Air quality health index (AQHI)

In 2011, the Province of Alberta, in partnership with Environment Canada, launched the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)

This tool assesses the impact of air pollution on your health, listing a number from 1 to 10+ to indicate the level of health risk associated with local air quality. The higher the number, the greater the risk, and the stronger the need to take precautions. The AQHI shares information in real-time and even provides a forecast for the next day. Data is sent from 100 air monitoring stations across the Province to a central system where information is compiled into the AQHI. You can use the AQHI to plan your activities, if levels are high risk, you may want to move your activity indoors. 

The AQHI can be found at the very top our website - just look for the green leaf.

Air quality health advisories

• Alberta Air Quality Health Index
• 24-hour NRCAER UPDATELine 1-866-653-9959 provides information on industrial site activities. 
• If you witness or have information about a potential environmental emergency or a complaint, contact the Alberta Environment and Parks Hotline at 1-800-222-6514. This is a 24-hour emergency line. Anonymity is guaranteed.

Ambient air monitoring

Ambient air is simply outside air, or air found outside buildings or structures. Air quality levels are assigned using measured data from ambient air monitoring stations in the Capital Region. Monitoring is conducted by airsheds, municipalities, industry and Alberta Environment and Parks. Stations operated by industry are found around the Edmonton area and measure contaminants specific to the provincial approvals for each industrial operator. Ambient air quality stations measure air contaminants and calculate the provincial

Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)

Alberta Capital Airshed

The Alberta Capital Airshed (ACA) is a multi-stakeholder organization that works with all stakeholders, including the Government of Alberta to monitor air and ensure full public accessibility to air quality data. The ACA also supports the development of recommendations regarding air quality management plans and manages education and community outreach programs to raise awareness and understanding of air quality. Government, industry, non-governmental organizations, academia, health and the public are represented on the Board of Directors. ACA covers the portion of Strathcona County south of Highway 16.

Air quality station locations (627.1 KB)

What the ACA monitors

Fort Air Partnership (FAP)

First established in 1997 by the City of Fort Saskatchewan and the Fort Saskatchewan Regional Industrial association, this community driven organization provides credible information on air quality. FAP continues to be a multi-stakeholder organization that works with the Government of Alberta to monitor air quality within its airshed zone. Local government, industry and members of the public are common participating stakeholders. FAP covers the portion of the County north of HWY 16.

Fort Air Partnership

Fort Air Partnership Map

Air Quality Trending & Comparison Report (9.9 MB)
Fort Air Partnership Report to the Community 2020 (5.9 MB)

Strathcona Industrial Association

Air quality affects everyone. SIA is helping to lead the way with one of the first ambient air quality monitoring networks in Alberta.

Through this network, SIA is able to better understand the effects of industry and gather scientifically valid data about current local air quality as well as long-term trends. 

The network gathers air quality information using the following distinct methods and systems:

• Continuous monitoring (readings taken every second, 365 days/year)
• Intermittent monitoring (sensors exposed for 24 hours every six days)

Network locations and measures

Regional framework

To bring together knowledge of the area's unique air quality pressures, a multi-stakeholder Capital Region Air Steering Committee was created. This group, consisting of municipalities, non-government organizations, airshed, industry and federal and provincial government, created a framework for future air management. The

Capital Region Air Quality Management Framework

enhances existing provincial and federal initiatives and regulatory processes for maintaining and improving ambient air quality and addressing the unique pressures, conditions and requirements of the Capital Region. This framework will signal a need to manage pollutants before they reach or exceed unacceptable levels.

Proactive approach
The framework has set four levels with triggers for ambient air quality and limits for contaminants of concern. Level one is the lowest with level four being the highest concentrations. As the levels increase, Alberta Environment and Parks will work with stakeholders to develop actions to reduce the level within a set timeline.