monitor

In line with the Embassy’s practice of making air quality data available to the American community in Beijing, the U.S. Consulate Guangzhou has installed an air quality monitor to measure the concentration of particulates (PM 2.5) as an indicator of overall air quality in the area surrounding its Shamian offices.  The monitor is an unofficial resource for the health of the Consulate community.  Citywide analysis of air quality cannot be done using readings from a single machine.  Additional data on air quality in Guangzhou is available on the Guangzhou Environment Protection Bureau website.  Regional air quality data for the Pearl River Delta (Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao) is available on the website of the PRD Air Monitoring Network.

Particulates less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM 2.5) are referred to as “fine” particulates and are believed to pose the largest health risks.  PM 2.5 particulates are of concern since they are small enough to get into the lungs and even the blood stream.  For more information on PM 2.5, click here. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a formula to convert PM 2.5 readings into an air quality index (AQI) value than can help inform health-related decisions (see chart).  For example, an AQI value of 50 represents good air quality with little potential to affect public health, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality.  Please note that AQI is different from the Air Pollution Index (API) used in China.  For more information on AQI and how it is calculated, click here.

 The monitor's measurements, expressed in the form of PM 2.5 concentration (micrograms per cubic meter, ug/m3) and corresponding AQI, are available on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Guangzhou_Air.

                     

Air Quality Index
(AQI)

PM2.5
Health Advisory

Good
(0-50)

None

Moderate
(51-100)

Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
(101-150)

People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.

Unhealthy
(151-200)

People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion; everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.

Very Unhealthy
(201-300)

People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid all physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.

Hazardous
(301-500)

Everyone should avoid all physical activity outdoors; people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should remain indoors and keep activity levels low.