Not sure where to start?
Try these collections:

","empty_cart_collections",[480],"residential-solutions","recent_products_enabled","recent_products_heading","Recently viewed","recent_products_limit","show_recent_products_vendor","show_recent_products_price",{"_29":488,"_36":489,"_10":488},"search-drawer",{},{"_29":491,"_31":492,"_63":519,"_36":520,"_10":491},"cookie-banner",{"_365":493,"_40":500,"_509":510,"_514":515},{"_29":365,"_36":494},{"_365":495,"_496":497,"_498":499,"_47":39,"_48":49},"We use cookies","heading_size","text-lg-2xl","heading_tag","h2",{"_29":40,"_36":501},{"_40":502,"_503":504,"_505":354,"_506":507,"_508":45,"_47":39,"_48":49},"

This site uses cookies for better user experience and analytics.

","text_size","text-base","text_max_size","text_font","body","secondary_color","spacing",{"_29":509,"_36":511},{"_244":143,"_512":513},"height_mobile",12,"buttons",{"_29":514,"_36":516},{"_413":517,"_417":518},"Accept","Decline",[365,40,509,514],{"_521":522,"_523":471,"_524":74,"_525":526,"_527":209,"_528":115,"_529":85,"_530":115,"_531":209,"_532":43},"mode","enabled","delay","text_alignment","content_position","left-0","color_drawer_text","color_drawer_background","color_drawer_highlight","color_drawer_button_text","color_drawer_button_background","color_drawer_button_gradient",{"_29":534,"_31":535,"_63":567,"_36":568,"_10":534},"mobile-dock",{"_536":537,"_543":544,"_547":548,"_552":553,"_557":558,"_562":563},"mobile-dock-0",{"_29":538,"_36":539},"home",{"_540":43,"_541":542},"custom_icon","title","Home","mobile-dock-1",{"_29":337,"_36":545},{"_540":43,"_541":546},"Menu","mobile-dock-2",{"_29":549,"_36":550},"search",{"_540":43,"_541":551},"Search","mobile-dock-3",{"_29":42,"_36":554},{"_540":43,"_541":206,"_42":555,"_556":45},"shopify://collections/all","external","mobile-dock-4",{"_29":559,"_36":560},"cart",{"_540":43,"_541":561},"Cart","mobile-dock-5",{"_29":564,"_36":565},"account",{"_540":43,"_541":566},"Account",[536,543,547,552,557,562],{"_79":117,"_81":115,"_83":43,"_353":569,"_355":569,"_444":53,"_89":53},8,"headerMenu",{"_10":572,"_573":574},"gid://shopify/Menu/210335301931","items",[575,608,625,665,695,724],{"_10":576,"_577":578,"_541":99,"_29":579,"_246":580,"_573":581},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/489746366763","tags",[],"HTTP","https://www.iqair.com/world-air-quality",[582,586,590,594,598,603],{"_10":583,"_577":584,"_541":108,"_29":579,"_246":585},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767569789302",[],"https://www.iqair.com/us/earth",{"_10":587,"_577":588,"_541":589,"_29":579,"_246":138},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767570182518",[],"Live Air Quality Ranking",{"_10":591,"_577":592,"_541":593,"_29":579,"_246":127},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767570149750",[],"Live Air Quality Map",{"_10":595,"_577":596,"_541":597,"_29":579,"_246":150},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767570215286",[],"Historical PM 2.5 Data",{"_10":599,"_577":600,"_541":601,"_29":579,"_246":602},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767570248054",[],"Air Quality API","https://www.iqair.com/air-quality-monitors/api",{"_10":604,"_577":605,"_541":606,"_29":579,"_246":607},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/798951735670",[],"Air Quality App","https://www.iqair.com/air-quality-monitors/air-quality-app",{"_10":609,"_577":610,"_541":169,"_29":579,"_246":611,"_573":612},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/764204614006",[],"https://www.iqair.com/air-quality-monitors",[613,617,621],{"_10":614,"_577":615,"_541":170,"_29":579,"_246":616},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767590236534",[],"https://www.iqair.com/measure-air-quality",{"_10":618,"_577":619,"_541":173,"_29":579,"_246":620},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767589581174",[],"https://www.iqair.com/improve-air-quality",{"_10":622,"_577":623,"_541":175,"_29":579,"_246":624},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767590269302",[],"https://www.iqair.com/community-air-quality-monitoring",{"_10":626,"_577":627,"_541":180,"_29":579,"_246":628,"_573":629},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/764204646774",[],"https://www.iqair.com/newsroom",[630,635,640,645,650,655,660],{"_10":631,"_577":632,"_541":633,"_29":579,"_246":634},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767598592374",[],"Air Quality News","https://www.iqair.com/newsroom?tag=Air%20Quality",{"_10":636,"_577":637,"_541":638,"_29":579,"_246":639},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767598625142",[],"Climate","https://www.iqair.com/newsroom?tag=Climate",{"_10":641,"_577":642,"_541":643,"_29":579,"_246":644},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767598657910",[],"Community","https://www.iqair.com/newsroom?tag=Community",{"_10":646,"_577":647,"_541":648,"_29":579,"_246":649},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767598690678",[],"Featured Contributor","https://www.iqair.com/newsroom?tag=Featured%20Contributor",{"_10":651,"_577":652,"_541":653,"_29":579,"_246":654},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767598723446",[],"Health and Wellness","https://www.iqair.com/newsroom?tag=Health%20and%20Wellness",{"_10":656,"_577":657,"_541":658,"_29":579,"_246":659},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767598756214",[],"Resources","https://www.iqair.com/newsroom?tag=Resources",{"_10":661,"_577":662,"_541":663,"_29":579,"_246":664},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767598788982",[],"Wildfire","https://www.iqair.com/newsroom?tag=Wildfire",{"_10":666,"_577":667,"_541":185,"_29":579,"_246":668,"_573":669},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/489746399531",[],"https://www.iqair.com/about-iqair/our-causes",[670,674,678,682,686,690],{"_10":671,"_577":672,"_541":673,"_29":579,"_246":668},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767593349494",[],"Climate Justice ",{"_10":675,"_577":676,"_541":188,"_29":579,"_246":677},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767593382262",[],"https://www.iqair.com/about-iqair/our-causes#section-timeline_XBCMEg",{"_10":679,"_577":680,"_541":190,"_29":579,"_246":681},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767593316726",[],"https://www.iqair.com/schools4earth",{"_10":683,"_577":684,"_541":191,"_29":579,"_246":685},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767594135926",[],"https://www.iqair.com/about-iqair/ESG-initiatives",{"_10":687,"_577":688,"_541":192,"_29":579,"_246":689},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767594168694",[],"https://www.iqairfoundation.org",{"_10":691,"_577":692,"_541":693,"_29":579,"_246":694},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/806048858486",[],"Public-Private Partnerships","https://www.iqair.com/how-iqair-partners-with-cities",{"_10":696,"_577":697,"_541":202,"_29":579,"_246":698,"_573":699},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/794165248374",[],"https://www.iqair.com/support",[700,705,710,714,719],{"_10":701,"_577":702,"_541":703,"_29":579,"_246":704},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/794165281142",[],"Warranty Registration","https://www.iqair.com/support/warranty",{"_10":706,"_577":707,"_541":708,"_29":579,"_246":709},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/794165313910",[],"Knowledge Base","https://www.iqair.com/support/knowledge-base",{"_10":711,"_577":712,"_541":713,"_29":579,"_246":698},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/794165346678",[],"Product Support",{"_10":715,"_577":716,"_541":717,"_29":579,"_246":718},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/794165379446",[],"User Guide Videos","https://www.iqair.com/start",{"_10":720,"_577":721,"_541":722,"_29":579,"_246":723},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/794179699062",[],"Contact Support","https://www.iqair.com/support/contact-us",{"_10":725,"_577":726,"_541":206,"_29":579,"_246":727,"_573":728},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/764201402742",[],"https://www.iqair.com/products/air-purifiers",[729,732,736,740,745,749],{"_10":730,"_577":731,"_541":211,"_29":579,"_246":727},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767600623990",[],{"_10":733,"_577":734,"_541":207,"_29":579,"_246":735},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767600656758",[],"https://www.iqair.com/products/air-quality-monitors",{"_10":737,"_577":738,"_541":277,"_29":579,"_246":739},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767600689526",[],"https://www.iqair.com/products/residential-solutions/kn95-ffp2-face-mask?Quantity=12+Pack",{"_10":741,"_577":742,"_541":743,"_29":579,"_246":744},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767600722294",[],"Replacement Filters","https://www.iqair.com/products/replacement-filters",{"_10":746,"_577":747,"_541":748,"_29":579,"_246":607},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/767600787830",[],"IQAir AirVisual App",{"_10":750,"_577":751,"_541":752,"_29":579,"_246":753},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/794347274614",[],"For Organisations","https://www.iqair.com/commercial-air-purifiers","footerMenu",{"_10":756,"_573":757},"gid://shopify/Menu/210335334699",[758,795,813,855,887,916,939],{"_10":759,"_577":760,"_541":384,"_29":579,"_246":761,"_573":762},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779353784694",[],"https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com#",[763,768,772,777,782,785,790],{"_10":764,"_577":765,"_541":766,"_29":579,"_246":767},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779355193718",[],"About us","https://www.iqair.com/about-iqair",{"_10":769,"_577":770,"_541":771,"_29":579,"_246":723},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779360403830",[],"Contact us",{"_10":773,"_577":774,"_541":775,"_29":579,"_246":776},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779360436598",[],"Careers","https://jobs.iqair.com/",{"_10":778,"_577":779,"_541":780,"_29":579,"_246":781},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/800711639414",[],"Media Inquiries","https://www.iqair.com/media-contact",{"_10":783,"_577":784,"_541":192,"_29":579,"_246":193},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/800711672182",[],{"_10":786,"_577":787,"_541":788,"_29":579,"_246":789},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779355226486",[],"Awards and Partnerships","https://www.iqair.com/about-iqair/awards-partnerships",{"_10":791,"_577":792,"_541":793,"_29":579,"_246":794},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779360338294",[],"Experience Center","https://www.iqair.com/experience-center",{"_10":796,"_577":797,"_541":202,"_29":579,"_246":761,"_573":798},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779353915766",[],[799,802,805,808],{"_10":800,"_577":801,"_541":713,"_29":579,"_246":698},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779361026422",[],{"_10":803,"_577":804,"_541":703,"_29":579,"_246":704},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779361091958",[],{"_10":806,"_577":807,"_541":708,"_29":579,"_246":709},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779361124726",[],{"_10":809,"_577":810,"_541":811,"_29":579,"_246":812},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/800711704950",[],"Return Policy","https://www.iqair.com/us/support/iqair-warranty-coverage",{"_10":814,"_577":815,"_541":180,"_29":579,"_246":761,"_573":816},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/780153651574",[],[817,820,823,827,831,835,840,845,850],{"_10":818,"_577":819,"_541":633,"_29":579,"_246":634},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/780153684342",[],{"_10":821,"_577":822,"_541":643,"_29":579,"_246":644},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/780153717110",[],{"_10":824,"_577":825,"_541":826,"_29":579,"_246":659},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/780153749878",[],"Air Quality Resources",{"_10":828,"_577":829,"_541":830,"_29":579,"_246":649},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/780153782646",[],"Featured Contributors",{"_10":832,"_577":833,"_541":653,"_29":579,"_246":834},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/780153815414",[],"https://www.iqair.com/newsroom?tag=Health%20And%20Wellness",{"_10":836,"_577":837,"_541":838,"_29":579,"_246":839},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/780153848182",[],"Success Stories","https://www.iqair.com/newsroom?tag=Success%20Stories",{"_10":841,"_577":842,"_541":843,"_29":579,"_246":844},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/780153880950",[],"Awards and Reviews","https://www.iqair.com/newsroom?tag=Awards%20And%20Reviews",{"_10":846,"_577":847,"_541":848,"_29":579,"_246":849},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/800711737718",[],"Press Releases","https://www.iqair.com/newsroom?tag=Press%20Releases",{"_10":851,"_577":852,"_541":853,"_29":579,"_246":854},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/800711770486",[],"Air Cleaning Technology","https://www.iqair.com/newsroom?tag=Air%20Cleaning%20Technology",{"_10":856,"_577":857,"_541":858,"_29":579,"_246":761,"_573":859},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/780153389430",[],"For Organizations",[860,863,868,872,877,882],{"_10":861,"_577":862,"_541":311,"_29":579,"_246":753},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/780153422198",[],{"_10":864,"_577":865,"_541":866,"_29":579,"_246":867},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/780153454966",[],"Request a Bid","https://www.iqair.com/commercial/request-a-bid",{"_10":869,"_577":870,"_541":871,"_29":579,"_246":723},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/780153487734",[],"Chat with an Expert",{"_10":873,"_577":874,"_541":875,"_29":579,"_246":876},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/780153520502",[],"Clean Air Facility","https://www.iqair.com/commercial-applications/clean-air-facilities",{"_10":878,"_577":879,"_541":880,"_29":579,"_246":881},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/780153553270",[],"Clean Air