Cross Border Air Pollution

Objective A1: Develop Strategies to Reduce Cross-Border Air Pollution

The following actions are needed to complete this objective:

  • Advocate for Windsor’s local air quality issues at the regional, provincial and federal levels in the United States and Canada and with industry representatives
  • Gather air quality baseline information for comparison purposes. Publish and track in the Report on the State of the Environment
  • Identify partnerships with other agencies, governments and businesses
  • Liaise with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change to increase environmental testing and compliance within the city

These indicators show the progress the City is making to achieve this objective:

  • Number of Low Risk Air Quality Health Index Days
  • Number of Special Air Quality Statement Days and Smog and Air Health Advisory Days
  • Ground Level Ozone

Air Quality Health Index IndicatorGlobe in grass with blue skies

In June 2015, the Province of Ontario introduced the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) to replace the Air Quality Index (AQI), which had been used since 2003. For more information on these, check out the Air Quality Health Index fact sheet.

Low Risk Air Quality in Windsor (2015-2020)



Above graph shows an increasing trend in the number of good or very good air quality health index days since AQHI reporting.

Good or Very Good Air Quality in Windsor (2007-2014)



As seen in the graph above, the number of good or very good air quality days (below 32 on Air Quality Index scale) in Windsor has remained about the same.

Air Quality Health Index Advisories in Windsor (2015-2019)


As seen in the graph above, since AQHI reporting, the number of special air quality statement days remained constant at 1 for 2015, 2016 and 2017. There was an increase to 6 in 2018, decrease to 0 in 2019, and an increase to 4 in 2020. The smog and air health advisory days remained constant at 0 throughout, except for an increase to 1 observed in 2018.

Smog Advisories in Windsor (2007-2020)



As seen in the graph above, the number of AQI smog advisory days per year declined in 2012 and has remained consitantly low until 2020.
Ground Level Ozone Indicator

What is Ground Level Ozone?

Ozone (O3) is a colourless, odourless gas at ambient concentrations and is a major component of smog. It irritates the respiratory tract and eyes. Exposure to high levels of ozone results in chest tightness, coughing and wheezing. For more information on this, please see the Ground Level Ozone info sheet.

How are we doing?

The Ontario 1-hour AAQC (Ambient Air Quality Criteria) for ozone is 80 ppb.

Periods of 1-Hour Exceedances of Ground Level Ozone

Chart of Periods of 1-hour exceedances of ground level ozone, 2005 to 2019

As seen in the graph above, the number of one-hour exceedences of acceptable ground level ozone concentrations, as set by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation & Parks (MECP), has declined.

For more information on Environmental Initiatives

Phone: For general inquiries, call 311. For detailed inquiries, call 519-253-7111 ext. 3226.
Email: emp@citywindsor.ca