US AQI guide
AQI 101–150: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with heart or lung disease may feel effects. Most other people are unlikely to be affected.
Who is at risk
Children and teenagers, adults over 65, pregnant people, people with asthma, COPD or heart disease, and people who work or exercise outdoors.
What to do at AQI 101–150
Walking and commuting
Go aheadFine for most people; sensitive groups keep it shorter.
Running and jogging
LimitSensitive groups move indoors. Others take more breaks and shorten the run.
Cycling
Take carePrefer routes away from heavy traffic; sensitive groups ride shorter.
Children playing outside
Take careChildren with asthma should take breaks and keep reliever inhalers handy.
Older adults and heart or lung conditions
LimitReduce long or heavy exertion outdoors and keep medicines close.
Open windows
Take careVentilate briefly, ideally when the reading is lowest.
Mask outdoors
OptionalSensitive groups may wear an N95 or FFP2 mask for long trips.
Air purifier indoors
OptionalUseful for sensitive people, especially at night.
Based on the US EPA Air Quality Guide, applied to the current US AQI category. If you have symptoms, follow your doctor's advice.
At home, school and work
- Ventilate when the reading dips, often around midday when winds pick up.
- Run an air purifier in bedrooms of sensitive family members.
- Keep schoolchildren with asthma on lighter activities outdoors.
On other scales
When PM2.5 drives the reading (35 to 55 µg/m³), this is usually Satisfactory on India's NAQI. China's MEE index uses the same breakpoints as the US for its headline number but different pollutant tables, so values are usually lower.
Cities at AQI 101–150 right now
US AQI- MahadIndia150
- BundiIndia149
- JatniIndia149
- BalikpapanIndonesia149
- Rokan HilirIndonesia149
- KarnalIndia148
- Ras Al KhaimahUnited Arab Emirates148
- KakudiaIndia147
- KarauliIndia147
- JiuquanChina146
- Charkhi DadriIndia145
- DelhiIndia145
Show 48 more cities
- BatamIndonesia145
- AmritsarIndia144
- Kota TarakanIndonesia144
- ChhapraIndia142
- MumbaiIndia142
- VisakhapatnamIndia142
- HuzhouChina141
- HowrahIndia140
- Khor FakkanUnited Arab Emirates140
- As SulaymānīyahIraq140
- KatowicePoland140
- JalnaIndia139
- LangfangChina139
- Abu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates139
- KemamanMalaysia139
- BaranIndia137
- DewasIndia137
- SerangIndonesia137
- KhulnaBangladesh137
- Kuwait CityKuwait137
- Kabupaten Aceh BesarIndonesia136
- Kabupaten Aceh SelatanIndonesia136
- SibuMalaysia136
- HyderabadPakistan136
- BhubaneswarIndia134
- ParadeepIndia134
- Kabupaten LahatIndonesia134
- BelgaumIndia133
- BhopalIndia133
- VaranasiIndia133
- JinhuaChina133
- BulandshahrIndia132
- ChittorgarhIndia132
- NayagarhIndia132
- HotanChina132
- ManesarIndia130
- BayingolinChina130
- BhagalpurIndia129
- JhalawarIndia129
- KhurjaIndia129
- KaithalIndia128
- ShaoxingChina128
- GuwahatiIndia127
- KalyanIndia127
- Seberang PeraiMalaysia127
- CuttackIndia126
- GorakhpurIndia126
- KohimaIndia126
And 101 more.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to run outside at AQI 126?
Sensitive groups move indoors. Others take more breaks and shorten the run.
Can children play outside at AQI 126?
Children with asthma should take breaks and keep reliever inhalers handy.
Should I wear a mask at AQI 126?
Sensitive groups may wear an N95 or FFP2 mask for long trips.
Who is at risk at AQI 101 to 150?
Children and teenagers, adults over 65, pregnant people, people with asthma, COPD or heart disease, and people who work or exercise outdoors.
What is AQI 101 to 150 on India's scale?
When PM2.5 drives the reading (35 to 55 µg/m³), this is usually Satisfactory on India's NAQI.