School","https://www.iqair.com/commercial-applications/clean-air-school",{"_10":883,"_577":884,"_541":885,"_29":579,"_246":886},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/780153586038",[],"Dashboard","https://www.iqair.com/commercial-air-quality-monitors/enterprise-dashboard",{"_10":888,"_577":889,"_541":390,"_29":579,"_246":761,"_573":890},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779353850230",[],[891,894,899,903,907,912],{"_10":892,"_577":893,"_541":606,"_29":579,"_246":607},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779360797046",[],{"_10":895,"_577":896,"_541":897,"_29":579,"_246":898},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779355292022",[],"AirVisual Platform","https://www.iqair.com/us/commercial-air-quality-monitors/airvisual-platform",{"_10":900,"_577":901,"_541":902,"_29":579,"_246":150},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779360698742",[],"Historical Air Quality Data",{"_10":904,"_577":905,"_541":906,"_29":579,"_246":138},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779360731510",[],"Live AQI⁺ City Ranking",{"_10":908,"_577":909,"_541":910,"_29":579,"_246":911},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779360764278",[],"World Air Quality Report","https://www.iqair.com/world-air-quality-report",{"_10":913,"_577":914,"_541":915,"_29":579,"_246":580},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779360829814",[],"World Air Quality",{"_10":917,"_577":918,"_541":919,"_29":579,"_246":761,"_573":920},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779353817462",[],"Shop Our Products",[921,925,929,932,935],{"_10":922,"_577":923,"_541":924,"_29":579,"_246":727},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779360633206",[],"About IQAir Air Purifiers",{"_10":926,"_577":927,"_541":277,"_29":579,"_246":928},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779360534902",[],"https://www.iqair.com/commercial-face-masks",{"_10":930,"_577":931,"_541":207,"_29":579,"_246":735},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779355259254",[],{"_10":933,"_577":934,"_541":743,"_29":579,"_246":744},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779360502134",[],{"_10":936,"_577":937,"_541":938,"_29":579,"_246":727},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/779360469366",[],"Shop All Air Purifiers",{"_10":940,"_577":941,"_541":942,"_29":579,"_246":761,"_573":943},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/792389091702",[],"Shop Our Solutions",[944,949,954,959,964,969,974],{"_10":945,"_577":946,"_541":947,"_29":579,"_246":948},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/792390140278",[],"Air Purifiers for Asthma","https://www.iqair.com/products/air-purifiers-for-asthma",{"_10":950,"_577":951,"_541":952,"_29":579,"_246":953},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/792390173046",[],"Air Purifiers for Mold","https://www.iqair.com/products/air-purifiers-for-mold",{"_10":955,"_577":956,"_541":957,"_29":579,"_246":958},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/792390205814",[],"Air Purifiers for Smoke","https://www.iqair.com/products/air-purifiers-for-cigarette-smoke",{"_10":960,"_577":961,"_541":962,"_29":579,"_246":963},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/792390238582",[],"Air Purifiers for Pets","https://www.iqair.com/products/air-purifiers-for-pets",{"_10":965,"_577":966,"_541":967,"_29":579,"_246":968},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/792390271350",[],"Air Purifiers for Dust","https://www.iqair.com/products/air-purifiers-for-dust",{"_10":970,"_577":971,"_541":972,"_29":579,"_246":973},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/792390304118",[],"Air Purifiers for Odor","https://www.iqair.com/products/air-purifiers-for-odor",{"_10":975,"_577":976,"_541":977,"_29":579,"_246":978},"gid://shopify/MenuItem/792390336886",[],"Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke","https://www.iqair.com/air-purifiers-for-wildfire-smoke","giftWrappingMenu","seo",{"_541":982,"_983":984,"_985":986,"_246":987,"_988":989,"_1026":-7},"IQAir | First in Air Quality","description","IQAir is the world’s leading innovator of Indoor Air Quality solutions. Our passion is to help people live longer, healthier lives by creating the most ...","handle","@airvisual","https://iqair-website.vercel.app/newsroom?cursor=eyJsYXN0X2lkIjo2MDY4ODIxMzYzNjMsImxhc3RfdmFsdWUiOjE2Njk5MzMzMjcwMDAsIm9mZnNldCI6NzF9&direction=next&tag=Health+and+Wellness","jsonLd",{"_990":991,"_992":993,"_12":994,"_373":995,"_996":997,"_1006":1007,"_246":987,"_1019":1020},"@context","https://schema.org","@type","Organization","IQAir","https://www.iqair.com/dl/web/logos/ic-logo-iq-air-blue.svg","sameAs",[998,999,1000,1001,1002,1003,1004,1005],"https://www.facebook.com/iqair","https://twitter.com/IQAir","https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-iqair-group","https://www.instagram.com/iqair/","https://www.youtube.com/IQAir","https://www.pinterest.com/IQAir/","https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.airvisual&hl=en_US&gl=US","https://apps.apple.com/us/app/iqair-airvisual-air-quality/id1048912974","contactPoint",[1008,1016],{"_992":1009,"_1010":1011,"_1012":1013,"_1014":1015},"ContactPoint","telephone","+1-866-488-1918","contactType","customer service","areaServed","US",{"_992":1009,"_1010":1017,"_1012":1013,"_1014":1018},"+86-400-108-5117","CN","potentialAction",{"_992":1021,"_1022":1023,"_1024":1025},"SearchAction","target","https://iqair-website.vercel.app/search-results?q={search_term}","query","required name='search_term'","robots","requestInfo",{"_1029":1030,"_1043":1044},"userPreferences",{"_1031":1032,"_1041":1015,"_1042":-7},"units",{"_1033":1034,"_1035":1036,"_1037":1038,"_1039":1040},"distance","kilometer","temperature","celsius","pressure","millibar","system","metric","AQI","timezone","userLocation",{"_18":1015,"_1045":1046,"_1047":1048,"_1049":1050,"_1042":1051,"_1052":1053,"_1054":1055},"countryName","United States","countryRegion","OH","city","Columbus","America/New_York","lat",39.9587,"lng",-82.9987,["P",1056],"ENV",{"_1059":1060,"_1061":1062,"_1063":1064,"_1065":1066,"_1067":1068,"_1069":1070,"_1071":1072,"_1073":1074,"_1075":-7,"_1076":1077,"_1078":1079,"_1080":1081,"_1082":1083,"_1084":-7,"_1085":1086},"MODE","production","GOOGLE_TAG_MANAGER_ID","GTM-PPQMD6","FACEBOOK_LOGIN_APP_ID","398656046993675","GOOGLE_LOGIN_CLIENT_ID","351521898-5bj7u78k0elfc3pod2gkejvfnju8hncf.apps.googleusercontent.com","APPLE_LOGIN_CLIENT_ID","4235W294QP.com.airvisual.airvisual","PUBLIC_STORE_DOMAIN","iqair-global-eur.myshopify.com","PUBLIC_SHOP_ID","67740598571","IQAIR_DASHBOARD_DOMAIN","dashboard.iqair.com","WAF_SDK","CUSTOM_EMBEDDABLE_MAP_CONSTANTS_HOST","https://www.airvisual.com","AIRVISUAL_CDN_DOMAIN","https://cdn.airvisual.net","AIRVISUAL_OSM_DOMAIN","https://osm.airvisual.net","AIRVISUAL_WIND_URL","https://website-api.airvisual.com/prod/current-wind-surface-level-gfs-1.0.json","AIRVISUAL_EARTH_URL","VERCEL","1",["P",1087],"consent",{"_1090":1091,"_1092":1093},"checkoutDomain","shop-gl-eur.iqair.com","storefrontAccessToken","cc75eb5159fc569ed0c0f968a231755c","selectedLocale",{"_1096":1097,"_1098":1099,"_1100":1101,"_1102":17,"_1103":1104,"_1105":43},"label","International","language","EN","country","DE","currency","flag","/dl/assets/svg/ic-worlwide.svg","pathPrefix","userAgent","Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)","dismissedCountryBanner","requestOrigin","https://iqair-website.vercel.app","routes/$(locale)",{},"routes/$(locale).newsroom._index",{"_1115":1116,"_1339":653,"_980":1340,"_1344":1345},"blog",{"_541":1117,"_980":1118,"_1119":1120},"IQAir News",{"_541":-5,"_983":-5},"articles",{"_1121":1122,"_1331":1332},"nodes",[1123,1154,1172,1188,1201,1217,1233,1249,1265,1281,1298,1314],{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1127,"_1115":1129,"_1131":1132,"_1133":1132,"_1134":1135,"_1136":1137,"_985":1138,"_10":1139,"_1140":1141,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1144,"_577":1145,"_541":1146,"_1147":1148},"__typename","Article","author",{"_12":1128},"Shopify API",{"_985":1130},"news","excerpt","There are proven ways to protect yourself from the viruses that make up the tridemic. Learn more.","excerptHtml","content","Health officials have started to warn the public about the dangers posed by an imminent “tridemic,” three different endemic and pandemic viruses that are becoming prevalent around the same time. Because airborne viruses can be so easily transmitted between people, it’s important to have a strategy to mitigate your risk. What is the tridemic? The tridemic, or “tripledemic”, refers to the risk of being exposed to a variety of pathogens, mainly influenza (flu), SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that leads to the COVID-19 disease), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The tridemic refers to the risk of being exposed to a variety of pathogens, mainly the flu, SARS-CoV-2, and RSV. Health organizations reported that the flu was widespread in the U.S., Russia, and Austria (1) (2) (3). SARS-CoV-2 infections have been steady across much of the world, though more widespread in some countries in Austria, Greece, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Australia (4). Rhinoviruses and enteroviruses (viruses that often show themselves as the common cold) spread is also on an upswing, further complicating the already concerning risks to public health. Due to the widely publicized dangers associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, those risks can be poorly understood. The viruses associated with these illnesses can be life-threatening. Flu incidents were significantly reduced as a secondary result of COVID precautions and mitigation precautions during both the 2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022 flu seasons (5). The flu can be deadly. Though flu is commonly circulated in winter months and familiar to the public, it is important to remember that the flu can be deadly. For example, the United States experienced 390,000 flu-related hospitalizations and 25,000 flu-related deaths (6). During that same year, 1,076 Australians died from influenza (7). Public officials emphasize that both COVID-19 and flu vaccination provide the best protection from illness. The third virus within the tridemic, RSV, poses a more targeted risk than flu and SARS-CoV-2, and should be no less of a concern for the public. RSV infection can result in respiratory illness and death, primarily impacting infants, people over the age of 65, or children with lung or heart disease. Annually, there are an estimated 100,000 RSV deaths globally (8). There are preventative medicines for RSV and as of December 2022 a potential vaccine is being developed and reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for older adults and children (9). As of the fall, many COVID-19 vaccine recipients have waning immunization if they haven’t kept up on booster shots. When flu and RSV risks are combined with reduced COVID-19 immunization, there is an amplified need to be attentive to prevention strategies. What can we do to help control the spread of viruses? Several strategies have been used and proven effective in reducing COVID-19 transmission. When recommended by public health officials, there are several steps that have demonstrated their effectiveness: 1. social distancing: maintaining six feet or greater distance between yourself and others in public2. vaccination: getting vaccinated and having timely vaccination booster shots3. wearing a mask: ideally, wearing a K95 / N95 / FFP2 respirator in public spaces4. ventilation: maintaining natural ventilation to control aerosols when practical during appropriate seasons5. hand washing: frequently washing hands and avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth.6. air purification can play an important role in controlling virus infection, though it is not the sole component of a virus mitigation strategy HEPA air purification combined with mitigation strategies has demonstrated its effectiveness in controlling virus circulation. Given these recommendations, air purification isn’t the first line of defense in virus protection. But HEPA air purification combined with those proven mitigation strategies has demonstrated its effectiveness in controlling virus circulation. Public health organizations like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Public Health Ontario, and the government of New Zealand recommend using HEPA air purifiers to help control exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (10) (11) (12) (13). The Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HKHA), selected HyperHEPA filtration to control both SARS-CoV-1 (SARS) in 2003 and relied on the same filtration to manage SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Learn more. How IQAir’s HyperHEPA technology helps fight viruses IQAir’s high-performance HyperHEPA technology is proven to capture viruses. Virus particles are among the smallest particles on earth, ranging from 0.005 to 0.3 microns in diameter. They can be transmitted between people when respiratory droplets are expelled as infected people cough, sneeze, or breathe. Viruses like SARS CoV-2 can then be spread through contact, short range transmission, or become aerosolized and infect people through in long-range transmission. When air remains unfiltered in a room for a long period of time, airborne concentrations of a virus can become high. IQAir filtration and engineered filtration pressure differentials can then be helpful in capturing aerosolized particles. IQAir’s HyperHEPA technology is proven to trap ultrafine particulate matter as small as 0.003 microns in diameter, the smallest particles that exist. IQAir’s HyperHEPA technology is proven to trap ultrafine particulate matter as small as 0.003 microns in diameter, the smallest particles that exist The Takeaway While the tridemic should be a cause for concern, effective mitigation strategies can make your gatherings and environments safer. And high-performance air purification can be effective in helping keep viruses out of homes, schools, and workplaces. When partnered with effective, proven strategies for virus control, it is possible to reduce risk and enjoy the season.","contentHtml","

