Daily Air Quality Index (AQI) Values for PM2.5

North Slope Borough Area Wide Air Quality Study

STUDY OVERVIEW

The North Slope Borough (NSB) Area Wide Air Quality (AQ) Study is a three-year study funded by the State of Alaska with the objective of collecting diverse baseline air quality data from five select villages on the North Slope of Alaska to determine the impact of the air quality on the health of the villages’ residents. This study began in October of 2023 and is currently scheduled to run through the end of 2025. The five villages participating in this study are Anaktuvuk Pass (AKP), Atqasuk (ATQ), Nuiqsut (NUI), Utqiagvik (BRW), and Wainwright (AIN). A map of where these villages are located on the North Slope can be seen in Figure 1 on the right.

Figure 1: Site locations of the monitoring villages in the NSB Area Wide AQ Study.

STUDY OVERVIEW

The North Slope Borough (NSB) Area Wide Air Quality (AQ) Study is a three-year study funded by the State of Alaska with the objective of collecting diverse baseline air quality data from five select villages on the North Slope of Alaska to determine the impact of the air quality on the health of the villages’ residents.This study began in October of 2023 and is currently scheduled to run through the end of 2025. The five villages participating in this study are Anaktuvuk Pass (AKP), Atqasuk (ATQ), Nuiqsut (NUI), Utqiagvik (BRW), and Wainwright (AIN). A map of where these villages are located on the North Slope can be seen in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1: Site locations of the monitoring villages in the NSB Area Wide AQ Study.

Table 1: EPA Health Effect Statements for Each AQI Level.

AIR QUALITY
HEALTH EFFECTS STATEMENT
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
Good (0-50)
Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
None.
Moderate (51-100)
Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150)
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.
Sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy (151-200)
Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
Sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Very Unhealthy (201-300)
Health alert: The risk of health effects is increased for everyone.
Sensitive groups should avoid all physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Hazardous (301-500)
Health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected.
Everyone should avoid all outdoor exertion.
Beyond Index (greater than 500)

Extremely High Levels: Steps to reduce your exposure - Click Here

AIR QUALITY INDEX

The AQI is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index. The AQI is a numerical scale that uses six color-coded categories to represent the current air quality with green depicting the air quality as satisfactory. Table 1 (left) shows the current information about the AQI values for each criteria parameter and interval. For more details on the AQI, please visit AirNow’s resources here.

AIR QUALITY INDEX

The AQI is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index. The AQI is a numerical scale that uses six color-coded categories to represent the current air quality with green depicting the air quality as satisfactory. Table 1 (below) shows the current information about the AQI values for each criteria parameter and interval. For more details on the AQI, please visit AirNow’s resources here.

Table 1: EPA Health Effect Statements for each AQI level.

AIR QUALITY: Good (0-50)
HEALTH EFFECTS STATEMENT: Health Effects Statement: Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: None.
AIR QUALITY: Moderate (51-100)
HEALTH EFFECTS STATEMENT: Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
AIR QUALITY: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150)
HEALTH EFFECTS STATEMENT: Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
AIR QUALITY: Unhealthy (151-200)
HEALTH EFFECTS STATEMENT: Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
AIR QUALITY: Very Unhealthy (201-300)
HEALTH EFFECTS STATEMENT: Health alert: The risk of health effects is increased for everyone.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Sensitive groups should avoid all physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
AIR QUALITY: Hazardous (301-500)
HEALTH EFFECTS STATEMENT: Health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Everyone should avoid all outdoor exertion.
AIR QUALITY: Beyond Index (greater than 500)
HEALTH EFFECTS STATEMENT: Extremely High Levels: Steps to reduce your exposure - Click Here

MONITORING LOCATIONS

The ambient air quality data for this study are collected primarily outdoors but also indoors at a school in each village. Data are collected from QuantAQ “Modulair” field sensors.

For villages with connectivity, Modulair data are transmitted back to Anchorage, AK on a weekly basis for analysis. For villages without remote communication, data are collected during semi-annual site visits. Details on the specific monitoring locations in each village can be found in Table 2 to the right.

Table 2: Sensor Location Details by Village for the NSB Area Wide AQ Study.

