What action should I take?

The AQHI system provides different health advice for people having different degree of susceptibility to air pollution, including: people with existing heart or respiratory illnesses, children and the elderly, outdoor workers, and general public.

The recommended precautionary actions are summarised below:

Health Risk Category The label AQHI People who are sensitive to Air Pollution Outdoor Workers* General Public       People with existing heart or respiratory illnesses# Children and the Elderly     Low 1 No response action is required. No response action is required. No response action is required. No response action is required. 2 3 Moderate 4 No response action is normally required. Individuals who are experiencing symptoms are advised to consider reducing outdoor physical exertion. No response action is required. No response action is required. No response action is required. 5 6 High 7 People with existing heart or respiratory illnesses are advised to reduce outdoor physical exertion, and to reduce the time of their stay outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic. They should also seek advice from a medical doctor before participating in sport activities and take more breaks during physical activities. Children and the elderly are advised to reduce outdoor physical exertion, and to reduce the time of their stay outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic. No response action is required. No response action is required. Very High 8 People with existing heart or respiratory illnesses are advised to reduce to the minimum outdoor physical exertion, and to reduce to the minimum the time of their stay outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic. Children and the elderly are advised to reduce to the minimum outdoor physical exertion, and to reduce to the minimum the time of their stay outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic. Employers of outdoor workers performing heavy manual work are advised to assess the risk of outdoor work, and take appropriate preventive measures to protect the health of their employees such as reducing outdoor physical exertion, and reducing the time of their stay outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic The general public is advised to reduce outdoor physical exertion, and to reduce the time of their stay outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic. 9 10 Serious 10+ People with existing heart or respiratory illnesses are advised to avoid outdoor physical exertion, and to avoid staying outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic.   Children and the elderly are advised to avoid outdoor physical exertion, and to avoid staying outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic. Employers of all outdoor workers are advised to assess the risk of outdoor work, and take appropriate preventive measures to protect the health of their employees such as reducing outdoor physical exertion, and reducing the time of their stay outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic The general public is advised to reduce to the minimum outdoor physical exertion, and to reduce to the minimum the time of their stay outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic.

In addition to following the general health advice above, you may also make adjustments to your physical activities according to your health conditions. As the health effects on individuals may vary, you should seek advice from a medical doctor if you are in doubt or feel uncomfortable. If you are a smoker, you should quit smoking now!

* The advice does not apply to outdoor workers who are sensitive to air pollution.

# Such as coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases, asthma and chronic obstructive airways diseases including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.