Health officials have started to warn the public about the dangers posed by an imminent “tridemic,” three different endemic and pandemic viruses that are becoming prevalent around the same time. Because airborne viruses can be so easily transmitted between people, it’s important to have a strategy to mitigate your risk.

What is the tridemic?

The tridemic, or “tripledemic”, refers to the risk of being exposed to a variety of pathogens, mainly influenza (flu), SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that leads to the COVID-19 disease), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The tridemic refers to the risk of being exposed to a variety of pathogens, mainly the flu, SARS-CoV-2, and RSV.

Health organizations reported that the flu was widespread in the U.S., Russia, and Austria (1) (2) (3). SARS-CoV-2 infections have been steady across much of the world, though more widespread in some countries in Austria, Greece, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Australia (4).

Rhinoviruses and enteroviruses (viruses that often show themselves as the common cold) spread is also on an upswing, further complicating the already concerning risks to public health.

Due to the widely publicized dangers associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, those risks can be poorly understood. The viruses associated with these illnesses can be life-threatening. Flu incidents were significantly reduced as a secondary result of COVID precautions and mitigation precautions during both the 2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022 flu seasons (5).

The flu can be deadly.

Though flu is commonly circulated in winter months and familiar to the public, it is important to remember that the flu can be deadly. For example, the United States experienced 390,000 flu-related hospitalizations and 25,000 flu-related deaths (6). During that same year, 1,076 Australians died from influenza (7).

Public officials emphasize that both COVID-19 and flu vaccination provide the best protection from illness.

The third virus within the tridemic, RSV, poses a more targeted risk than flu and SARS-CoV-2, and should be no less of a concern for the public. RSV infection can result in respiratory illness and death, primarily impacting infants, people over the age of 65, or children with lung or heart disease. Annually, there are an estimated 100,000 RSV deaths globally (8).

There are preventative medicines for RSV and as of December 2022 a potential vaccine is being developed and reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for older adults and children (9).

As of the fall, many COVID-19 vaccine recipients have waning immunization if they haven’t kept up on booster shots. When flu and RSV risks are combined with reduced COVID-19 immunization, there is an amplified need to be attentive to prevention strategies.

