Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi Air Quality Management | AQI Policy | Shanghai Puxi

WHAT IS AQI:

Air Quality Index is made up of several components, ground-level ozone, particle pollution (both PM 2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10) pose a health concern because they can be inhaled into and accumulate in the respiratory system. Particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5) are referred to as “fine” particles and are believed to pose the greatest health risks. Because of their small size (approximately 1/30th the average width of a human hair), fine particles can lodge deeply into the lungs. (www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics)

OUR STUDENTS’ SAFETY COMES FIRST:

Our policy is based on keeping students and other members of our community as safe as possible, and therefore focuses on the level of PM2.5. Our policy is in line with many other international schools in Shanghai. When making a decision about what is appropriate action due to that day’s air quality, both the AQI and the PM2.5 will be taken into consideration, the higher reading according to the table below being used to determine the action to be taken. For example, if the AQI reading is 115, but the PM2.5 is 78, then the action will be from the red category.