The Air Quality Index (AQI) describes the measured air quality values and associated health effects that may be experienced. The higher the AQI number, the more air pollution is present in the region. An AQI number of 100 corresponds to the federal health standard for that pollutant. The table below shows numbers and corresponding health statements, focusing on effects you may experience within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air.
Two types of pollution are of critical concern in Santa Barbara County: ozone, a principal component of smog; and particle pollution, also known as particulate matter (PM). Health-based standards exist for particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5), and for particles less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10). Real-time Air Quality Index numbers for ozone, PM2.5, and PM10 are available for our monitoring stations on Today’s Air Quality.
- To access data from each station see our Station Data page.
- For previous AQI readings, see Summary by Date.
- For more information on air quality standards, pollutants and health effects, see Air Pollutants and Our Health.
