"Good" AQI is 0 to 50. Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
"Moderate" AQI is 51 to 100. Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. For example, people who are unusually sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms.
"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" AQI is 101 to 150. Although the general public is not likely to be affected at this AQI range, people with lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air.
"Unhealthy" AQI is 151 to 200. Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.
"Very Unhealthy" is AQI is 201 to 300. This would trigger a health alert signifying that everyone may experience more serious health effects.
"Hazardous" AQI is greater than 300. This would trigger health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.
LEARN MORE: Smog alerts in Atlanta: Understanding code red, code orange air quality warnings | Check today’s Air Quality Index for Atlanta
With temperatures crossing the 90-degree mark and multiple smog alerts, transportation officials are asking metro Atlanta drivers to stay off the roads and reduce pollutants.
Georgia Commute Options, a Georgia Department of Transportation ride-sharing initiative, is encouraging people to carpool, take public transit, bike, walk and work from home when possible.
Transportation officials made the recommendations because when certain pollutants combine with heat and sunlight, they produce ground-level ozone. And smog forms when ground-level ozone is mixed with fine particulate matter.
“We have had five code orange alerts so far this year [the fifth was issued for Wednesday],” Georgia Commute Options deputy project manager Jenny Schultz said. “Fortunately, the first four alerts were not observed as actual smog alert days.”
For perspective, there were five smog alerts in 2015 and only one actual high-smog day, according to Georgia Commute Options.
The Air Quality Scale used in Atlanta ranges from a “good” to a “hazardous.” The latter would trigger health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population could be affected.
Parts of metro Atlanta have reached a middle level on the scale, putting them on a code orange alert.
During a code orange alert, children, teenagers, elderly adults and people with lung disease or asthma are encouraged to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.
"Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath," according to a post from the Environmental Protection Agency.
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