Your Air Quality
The air you breathe has major impacts on your health. Explore the initiatives happening right now to ensure clean air for all Adams County families.
It’s the Air We All Breathe. Let’s Make it Safe for Everyone.
The air we breathe is not always safe and can harm our health and the environment. We must take action to prevent air pollution. Together, we can take steps right now to keep the air clean for ourselves and future generations.
Working with Local Organizations and Partners
Adams County is working with local schools, public libraries, Arapahoe County, and municipalities to collect data and improve air quality. These partners make up the Colorado Local Entity Air Network (CLEAN). Thank you to our partners for your commitment to clean air! Through various partnerships, we have:
- Expanded the Colorado Local Entity Air Network (CLEAN) by adding additional municipalities
- Guided community discussions to gather feedback and inform future CLEAN efforts
- Participated in several community forums to raise awareness about air quality
- Continued to support the Love My Air program, allowing people to use local sensors to check what they are breathing in
Know Your Air Quality
Click on each dropdown to explore what’s in your air and how you can stay safe from air pollutants.
Different pollutants released into the air or from chemicals are all around us. The Colorado Local Entity Air Network (CLEAN) monitors specific pollutants that can harm our health.
- Particulate Matter (PM, also called particle pollution or soot)
- PM is made up of very tiny solid and liquid particles from various sources. These particles can damage your lungs, heart, and brain.
- Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂)
- This harmful pollutant comes from burning coal, oil, and other fuels. Nitrogen Dioxide can increase your risk for respiratory infections, especially asthma.
Here are some tips from the American Lung Association on protecting you and your family from the dangers of outdoor air pollution, as well as reducing your negative impact on air quality.
- Check daily air quality pollution forecasts in your area
- Avoid exercising outdoors when pollution levels are unhealthy or red, per the Air Quality Index.
- Encourage your child’s school to cut exposure to school bus emissions.
- Walk, bike, or carpool. Consider using public transportation – anything to run your car less. Don’t leave your car idling.
- Don’t burn wood or trash.
- Use hand-powered or electric-powered lawn care equipment instead of gas-powered.
- In case of smoke, stay inside! Turn on your air conditioner or air purifier with a HEPA filter.
- Wear an N95 mask if you must go outside in unhealthy air quality conditions, per the Air Quality Index.
The Adams County Health Department offers inspections to ensure your home is healthy and safe. Reach out to our Healthy Homes program to schedule an appointment.
AIR QUALITY INDEX (AQI)
Think of the AQI as a yardstick that runs from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern.
AQI Basics For Ozone and Particle Pollution
| Daily AQI Color | Levels of Concern | Index Value | Description of Air Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green | Good | 0–50 | Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk. |
| Yellow | 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. |
| Orange | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | 101–150 | Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected. |
| Red | Unhealthy | 151–200 | Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. |
| Purple | Very Unhealthy | 201–300 | Health alert: The risk of health effects is increased for everyone. |
| Maroon | Hazardous | 301 and higher | Health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected. |
Source: AirNow.gov
Download the Free Love My Air App On Your Phone
Sensors are running right now in Adams County to monitor air pollutants. Use the Love My Air app to check local sensors, see what you are breathing, and save those sensors to check back later. Enable notifications to get alerts on changes in your air quality.