Air quality in Niagara Falls

Air quality index (AQI) and PM2.5 air pollution in Niagara Falls

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Pollen

What is the pollen count in Niagara Falls today?

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Tree pollenN/A
Grass pollenN/A
Weed pollenN/A
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Weather

What is the current weather in Niagara Falls?

Weather icon
WeatherClear sky
Temperature42.8°F
Humidity51%
Wind13.8 mp/h
Pressure30 Hg

live aqi city ranking

Real-time Canada city ranking

#cityUS AQI
1 Quebec City, Quebec

61

2 Toronto, Ontario

45

3 Sherbrooke, Quebec

44

4 Brooks, Alberta

43

5 Oshawa, Ontario

43

6 Valemount, British Columbia

40

7 Hamilton, Ontario

39

8 London, Ontario

39

9 Mississauga, Ontario

38

10 Gatineau, Quebec

37

(local time)

SEE WORLD AQI RANKING

live Niagara Falls aqi ranking

Real-time Niagara Falls air quality ranking

#stationUS AQI
1 Mulhern Alpine Drive

45

(local time)

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US AQI

45

live AQI index
Good

Human face indicating AQI level

Overview

What is the current air quality in Niagara Falls?

Air pollution levelAir quality indexMain pollutant
Good 45 US AQItrendPM2.5
PollutantsConcentration
PM2.5
10.9µg/m³trend
!

PM2.5

x2.2

PM2.5 concentration in Niagara Falls is currently 2.2 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value

Health Recommendations

What is the current air quality in Niagara Falls?

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Forecast

Niagara Falls air quality index (AQI) forecast

DayPollution levelWeatherTemperatureWind
Monday, Mar 25

Good 23 AQI US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon
51.8° 39.2°
Wind rotating 178 degree 15.7 mp/h
Tuesday, Mar 26

Good 22 AQI US

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Weather icon
50° 37.4°
Wind rotating 245 degree 17.9 mp/h
Wednesday, Mar 27

Good 44 AQI US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon
42.8° 32°
Wind rotating 225 degree 11.2 mp/h
Today

Good 45 AQI US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon
42.8° 32°
Wind rotating 225 degree 11.2 mp/h
Friday, Mar 29

Good 29 AQI US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon
42.8° 32°
Wind rotating 289 degree 11.2 mp/h
Saturday, Mar 30

Good 17 AQI US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon 60%
42.8° 32°
Wind rotating 286 degree 6.7 mp/h
Sunday, Mar 31

Good 33 AQI US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon
42.8° 37.4°
Wind rotating 311 degree 8.9 mp/h
Monday, Apr 1

Good 39 AQI US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon
50° 35.6°
Wind rotating 27 degree 8.9 mp/h
Tuesday, Apr 2

Good 39 AQI US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon 100%
53.6° 42.8°
Wind rotating 94 degree 15.7 mp/h
Wednesday, Apr 3

Good 13 AQI US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon 100%
39.2° 33.8°
Wind rotating 286 degree 15.7 mp/h
Thursday, Apr 4

Good 5 AQI US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon 100%
39.2° 33.8°
Wind rotating 314 degree 20.1 mp/h

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AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS AND STATISTICS FOR Niagara Falls

What is the air quality index of Niagara Falls?

Niagara Falls is a city in Ontario, Canada. It is on the western bank of the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario, with a population of 88,071 at the 2016 census. The city lies across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, New York.

In early 2021, Niagara Falls was enjoying a period of “Good” quality air with a US AQI reading of just 7. This is in accordance with the classifications as stipulated by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The concentration of pollutant PM2.5 was 4.1 µg/m³.

With pollution levels as low as these, door and windows can be opened to let in the fresh air and any type of outdoor exercise can partake without fear.

Is Niagara Falls very polluted?

The pollutants are ozone (O3), fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and total reduced sulphur compounds.

Twenty-six large industrial units in Niagara County, most of the larger ones located in the Niagara Falls region, reported the release of 170 tons of pollutants, including some carcinogens, in 2011, the last year for which comparable data is available. This potentially noxious mixture puts Niagara County residents at greater risk of developing pollution-related health problems than most Americans.