What can we do to help control the spread of viruses?

Several strategies have been used and proven effective in reducing COVID-19 transmission. When recommended by public health officials, there are several steps that have demonstrated their effectiveness:

1. social distancing: maintaining six feet or greater distance between yourself and others in public
2. vaccination: getting vaccinated and having timely vaccination booster shots
3. wearing a mask: ideally, wearing a K95 / N95 / FFP2 respirator in public spaces
4. ventilation: maintaining natural ventilation to control aerosols when practical during appropriate seasons
5. hand washing: frequently washing hands and avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth.
6. air purification can play an important role in controlling virus infection, though it is not the sole component of a virus mitigation strategy

HEPA air purification combined with mitigation strategies has demonstrated its effectiveness in controlling virus circulation.

Given these recommendations, air purification isn’t the first line of defense in virus protection. But HEPA air purification combined with those proven mitigation strategies has demonstrated its effectiveness in controlling virus circulation.

Public health organizations like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Public Health Ontario, and the government of New Zealand recommend using HEPA air purifiers to help control exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (10) (11) (12) (13).

The Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HKHA), selected HyperHEPA filtration to control both SARS-CoV-1 (SARS) in 2003 and relied on the same filtration to manage SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Learn more.

How IQAir’s HyperHEPA technology helps fight viruses

IQAir’s high-performance HyperHEPA technology is proven to capture viruses.

Virus particles are among the smallest particles on earth, ranging from 0.005 to 0.3 microns in diameter. They can be transmitted between people when respiratory droplets are expelled as infected people cough, sneeze, or breathe. Viruses like SARS CoV-2 can then be spread through contact, short range transmission, or become aerosolized and infect people through in long-range transmission.

When air remains unfiltered in a room for a long period of time, airborne concentrations of a virus can become high. IQAir filtration and engineered filtration pressure differentials can then be helpful in capturing aerosolized particles. IQAir’s HyperHEPA technology is proven to trap ultrafine particulate matter as small as 0.003 microns in diameter, the smallest particles that exist.

IQAir’s HyperHEPA technology is proven to trap ultrafine particulate matter as small as 0.003 microns in diameter, the smallest particles that exist

The Takeaway

While the tridemic should be a cause for concern, effective mitigation strategies can make your gatherings and environments safer. And high-performance air purification can be effective in helping keep viruses out of homes, schools, and workplaces.

When partnered with effective, proven strategies for virus control, it is possible to reduce risk and enjoy the season.

","tridemic-how-to-protect-yourself","gid://shopify/Article/606872797483","onlineStoreUrl","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/tridemic-how-to-protect-yourself","trackingParameters","publishedAt","2022-11-10T20:00:00Z",[853,653],"Tridemic: 6 Important ways to protect yourself from RSV, flu, and COVID-19","image",{"_10":1149,"_243":1150,"_246":1151,"_248":1152,"_244":1153},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406761800054","man receiving nasal swab","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/AQL_Tridemic_Desk_B_e4297dda-9093-4488-b10b-27c83cb292e0.jpg?v=1753271696",2880,1000,{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1155,"_1115":1157,"_1131":1158,"_1133":1158,"_1134":1159,"_1136":1160,"_985":1161,"_10":1162,"_1140":1163,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1164,"_577":1165,"_541":1166,"_1147":1167},{"_12":1156},"IQAir Staff Writers",{"_985":1130},"IQAir helps double lung transplant recipient breathe easier and live a better life.","For many of us, our earliest memories are innocent, and happy. Aaron Carroll’s earliest memory is different: “Back then, hospital cribs had metal bars. My earliest memory is my little toddler hands on the bars looking out into the hospital pod.”Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Aaron was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was six months old and hospital visits were frequent.Due to those youthful hospital stays he must, to this day, sleep with lights on. And not just any light -- the bright white fluorescent light used in hospitals.“I'm used to that hue,” explains Aaron. “It's very strange.”For most people, Aaron Carroll’s life would be considered one of misfortune, but Aaron Carroll is not among those people. In spite of his struggles with cystic fibrosis and other serious illnesses, he considers himself fortunate. And now that IQAir has given Aaron the gift of cleaner air, he can look toward a continually brighter future.Cystic fibrosisCystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that causes the naturally occurring mucus in the body’s organs and tissues to thicken (1). The complications that arise from this progressive condition include blockages, infections, and inflammation to the affected areas.In addition to causing damage to the digestive tract, pancreas, and liver, cystic fibrosis most commonly impacts the lungs where clotted mucus clogs the airways, which makes breathing difficult and can ultimately lead to respiratory failure. The mucus also traps bacteria, increasing the risks of infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis (2).Scarring of the lungs, known as bronchiectasis, is a known consequence of the disease, as is pneumothorax, which can cause a partial or complete lung collapse from air that leaks out of the lung into the chest wall space (3).Unfortunately, a life with cystic fibrosis can be a life filled with difficult medical treatments.An uphill climbAt around 15, Aaron’s illness worsened, and he started to get “cleanouts,” which are stays in the hospital during which a patient receives antibiotics and respiratory treatments multiple times a day, possibly along with physical therapy and other care (4).For Aaron, these hospital visits were two-to-four-weeks-long.“You’re in isolation at least once a year,” he states. “One year I went three times.”The way gets smootherAaron remembers his lung function improving in his later teens, but cleanouts were still a yearly routine.At 23, Aaron reconnected with a young lady, Tessia, who he had known since he was five. Two years later they were married.“My wife is just everything to me,” Aaron gushes. “She has been my nurse. She's been my best friend.” Aaron and Tessia added two “incredible” sons to their household.Aaron’s main activity is computing, which he taught himself and he has become quite proficient. He also enjoys collecting, and manages a community of about 20,000 people who are enthusiasts of CNC art, which is machined pieces of steel made into art. But his favorite items to acquire are Optimus Prime collectibles.“Every time I had a surgery, or I had to go to the hospital, my mom would buy me a Lego or a Transformer like Optimus Prime. I identify him now as a source of strength.”More obstaclesAfter the first couple of years of marriage, Aaron was forced to rely on an oxygen machine to breathe and a wheelchair to get around but he still “enjoyed a very full life.” However, the disease’s progression ultimately necessitated a double lung transplant to help improve his quality of life and hopefully extend it.Recovery road“They gave me the transplant five years ago,” states Aaron. “It was May 2nd. The transplant team (from the Norton Thoracic Institute) at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, which is the best in the country, say I was the fastest patient to ever wake up, to walk, and the fastest patient they've ever had discharged after a transplant.”Pictured: Aaron Carroll after his double lung transplant in May 2017.Aaron’s new lungs, or as he calls them, “preowned lungs” are now clear of cystic fibrosis even though the rest of his body still harbors it. A little time after the surgery, he and Tessia celebrated the birth of their second baby boy.“Getting the transplant and being able to have my youngest son was like a miracle,” Aaron expresses with great emotion. “I got in touch with the donor family because I wanted to tell them that they didn't just save my life, they created another with their gift to me.”Aaron gets the gift of clean airIn addition to all his other medical struggles, Aaron has “really terrible allergies.” A friend in his online community gifted him an Atem desk air purifier from IQAir to help reduce Aaron’s allergic reactions.“I immediately noticed less allergy issues,” he remembers.Shortly thereafter, he acquired IQAir’s top-of-the-line room air purifier, the HealthPro Plus.Aaron reports that after every transplant clinic visit since he received his IQAir systems, his doctors noted a pronounced increase in lung function.“That is absolutely incredible,” reveals Aaron and adds, “It's such a blessing. I was able to put my Atem desk unit next to my bed so when I sleep it blows right on me. And we have the big unit in the living room.”The journey continuesAaron’s doctors marveled at his resilience. Looking forward, the medical team has identified him as a prime candidate for a second transplant when the time comes, since his lung function has shown great improvement and he follows their directions “to the letter of the law,” helping to ensure positive outcomes. “I'm very grateful to you and your company. My doctor said you don't really have transplant patients five years out where their lung function is still climbing. I think that is in no small part due to IQAir.”Into the futureWhen he was young, Aaron was told that people with cystic fibrosis don’t usually live past 18 years of age. He is now 39 years old and continues moving forward.“I just love my life. I don't have the words to thank you for everything you have done for me.”","

For many of us, our earliest memories are innocent, and happy. Aaron Carroll’s earliest memory is different: “Back then, hospital cribs had metal bars. My earliest memory is my little toddler hands on the bars looking out into the hospital pod.”

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Aaron was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was six months old and hospital visits were frequent.

Due to those youthful hospital stays he must, to this day, sleep with lights on. And not just any light -- the bright white fluorescent light used in hospitals.

“I'm used to that hue,” explains Aaron. “It's very strange.”

For most people, Aaron Carroll’s life would be considered one of misfortune, but Aaron Carroll is not among those people. In spite of his struggles with cystic fibrosis and other serious illnesses, he considers himself fortunate. And now that IQAir has given Aaron the gift of cleaner air, he can look toward a continually brighter future.

Cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that causes the naturally occurring mucus in the body’s organs and tissues to thicken (1). The complications that arise from this progressive condition include blockages, infections, and inflammation to the affected areas.

In addition to causing damage to the digestive tract, pancreas, and liver, cystic fibrosis most commonly impacts the lungs where clotted mucus clogs the airways, which makes breathing difficult and can ultimately lead to respiratory failure. The mucus also traps bacteria, increasing the risks of infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis (2).

