The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are working together to record air quality at U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the globe.
Air pollution is a critical global health threat. In February 2015, the U.S. Department of State and the EPA formed a partnership with the goal of improving real-time air quality data around the world by adding data from participating U.S. embassies to the EPA data already published on air quality conditions in the United States.
The AQMP will continuously monitor and record the level of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air outside the Embassy and continuously convert the data collected onto the EPA-created “Air Quality Index” (AQI) scale. This information is available to the public and is intended to benefit all Baku residents, including the local health community, and the Government of Azerbaijan.
U.S. embassies and consulates in more than 50 cities in over three dozen countries are monitoring pollution levels and disseminating air-quality data. Data posted by the U.S. State Department to the EPA’s AirNow platform is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
| Air Quality Index Levels of Health Concern | Numerical Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Good | 0 to 50 | Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk |
| Moderate | 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 who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. |
| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | 101 to 150 | Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. |
| Unhealthy | 151 to 200 | Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. |
| Very Unhealthy | 201 to 300 | Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected. |
| Hazardous | 301 to 500 | Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects. |