The volume and estimated toxicity of these pollutants are higher than in 9 out of 10 US cities where levels of pollution have to be reported to the federal government.

Most companies in and around the local area do not individually produce huge amounts of pollution. It only becomes a problem when the total emissions are collectively considered. However, there are at least three exceptions where individual companies produce and emit a considerably high percentage of pollutants. One such company is situated on Buffalo Avenue and is responsible for large amounts of chlorine emissions which account for 27 per cent of the risk score for Niagara County. Another one is located on Oliver Street and is responsible for 17 per cent of the county’s risk score because of its high emissions of copper and nickel. The largest offender releases large quantities of ortho-toluidine and aniline which accounts for a massive 47 per cent of the county’s risk assessment.

What are the main sources of air pollution in Niagara Falls?

Whilst well-known as a tourist attraction, Niagara Falls has relied on industry for decades as the foundation of its economy. A range of industries, including those in the chemical sector, were attracted to Niagara Falls years ago because of the abundance of low-cost hydropower. Unfortunately, pollution comes hand-in-hand with industry and, as such, the air in the surrounding environs has been found to contain five possible carcinogenic chemicals and more than 30 other pollutants known to trigger health problems.

Emissions from one company, the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company account for almost half the risk the pollution could pose to public health in Niagara County. Goodyear’s risk score is driven by its release of two probable carcinogens such as ortho-toluidine and aniline that are linked to bladder cancer.

After recent studies, it was revealed that workers at this particular plant showed elevated signs of bladder cancer. Tests were then conducted on residents who live “downwind” of the factory and they too showed elevated rates as high as 7 in 10.

The available data did not firmly establish these emissions as a direct cause so the public is demanding an independent health assessment conducted by the local government.

Can the quality of Niagara Falls’ air be improved?

The contaminants that create smog are released during the combustion of fossil fuels in our vehicles, power plants, factory boilers and homes. They are also produced by industrial processes, the evaporation of liquid fuels and through the use of paint and solvents.

Naturally occurring contaminants are produced through forest fires and the burning of organic matter. It is thought that more than 50 per cent of the pollutants in and around the Niagara Falls region are carried in by the winds from the United States.

The local authority uses a network of 40 monitoring stations throughout Ontario to harvest data and use it in their predictions as to when smog is likely to pose a health threat. Most of these monitoring stations display their data online for any interested party to see.

Overall, air quality has improved significantly over the past decade, especially for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) which are pollutants emitted by vehicles and industry, as well as fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which may be emitted directly or through abrasion of tyres, brake pads and road surfaces.

What are the health implications of Niagara Falls’ polluted air?

Air pollution is recognised worldwide as a major risk factor for health. Exposure to air pollution, for example, increases the risk of premature death from heart disease, stroke, or lung cancer.

A recent analysis has been commissioned to provide an estimate of mortality in Canada, linked to ambient concentrations of fine particles (PM2.5 or particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 micrometres), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3). These three air pollutants were selected because of the strong epidemiological evidence for their negative impacts on health and the availability of data regarding their spatial distribution for the whole of Canada.

Air pollution concentrations attributable to emissions from human (anthropogenic) sources are estimated by subtracting average natural concentrations from ambient concentrations. Mortality associated with air pollutants is considered to result only from anthropogenic emissions. This is the approach taken since anthropogenic emissions are generally targeted for air quality management.

Of course, different people react in different ways to air pollution. Young, healthy people are able to tolerate short periods of time when the air is polluted. This is not the case for pregnant women, children under the age of 14 years and senior citizens who do not have such a strong immune system. People with pre-existing medical conditions, especially cardiovascular and respiratory problems need to take extra care as they are very susceptible to the slightest change in air quality.

The actual risk of adverse effects depends on the current health status, the pollutant type and concentration, and the length of exposure to the polluted air.

Niagara Falls air quality data attribution

1Contributor

1 Data source

Data validated and calibrated by IQAirData validated and calibrated by IQAir

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