Scarring of the lungs, known as bronchiectasis, is a known consequence of the disease, as is pneumothorax, which can cause a partial or complete lung collapse from air that leaks out of the lung into the chest wall space (3).

Unfortunately, a life with cystic fibrosis can be a life filled with difficult medical treatments.

An uphill climb

At around 15, Aaron’s illness worsened, and he started to get “cleanouts,” which are stays in the hospital during which a patient receives antibiotics and respiratory treatments multiple times a day, possibly along with physical therapy and other care (4).

For Aaron, these hospital visits were two-to-four-weeks-long.

“You’re in isolation at least once a year,” he states. “One year I went three times.”

The way gets smoother

Aaron remembers his lung function improving in his later teens, but cleanouts were still a yearly routine.

At 23, Aaron reconnected with a young lady, Tessia, who he had known since he was five. Two years later they were married.

“My wife is just everything to me,” Aaron gushes. “She has been my nurse. She's been my best friend.”

Aaron and Tessia added two “incredible” sons to their household.

Aaron’s main activity is computing, which he taught himself and he has become quite proficient. He also enjoys collecting, and manages a community of about 20,000 people who are enthusiasts of CNC art, which is machined pieces of steel made into art. But his favorite items to acquire are Optimus Prime collectibles.

“Every time I had a surgery, or I had to go to the hospital, my mom would buy me a Lego or a Transformer like Optimus Prime. I identify him now as a source of strength.”

More obstacles

After the first couple of years of marriage, Aaron was forced to rely on an oxygen machine to breathe and a wheelchair to get around but he still “enjoyed a very full life.” However, the disease’s progression ultimately necessitated a double lung transplant to help improve his quality of life and hopefully extend it.

Recovery road

“They gave me the transplant five years ago,” states Aaron. “It was May 2nd. The transplant team (from the Norton Thoracic Institute) at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, which is the best in the country, say I was the fastest patient to ever wake up, to walk, and the fastest patient they've ever had discharged after a transplant.”

$\"Aaron$

Pictured: Aaron Carroll after his double lung transplant in May 2017.

Aaron’s new lungs, or as he calls them, “preowned lungs” are now clear of cystic fibrosis even though the rest of his body still harbors it. A little time after the surgery, he and Tessia celebrated the birth of their second baby boy.

“Getting the transplant and being able to have my youngest son was like a miracle,” Aaron expresses with great emotion. “I got in touch with the donor family because I wanted to tell them that they didn't just save my life, they created another with their gift to me.”

Aaron gets the gift of clean air

In addition to all his other medical struggles, Aaron has “really terrible allergies.” A friend in his online community gifted him an Atem desk air purifier from IQAir to help reduce Aaron’s allergic reactions.

“I immediately noticed less allergy issues,” he remembers.

Shortly thereafter, he acquired IQAir’s top-of-the-line room air purifier, the HealthPro Plus.

Aaron reports that after every transplant clinic visit since he received his IQAir systems, his doctors noted a pronounced increase in lung function.

“That is absolutely incredible,” reveals Aaron and adds, “It's such a blessing. I was able to put my Atem desk unit next to my bed so when I sleep it blows right on me. And we have the big unit in the living room.”

The journey continues

Aaron’s doctors marveled at his resilience. Looking forward, the medical team has identified him as a prime candidate for a second transplant when the time comes, since his lung function has shown great improvement and he follows their directions “to the letter of the law,” helping to ensure positive outcomes.

“I'm very grateful to you and your company. My doctor said you don't really have transplant patients five years out where their lung function is still climbing. I think that is in no small part due to IQAir.”

Into the future

When he was young, Aaron was told that people with cystic fibrosis don’t usually live past 18 years of age. He is now 39 years old and continues moving forward.

“I just love my life. I don't have the words to thank you for everything you have done for me.”
\n\n

","iqair-helps-double-lung-transplant-recipient-aaron-carroll-breathe-easier","gid://shopify/Article/606872273195","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/iqair-helps-double-lung-transplant-recipient-aaron-carroll-breathe-easier","2022-10-04T15:30:00Z",[390,653,838],"IQAir helps double lung recipient Aaron Carroll breathe easier",{"_10":1168,"_243":1169,"_246":1170,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406440313206","Aaron Carroll and family sitting on couch","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/AQL_AaronCarroll_Desktop_c155c764-5168-4fce-82f5-fd5458530efb.jpg?v=1752139519",1500,{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1173,"_1115":1174,"_1131":1175,"_1133":1175,"_1134":1176,"_1136":1177,"_985":1178,"_10":1179,"_1140":1180,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1181,"_577":1182,"_541":1183,"_1147":1184},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"Vacationing in a major city? Find out if it made our list of cities with the healthiest air quality","2022 Summer Vacation Hotspots with Clean AirWhen planning a trip to a big city, most travelers consider safety. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks about a city’s air quality, despite pollution being an important health consideration.Following are some of the big cities that ranked high for clean air in IQAir’s 2021 World Air Quality Report. All the cities listed are highly sought out by travelers and have been reported to be safe to visit. Note that all air quality reports are an annual average PM2.5 concentration measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3).Cities where you can breathe easiestThere were two major metropolitan tourist favourites that met the annual average goal for PM2.5 concentrations of 5 µg/m3 or lower that was set by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021 as part of their new, stronger air quality guidelines.These guidelines were in response to the latest evidence-based data and a better understanding by air quality and health experts that any amount of air pollution poses dangers to an individual’s wellbeing.IQAir’s AirVisual Platform directly adopted these new guidelines as its standard for measuring and ranking the air quality of cities, regions, and countries.The World Health Organization, cognizant that their new air quality guidelines could not be met overnight, also instituted four interim targets (IT1 – IT4) to help motivate all countries and communities to continually strengthen their air pollution reduction efforts towards ultimately meeting the more stringent goal of 5 µg/m3 or lower.The AirVisual Platform also relies on these interim targets to gauge where air quality is improving or deteriorating. This list only includes metropolitan destinations that recorded an annual average PM2.5 concentration below 10 µg/m3, which was, up until 2021, the air quality index goal set by the WHO, and is now the lowest interim target (IT4), in theirs and IQAir’s updated air quality guidelines.Read on to see which cities got on the list. The #1 city may surprise you.Tied for 7th: Lisbon, Portugal; San Francisco, California; and Ottawa, OntarioOne of the reasons that Lisbon’s air is moderately clean is the introduction of a low emissions zone in the city.Three cities, Lisbon, San Francisco, and Canada’s Ottawa all registered an annual PM2.5 concentration of 8.2 µg/m3. There are distinct reasons for these cities’ decent air quality.Lisbon contains a low emissions zone that contributes to its moderately clean air. The city also supports cycling, including: (1) increased cycle lanes cycle sharing programs financial help, up to 50%, on the purchase of a bike California’s strong emission requirements, along with San Francisco’s coastal location, its natural topography, and general lack of industrial production plants in the city’s limits contribute to the low level of PM2.5 concentrations. Emissions from the transportation sector, including maritime shipping, are a main cause of air pollution in the City by the Bay. Wildfires have increasingly become another major problem for the area’s atmosphere.Research in 2021 found several “hot spots” of air pollution in the Canadian capital.Despite Ottawa’s relatively healthy air quality, due in part to the city’s recent focus on creating bicycle-friendly infrastructure, research in 2021 found several “hot spots” of air pollution in the Canadian capital. Depending on the specific area, the suspected sources were industrial emissions, diesel exhaust, crosstown traffic, freeway traffic and construction (2).6. Dublin, IrelandDublin Ireland’s annual average PM2.5 concentration of 7.8 µg/m3 was down from 10.6 µg/m3 in 2019. The country must adhere to regulations from the European Union, which recently required Dublin to prepare an air quality action plan (3). In addition, Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency enforces Industrial Emissions (IE) and Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licensing to help limit emissions from the industrial and power generation sectors.5. Oslo, NorwayThe annual average PM2.5 concentration in Oslo, Norway was 7.5 µg/m3 in 2021. To reach this level, the metropolitan area of almost 1.6 million credits: a tightening in the requirements of Norway’s Pollution Control Regulations air quality criteria in Oslo that is even stricter than the national regulations an increasingly cleaner vehicle fleet measures to reduce wood burning favourable weather conditions 4. Stockholm, SwedenStockholm, Sweden measured an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 6.0 µg/m3. The city generates 60% of its energy from cleaner hydroelectric sources and also makes use of Sweden’s wind power energy network that provides the country with more than 17% of its electricity (4).The Swedish National Environmental Quality Objectives… require every municipality to meet environmental quality standards (EQS) or else establish a local air quality plan.Tough emission standards for vehicles and industries were mandated by the European Union, but the Swedish National Environmental Quality Objectives encompass even more stringent goals. They require that every municipality meet environmental quality standards (EQS), or they have to establish a local air quality plan (5). Tied for 3rd: Helsinki, Finland and Nassau, BahamasHelsinki, Finland and Nassau in The Bahamas registered 5.5 µg/m3 for annual average PM2.5 concentrations, just missing the WHO annual guidelines by 0.5 µg/m3. However, 5.5 µg/m3 for PM2.5 is still much better than most cities. Accounting for Helsinki’s clean air are: (6), (7), (8) strong environmental regulations government investment in renewable energy a robust public transportation system its geographical location that helps limit transborder air pollution Nassau’s clean air is credited to strong easterly trade winds most of the year, and wind from all directions the rest of the year. Also, the islands have little industrial activity (9). When air quality in the Bahamas becomes somewhat unsafe, it is largely due to emissions from: (10) electricity generation vehicles waste burning 2. San Juan, Puerto RicoOur runner up for cleanest big city air is San Juan.Funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) replaced old school buses and short-haul trucks at the Port of San Juan.The capital and largest city in Puerto Rico has many tourist-friendly areas and healthy air. Its annual average PM2.5 concentration in 2021 was 4.8 µg/m3. This was partly because U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided funding to replace old school buses and short-haul trucks at the Port of San Juan. This improved the area’s annual average PM2.5 concentration to fall under the WHO recommended guideline of 5.0 µg/m3 (11).1. Honolulu, HawaiiHonolulu recorded the safest annual average air quality, 3.9 µg/m3, of any major city in North America.Though the Hawaiian Islands are known for their wealth of nature-filled experiences, plenty of urban attractions are also at hand. With a greater metro population of close to one million, Honolulu recorded the safest annual average air quality, 3.9 µg/m3, of any major city in North America and on this list.Abundant wind and rain help maintain Honolulu’s clean air, as do the lack of heavy industry (12). The leading contributors of the air pollution the city does experience include: (13) high vehicle density volcanic activity on the nearby island of Hawaii the creation of maritime aerosols by wind blowing over the surface of the Pacific Ocean Honorable mentionsOther metro vacation hotspots with 2021 average PM2.5 concentrations (in parenthesis) under 10.0 µg/m3 include: • Tokyo, Japan (9.1) • Washington D.C. (9.1) • Madrid, Spain (9.4) • Copenhagen, Denmark (9.7) • London, England (9.8) • Bern, Switzerland (9.8)ConclusionNo matter where you travel or when you go, factoring in your destination’s air quality will help protect the health of you and your companions. Monitoring an air quality index (AQI) will not only provide you with present conditions but also historical readings of air pollution and future air quality forecasts. This way you can be as informed as possible when finally answering that question we all asked ourselves at the end of the school year: “Where should I go for summer vacation?”","