Village (Install)
ID
In/Out
Owner/Operator
Anaktuvuk Pass (Oct 2023)
AKP-01
Outdoors
NSB Public Works Office (“Washeteria”)
Anaktuvuk Pass (Oct 2023)
AKP-02
Outdoors
NSB Simon Paneak Museum
Anaktuvuk Pass (Oct 2023)
AKP-03
Outdoors
NSB Health Clinic
Anaktuvuk Pass (Oct 2023)
AKP-04
Indoors
Nunamiut School
Village (Install)
ID
In/Out
Owner/Operator
Atqasuk (Nov 2023)
ATQ-05
Outdoors
NSB Public Works Equipment Maintenance Facility (“O&M Shop”)
Atqasuk (Nov 2023)
ATQ-06
Outdoors
Atqasuk Fire Station
Atqasuk (Nov 2023)
ATQ-07
Outdoors
NSB Public Works Office/Shop
Atqasuk (Nov 2023)
ATQ-08
Indoors
Meade River School
Village (Install)
ID
In/Out
Owner/Operator
Nuiqsut (Feb 2025)
NUI‐09
Outdoors
Adjacent to Conoco
Nuiqsut (Mar 2024)
NUI‐10
Outdoors
NSB Senior Home
Nuiqsut (Mar 2024)
NUI‐11
Outdoors
NSB Search & Rescue Building
Nuiqsut (Mar 2024)
NUI‐12
Outdoors
NSB NUI Itinerant Housing
Nuiqsut (Mar 2024)
NUI‐13
Indoors
Trapper School
Village (Install)
ID
In/Out
Owner/Operator
Utqiagvik (Nov 2023)
BRW‐14
Outdoors
NSB Health Wellness Center
Utqiagvik (Nov 2023)
BRW‐15
Outdoors
Eben Hopson Middle School
Utqiagvik (Nov 2023)
BRW‐16
Outdoors
NSB Wildlife Department
Utqiagvik (Nov 2023)
BRW‐17
Indoors
Ipalook Elementary School
Village (Install)
ID
In/Out
Owner/Operator
Wainwright (Feb 2024)
AIN‐18
Outdoors
Health Clinic “Old Morgue”
Wainwright (Feb 2024)
AIN‐19
Outdoors
NSB Itinerant Housing
Wainwright (Feb 2024)
AIN‐20
Outdoors
Wainwright Tribal Office
Wainwright (Feb 2024)
AIN‐21
Indoors
Alak School

MONITORING LOCATIONS

The ambient air quality data for this study is collected primarily outdoors but also indoors at a school in each village.  Data is collected from QuantAQ “Modulair” field sensors.

For villages with connectivity, Modulair data is transmitted back to Anchorage, AK on a weekly basis for analysis. For villages without remote communication, data is collected during semi-annual site visits.

Details on the specific monitoring locations in each village can be found in Table 2 below.

Table 2: Sensor Location Details by Village for the NSB Area Wide AQ Study.

Village : Anaktuvuk Pass (Installed Oct 2023)
ID: AKP-1
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: NSB Public Works "Washeteria"
Village : Anaktuvuk Pass (Installed Oct 2023)
ID: AKP-2
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: NSB Simon Paneak Museum
Village : Anaktuvuk Pass (Installed Oct 2023)
ID: AKP-3
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: NSB Health Clinic
Village : Anaktuvuk Pass (Installed Oct 2023)
ID: AKP-4
In/Out: Indoors
Owner/Operator: Nunamiut School
Village : Atqasuk (Installed Nov 2023)
ID: ATQ-05
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: NSB Public Works EquipmentMaintenance Facility (“O&M Shop”)
Village : Atqasuk (Installed Nov 2023)
ID: ATQ-06
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: Atqasuk Fire Station
Village : Atqasuk (Installed Nov 2023)
ID: ATQ-07
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: NSB Public Works Office/Shop
Village : Atqasuk (Installed Nov 2023)
ID: ATQ-08
In/Out: Indoors
Owner/Operator: Meade River School
Village : Nuiqsut (Installed Feb 2025)
ID: NUI‐09
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: Adjacent to Conoco
Village : Nuiqsut (Installed Mar 2024)
ID: NUI‐10
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: NSB Senior Home
Village : Nuiqsut (Installed Mar 2024)
ID: NUI‐11
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: NSB Search & Rescue Building
Village : Nuiqsut (Installed Mar 2024)
ID: NUI‐12
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: NSB NUI Itinerant Housing
Village : Nuiqsut (Installed Mar 2024)
ID: NUI‐13
In/Out: Indoors
Owner/Operator: Trapper School
Location: Third Street
Village : Utqiagvik (Installed Nov 2023)
ID: BRW‐14
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: NSB Health Wellness Center
Village : Utqiagvik (Installed Nov 2023)
ID: BRW‐15
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: Eben Hopson Middle School
Village : Utqiagvik (Installed Nov 2023)
ID: BRW‐16
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: NSB Wildlife Department
Village : Utqiagvik (Installed Nov 2023)
ID: BRW‐17
In/Out: Indoors
Owner/Operator: Ipalook Elementary School
Village : Wainwright (Installed Feb 2024)
ID: AIN‐18
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: Health Clinic “Old Morgue”
Village : Wainwright (Installed Feb 2024)
ID: AIN‐19
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: NSB Itinerant Housing
Village : Wainwright (Installed Feb 2024)
ID: AIN‐20
In/Out: Outdoors
Owner/Operator: Wainwright Tribal Office
Village : Wainwright (Installed Feb 2024)
ID: AIN‐21
In/Out: Indoors
Owner/Operator: Alak School

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