2022 Summer Vacation Hotspots with Clean Air

When planning a trip to a big city, most travelers consider safety. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks about a city’s air quality, despite pollution being an important health consideration.

Following are some of the big cities that ranked high for clean air in IQAir’s 2021 World Air Quality Report. All the cities listed are highly sought out by travelers and have been reported to be safe to visit. Note that all air quality reports are an annual average PM2.5 concentration measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3).

Cities where you can breathe easiest

There were two major metropolitan tourist favourites that met the annual average goal for PM2.5 concentrations of 5 µg/m3 or lower that was set by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021 as part of their new, stronger air quality guidelines.

These guidelines were in response to the latest evidence-based data and a better understanding by air quality and health experts that any amount of air pollution poses dangers to an individual’s wellbeing.

IQAir’s AirVisual Platform directly adopted these new guidelines as its standard for measuring and ranking the air quality of cities, regions, and countries.

The World Health Organization, cognizant that their new air quality guidelines could not be met overnight, also instituted four interim targets (IT1 – IT4) to help motivate all countries and communities to continually strengthen their air pollution reduction efforts towards ultimately meeting the more stringent goal of 5 µg/m3 or lower.

The AirVisual Platform also relies on these interim targets to gauge where air quality is improving or deteriorating.

This list only includes metropolitan destinations that recorded an annual average PM2.5 concentration below 10 µg/m3, which was, up until 2021, the air quality index goal set by the WHO, and is now the lowest interim target (IT4), in theirs and IQAir’s updated air quality guidelines.

Read on to see which cities got on the list. The #1 city may surprise you.

Tied for 7th: Lisbon, Portugal; San Francisco, California; and Ottawa, Ontario

One of the reasons that Lisbon’s air is moderately clean is the introduction of a low emissions zone in the city.

Three cities, Lisbon, San Francisco, and Canada’s Ottawa all registered an annual PM2.5 concentration of 8.2 µg/m3. There are distinct reasons for these cities’ decent air quality.

Lisbon contains a low emissions zone that contributes to its moderately clean air. The city also supports cycling, including: (1)

increased cycle lanes
cycle sharing programs
financial help, up to 50%, on the purchase of a bike

California’s strong emission requirements, along with San Francisco’s coastal location, its natural topography, and general lack of industrial production plants in the city’s limits contribute to the low level of PM2.5 concentrations. Emissions from the transportation sector, including maritime shipping, are a main cause of air pollution in the City by the Bay. Wildfires have increasingly become another major problem for the area’s atmosphere.

Research in 2021 found several “hot spots” of air pollution in the Canadian capital.

Despite Ottawa’s relatively healthy air quality, due in part to the city’s recent focus on creating bicycle-friendly infrastructure, research in 2021 found several “hot spots” of air pollution in the Canadian capital. Depending on the specific area, the suspected sources were industrial emissions, diesel exhaust, crosstown traffic, freeway traffic and construction (2).

6. Dublin, Ireland

Dublin Ireland’s annual average PM2.5 concentration of 7.8 µg/m3 was down from 10.6 µg/m3 in 2019. The country must adhere to regulations from the European Union, which recently required Dublin to prepare an air quality action plan (3). In addition, Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency enforces Industrial Emissions (IE) and Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licensing to help limit emissions from the industrial and power generation sectors.

5. Oslo, Norway

The annual average PM2.5 concentration in Oslo, Norway was 7.5 µg/m3 in 2021. To reach this level, the metropolitan area of almost 1.6 million credits:

a tightening in the requirements of Norway’s Pollution Control Regulations
air quality criteria in Oslo that is even stricter than the national regulations
an increasingly cleaner vehicle fleet
measures to reduce wood burning
favourable weather conditions

4. Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden measured an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 6.0 µg/m3. The city generates 60% of its energy from cleaner hydroelectric sources and also makes use of Sweden’s wind power energy network that provides the country with more than 17% of its electricity (4).

The Swedish National Environmental Quality Objectives… require every municipality to meet environmental quality standards (EQS) or else establish a local air quality plan.

Tough emission standards for vehicles and industries were mandated by the European Union, but the Swedish National Environmental Quality Objectives encompass even more stringent goals. They require that every municipality meet environmental quality standards (EQS), or they have to establish a local air quality plan (5).

Tied for 3rd: Helsinki, Finland and Nassau, Bahamas

Helsinki, Finland and Nassau in The Bahamas registered 5.5 µg/m3 for annual average PM2.5 concentrations, just missing the WHO annual guidelines by 0.5 µg/m3. However, 5.5 µg/m3 for PM2.5 is still much better than most cities.
\n\nAccounting for Helsinki’s clean air are: (6), (7), (8)

strong environmental regulations
government investment in renewable energy
a robust public transportation system
its geographical location that helps limit transborder air pollution

Nassau’s clean air is credited to strong easterly trade winds most of the year, and wind from all directions the rest of the year. Also, the islands have little industrial activity (9). When air quality in the Bahamas becomes somewhat unsafe, it is largely due to emissions from: (10)

electricity generation
vehicles
waste burning

2. San Juan, Puerto Rico

Our runner up for cleanest big city air is San Juan.

Funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) replaced old school buses and short-haul trucks at the Port of San Juan.

The capital and largest city in Puerto Rico has many tourist-friendly areas and healthy air. Its annual average PM2.5 concentration in 2021 was 4.8 µg/m3. This was partly because U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided funding to replace old school buses and short-haul trucks at the Port of San Juan. This improved the area’s annual average PM2.5 concentration to fall under the WHO recommended guideline of 5.0 µg/m3 (11).

1. Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu recorded the safest annual average air quality, 3.9 µg/m3, of any major city in North America.

Though the Hawaiian Islands are known for their wealth of nature-filled experiences, plenty of urban attractions are also at hand. With a greater metro population of close to one million, Honolulu recorded the safest annual average air quality, 3.9 µg/m3, of any major city in North America and on this list.

Abundant wind and rain help maintain Honolulu’s clean air, as do the lack of heavy industry (12). The leading contributors of the air pollution the city does experience include: (13)

high vehicle density
volcanic activity on the nearby island of Hawaii
the creation of maritime aerosols by wind blowing over the surface of the Pacific Ocean

Honorable mentions

Other metro vacation hotspots with 2021 average PM2.5 concentrations (in parenthesis) under 10.0 µg/m3 include:
\n\n• Tokyo, Japan (9.1)
\n\n• Washington D.C. (9.1)
\n\n• Madrid, Spain (9.4)
\n\n• Copenhagen, Denmark (9.7)
\n\n• London, England (9.8)
\n\n• Bern, Switzerland (9.8)

Conclusion

No matter where you travel or when you go, factoring in your destination’s air quality will help protect the health of you and your companions. Monitoring an air quality index (AQI) will not only provide you with present conditions but also historical readings of air pollution and future air quality forecasts. This way you can be as informed as possible when finally answering that question we all asked ourselves at the end of the school year: “Where should I go for summer vacation?”

","2022-city-vacation-spots-with-clean-air","gid://shopify/Article/606870372651","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/2022-city-vacation-spots-with-clean-air","2022-07-26T17:38:00Z",[390,653],"Big cities with good air quality",{"_10":1185,"_243":1186,"_246":1187,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406884450678","Hong Kong skyline","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/BigCityGOODAQ_Desktop_v2_9c704ed3-15d4-4f51-b417-ec2b041b0a30.jpg?v=1753789368",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1189,"_1115":1190,"_1131":1191,"_1133":1191,"_1134":1192,"_1136":1193,"_985":1194,"_10":1195,"_1140":1196,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1197,"_577":1198,"_541":1200,"_1147":-5},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"How air purification elevates Dr. Kelly Blodgett’s practice to the next level. Learn More.","For Dr. Kelly Blodgett, dentistry is a true calling. After undergraduate studies, his plan was to work towards a doctorate in psychology and counselling. Dr. Blodgett had already been accepted into a program to pursue that goal when in a moment of inspiration, he set his sights on becoming a dentist. Essential to that new calling was a fervent desire to help reverse the negative stereotype of dentistry. “Twenty-seven years after that epiphany, I am still striving to improve patients’ experiences and health outcomes,” Dr. Blodgett relates. His has been a successful endeavour, with patients of his well-established practice in Portland, Oregon benefiting from his dedication to the advancement of the standard of care that his practice offers patients. Dr. Blodgett's tireless pursuit of excellence led him to integrate IQAir air purifiers into his practice, a move that significantly enhanced patient experience. Read on to discover how this has become an indispensable part of his dental office. Clean Air FacilityLearn how to provide the safest, cleanest air possible in your facility. DOWNLOAD NOW ×Close Email No Thanks An innovator Dr. Blodgett became the first dentist in the State of Oregon to be board certified in Naturopathic Medical Dentistry and Integrative Biological Dental Medicine. And while he was becoming certified for SMART (safe mercury amalgam removal technique) by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), he heard about IQAir’s room air purifiers from some of the trade organization’s other members. Dr. Blodgett researched what IQAir could offer his practice to enhance it and help achieve his overarching goal. He was so impressed with the technology of the Dental Series Hg and its specialized mercury filtration that he purchased a system. Not just for mercury vapours In addition to facilitating safe mercury removal procedures, IQAir’s Dental Series Hg also improves environmental control in dentists’ offices by helping to protect against viruses (including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic), bacteria, disinfectants, and other airborne pollutants. IQAir’s patented HyperHEPA filtration in the Dental Series filters 95% of all particles down to 0.003 microns – the smallest particles that exist. “We use them for all procedures now. Patient's love the safety that they offer.” “I soon discovered that it is an awesome device for all aerosol collection, so I bought two more so that we would have one for each of our doctor rooms,” enthuses Dr. Blodgett. “We use them for all procedures now. Patient's love the safety that they offer.” An unexpected benefit Another way that the Dental Series Hg assisted his business came as a pleasant surprise: the curiosity patients expressed about the interesting-looking air purifier with its long receiving nozzle that draws in 300 cubic feet of air per minute. “It demonstrates how we invest in the best health for our patients and our practice.” “This offers us the opportunity to share about the technology, the improved air quality, and it demonstrates how we invest in the best health for our patients and our practice,” Dr. Blodgett relates. A big help in challenging times During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, dental offices in the state of Oregon could only deliver emergency treatments. On May 1, 2020, the state eased that restriction to give dentists the option to accept patients for any treatment. Some in the industry felt that it was still not safe to return to full operations. Dr. Blodgett wasn’t one of them, but he did understand the concerns of those that did worry. He told Portland television station KATU, “If their practice is not equipped to manage aerosols well right now, it would be wise to take another two weeks or four weeks so that they can be properly prepared to manage the airflow around the patients (1).” Numerous studies have shown how poor dental office air quality tends to be. According to Dr. Blodgett, numerous studies have shown how poor dental office air quality tends to be. He cites the dangers of working in an environment like that: “particularly considering the risks of long-term exposure to aerosols and mercury vapor.” He adds, “This is not only unacceptable but also completely avoidable.” Secure a Healthier Dental Environment Discover the Power of IQAir's Dental Series Air Purifiers SHOP NOW The takeaway “IQAir has been an integral part of both the patient experience and the safety we offer in our practice,” states Dr. Blodgett. His advice to other dentists considering high performance air filtration is to make that choice sooner than later. “Don't wait until a patient or, more likely, one of your team members gets sick from chronic exposure to mercury vapour and toxic aerosols. Make the investment for the sake of every person who walks into your office.” Dr. Blodgett concludes, “Frankly, in my opinion, the price point is so reasonable for the health benefits that IQAir provides, there is no reason why every dental operating room shouldn't have a unit like this. And the cost of maintenance is relatively low so there's no barrier to long-term enjoyment of the system.” “Your patients and your team will thank you. Not to mention that you will be differentiating your practice for the right reasons.”","

For Dr. Kelly Blodgett, dentistry is a true calling. After undergraduate studies, his plan was to work towards a doctorate in psychology and counselling. Dr. Blodgett had already been accepted into a program to pursue that goal when in a moment of inspiration, he set his sights on becoming a dentist.

Essential to that new calling was a fervent desire to help reverse the negative stereotype of dentistry.

“Twenty-seven years after that epiphany, I am still striving to improve patients’ experiences and health outcomes,” Dr. Blodgett relates.

His has been a successful endeavour, with patients of his well-established practice in Portland, Oregon benefiting from his dedication to the advancement of the standard of care that his practice offers patients.

Dr. Blodgett's tireless pursuit of excellence led him to integrate IQAir air purifiers into his practice, a move that significantly enhanced patient experience. Read on to discover how this has become an indispensable part of his dental office.

Clean Air Facility
Learn how to provide the safest, cleanest air possible in your facility.

DOWNLOAD NOW

\n\n

\n
\n

An innovator

Dr. Blodgett became the first dentist in the State of Oregon to be board certified in Naturopathic Medical Dentistry and Integrative Biological Dental Medicine.

And while he was becoming certified for SMART (safe mercury amalgam removal technique) by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), he heard about IQAir’s room air purifiers from some of the trade organization’s other members.

Dr. Blodgett researched what IQAir could offer his practice to enhance it and help achieve his overarching goal. He was so impressed with the technology of the Dental Series Hg and its specialized mercury filtration that he purchased a system.

Not just for mercury vapours

In addition to facilitating safe mercury removal procedures, IQAir’s Dental Series Hg also improves environmental control in dentists’ offices by helping to protect against viruses (including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic), bacteria, disinfectants, and other airborne pollutants.

IQAir’s patented HyperHEPA filtration in the Dental Series filters 95% of all particles down to 0.003 microns – the smallest particles that exist.

“We use them for all procedures now. Patient's love the safety that they offer.”

“I soon discovered that it is an awesome device for all aerosol collection, so I bought two more so that we would have one for each of our doctor rooms,” enthuses Dr. Blodgett. “We use them for all procedures now. Patient's love the safety that they offer.”

An unexpected benefit

Another way that the Dental Series Hg assisted his business came as a pleasant surprise: the curiosity patients expressed about the interesting-looking air purifier with its long receiving nozzle that draws in 300 cubic feet of air per minute.

“It demonstrates how we invest in the best health for our patients and our practice.”

“This offers us the opportunity to share about the technology, the improved air quality, and it demonstrates how we invest in the best health for our patients and our practice,” Dr. Blodgett relates.

A big help in challenging times

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, dental offices in the state of Oregon could only deliver emergency treatments. On May 1, 2020, the state eased that restriction to give dentists the option to accept patients for any treatment.

Some in the industry felt that it was still not safe to return to full operations. Dr. Blodgett wasn’t one of them, but he did understand the concerns of those that did worry.

He told Portland television station KATU, “If their practice is not equipped to manage aerosols well right now, it would be wise to take another two weeks or four weeks so that they can be properly prepared to manage the airflow around the patients (1).”

Numerous studies have shown how poor dental office air quality tends to be.

According to Dr. Blodgett, numerous studies have shown how poor dental office air quality tends to be. He cites the dangers of working in an environment like that: “particularly considering the risks of long-term exposure to aerosols and mercury vapor.”

He adds, “This is not only unacceptable but also completely avoidable.”

Secure a Healthier Dental Environment

Discover the Power of IQAir's Dental Series Air Purifiers

SHOP NOW

\n
\n

The takeaway

“IQAir has been an integral part of both the patient experience and the safety we offer in our practice,” states Dr. Blodgett.

His advice to other dentists considering high performance air filtration is to make that choice sooner than later.

“Don't wait until a patient or, more likely, one of your team members gets sick from chronic exposure to mercury vapour and toxic aerosols. Make the investment for the sake of every person who walks into your office.”

Dr. Blodgett concludes, “Frankly, in my opinion, the price point is so reasonable for the health benefits that IQAir provides, there is no reason why every dental operating room shouldn't have a unit like this. And the cost of maintenance is relatively low so there's no barrier to long-term enjoyment of the system.”

“Your patients and your team will thank you. Not to mention that you will be differentiating your practice for the right reasons.”

","drblodgett","gid://shopify/Article/606873190699","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/drblodgett","2022-05-25T19:56:04Z",[1199,653,838],"Dental","Dr. Kelly Blodgett Success Story",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1202,"_1115":1203,"_1131":1204,"_1133":1204,"_1134":1205,"_1136":1206,"_985":1207,"_10":1208,"_1140":1209,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1210,"_577":1211,"_541":1212,"_1147":1213},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"The entire nation of the UAE found itself blanketed by sandstorms in May.","The sky is red. The air is thick. Sand, dust, and other particles pollute the air, making it difficult to breathe. Those are the conditions that people living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) experienced on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 when a sandstorm struck in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (1). Major sandstorms are not uncommon in the Middle East. This April, several large-scale sandstorms ravaged parts of Iraq and Iran, seriously affecting air quality, and causing problems for the local citizenry (2).Millions of homes have been covered in choking, obstructing dust.Millions of homes have been covered in choking, obstructing dust. Flights have been grounded, schools have been closed, and thousands have been hospitalized.Poor air quality seen in the Persian Gulf and Middle East on May 18, 2022.Sandstorm occurrences in the area are increasing, due to drought, changing weather due to climate change, and soil degradation. Predictions are that this phenomenon will only get worse over the coming years (3).Dubai weather and air quality turns dangerousOn May 18th, cities in the UAE were blasted by these extreme weather conditions. Dubai and Abu Dhabi became engulfed in a dusty haze, visual evidence to the naked eye that air quality is severely compromised.Hazardous and very unhealthy air quality seen across UAE.By Wednesday evening, nearly all air quality monitoring stations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi measured dangerously high concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5. PM10 is particle pollution like sand measuring 10 micrometers in diameter. PM2.5 – particles 2.5 micrometers in diameter and the pollutant most harmful to human health – consists of finer particles, such as dust, soot, viruses, and bacteria.Dubai’s air quality monitors show elevated levels of PM.Air quality monitors register hazardous levels across most of Dubai.Dubai’s average city-wide concentration of PM10 was 784.7 µg/m3– representing hazardous air quality.Dubai’s average city-wide concentration of PM10 was 784.7 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), representing hazardous air quality. PM2.5 measured 94.5 µg/m3, or 18.9 times above the guideline set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for healthy air quality, an annual average guideline value of PM2.5 of 5 µg/m3 or less.Abu Dhabi’s PM2.5 was 60.5 times higher than the annual average WHO guideline value.In Abu Dhabi, the air quality index range (AQI) in the area exceeded 352 (within the “unhealthy” air quality range), and recorded PM2.5 concentrations approximately 60.5 times higher than the WHO annual air quality guideline value.A sandstorm in Abu Dhabi elevates poor air quality across the city.Dr. Christi Chester Schroeder, Air Quality Science Manager at IQAir, expressed concern over such high PM concentrations. “There is clear scientific evidence that both short- and long-term exposure to elevated concentrations of PM2.5, such as those being experienced in Dubai and Abu Dhabi right now, pose a significant risk to human health.”The takeawayThe severity of the UAE sandstorm emphasizes the value of comprehensive, up-to-date, transparent air quality information. The more data points, the better, and increasing the number of data monitors across the globe provides greater insight into the air we are breathing.Air quality monitoring also delivers alerts of severe air quality events around the world, from wildfires in California to sandstorms in Dubai. This empowers citizens to make choices in the best interests of themselves and their families and ultimately lessen their exposure to air pollution.","

The sky is red. The air is thick. Sand, dust, and other particles pollute the air, making it difficult to breathe. Those are the conditions that people living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) experienced on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 when a sandstorm struck in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (1).

Major sandstorms are not uncommon in the Middle East. This April, several large-scale sandstorms ravaged parts of Iraq and Iran, seriously affecting air quality, and causing problems for the local citizenry (2).

Millions of homes have been covered in choking, obstructing dust.

Millions of homes have been covered in choking, obstructing dust. Flights have been grounded, schools have been closed, and thousands have been hospitalized.

$\"Poor$

Poor air quality seen in the Persian Gulf and Middle East on May 18, 2022.

Sandstorm occurrences in the area are increasing, due to drought, changing weather due to climate change, and soil degradation. Predictions are that this phenomenon will only get worse over the coming years (3).

Dubai weather and air quality turns dangerous

On May 18th, cities in the UAE were blasted by these extreme weather conditions. Dubai and Abu Dhabi became engulfed in a dusty haze, visual evidence to the naked eye that air quality is severely compromised.

$\"Hazardous$

Hazardous and very unhealthy air quality seen across UAE.

By Wednesday evening, nearly all air quality monitoring stations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi measured dangerously high concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5. PM10 is particle pollution like sand measuring 10 micrometers in diameter. PM2.5 – particles 2.5 micrometers in diameter and the pollutant most harmful to human health – consists of finer particles, such as dust, soot, viruses, and bacteria.

$\"Dubai’s$

Dubai’s air quality monitors show elevated levels of PM.

$\"Air$

Air quality monitors register hazardous levels across most of Dubai.

Dubai’s average city-wide concentration of PM10 was 784.7 µg/m³– representing hazardous air quality.

Dubai’s average city-wide concentration of PM10 was 784.7 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³), representing hazardous air quality. PM2.5 measured 94.5 µg/m³, or 18.9 times above the guideline set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for healthy air quality, an annual average guideline value of PM2.5 of 5 µg/m³ or less.

Abu Dhabi’s PM2.5 was 60.5 times higher than the annual average WHO guideline value.

In Abu Dhabi, the air quality index range (AQI) in the area exceeded 352 (within the “unhealthy” air quality range), and recorded PM2.5 concentrations approximately 60.5 times higher than the WHO annual air quality guideline value.

$\"A$

A sandstorm in Abu Dhabi elevates poor air quality across the city.

Dr. Christi Chester Schroeder, Air Quality Science Manager at IQAir, expressed concern over such high PM concentrations. “There is clear scientific evidence that both short- and long-term exposure to elevated concentrations of PM2.5, such as those being experienced in Dubai and Abu Dhabi right now, pose a significant risk to human health.”

The takeaway

The severity of the UAE sandstorm emphasizes the value of comprehensive, up-to-date, transparent air quality information. The more data points, the better, and increasing the number of data monitors across the globe provides greater insight into the air we are breathing.

Air quality monitoring also delivers alerts of severe air quality events around the world, from wildfires in California to sandstorms in Dubai. This empowers citizens to make choices in the best interests of themselves and their families and ultimately lessen their exposure to air pollution.
\n\n

","2022-dubai-sandstorm","gid://shopify/Article/606872207659","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/2022-dubai-sandstorm","2022-05-18T19:06:48Z",[390,643,653],"Air quality scientists worried about sandstorm",{"_10":1214,"_243":1215,"_246":1216,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406438248822","Dubai sand storm","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/BN_Dubai_Desktop_826bf44f-a945-4651-82e2-bbdecbc3ab85.jpg?v=1752136723",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1218,"_1115":1219,"_1131":1220,"_1133":1220,"_1134":1221,"_1136":1222,"_985":1223,"_10":1224,"_1140":1225,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1226,"_577":1227,"_541":1228,"_1147":1229},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"A list of the different air pollutants and their sources.","Airborne pollutants pose a continual threat to human health, safety, and quality of life. Pollutants also pose a challenge to maintaining safe indoor air quality and to the outdoor environment. Knowing which pollutants are most common and their sources is an important step towards protecting yourself against their negative health impacts. The following are some of the more frequently encountered and dangerous pollutants to be aware of. PM2.5 PM2.5 is a concentration measurement of particulate matter (PM) in the air with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less. Of all the listed pollutants, PM2.5 poses the greatest health threat to human health.1 This is because PM2.5 can lodge deep into the most sensitive part of the respiratory tract upon inhalation and trigger respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.PM2.5can enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart, increasing the potential for cardiovascular problems such as arrhythmic heartbeats and heart attacks. PM2.5can originate from both organic and inorganic sources. Common sources include:3,4,5 soil dust soot smoke smoking combustion emissions construction and demolition PM10 Like PM2.5, PM10 is suspended particulate matter which can appear in either a liquid or solid forms. PM 10 differs from PM2.5 only in terms of size. While PM2.5 is particulate matter that has a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, PM10 is particulate matter with a diameter between 10 - 2.5 microns.PM10 is the larger, coarser particle of the two types. PM10 is not as dangerous as PM2.5 because it’s relatively larger size prevents it from being easily absorbed into the bloodstream. It can, however, cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, while long term exposure can impact the lungs and heart.6 Sources for PM10 include:7,8 dust and dirt pollen mold smoke combustion Black Carbon One of the possible components of particulate matter is black carbon. Black carbon is a major element of soot.Sources of black carbon include:9 emissions from diesel engines and vehicles residential burning such as wood and coal burning agricultural waste field burnings forest and vegetation fires Black carbon can create problems in respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms and can result in premature death. Ozone (O3) The ozone molecule is a naturally occurring compound that plays a vital role in blocking out harmful ultraviolet light from the sun. At the ground level, however, ozone is toxic.10 While other pollutants are emitted directly into the air by various sources, ozone is created by sunlight chemically reacting with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the air.Ozone is one of the most pervasive and most difficult to control of all airborne pollutants. Symptoms can include:11,12 chest pain lung and throat irritation wheeze and coughing increased asthma attacks continued lung damage after symptoms end Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) Nitrogen dioxide is a pollutant with a characteristic acrid odor. In high concentrations, it appears as a reddish-orange gas.13 Nitrogen dioxide is either formed naturally during thunderstorms or from combustion processes, such as running car engines. Indoor sources include unvented heaters and gas stoves.14 Nitrogen dioxide is a precursor for pollutants like ozone (or smog)and particulate matter. Health impacts from exposure to high concentrations of nitrogen can include:15 Coughing and wheezing lung irritation reduced lung function increased asthma attacks cardiovascular damage lower birth weight risk of premature death Carbon monoxide (CO) Carbon monoxide(CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas. Accidental carbon monoxide poisoning poses a serious threat to life; its imperceptible nature causes it to be known as the silent killer. Carbon monoxide can be created through incomplete combustion in vehicles, heating, coal-fired power generation, and biomass burning.16,17 Symptoms and health problems from carbon monoxide poisoning can include: headaches dizziness weakness fatigue nausea confusion blurred vision death18 As reported in a 2015 study published in Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, high levels of CO can also be especially harmful to pregnant women and newborns.19 Sulphur dioxide (SO2) Sulphur dioxide is a colorless gas with a strong, pungent smell. Sulfur dioxide is almost entirely from man-made sources.20 Sulfurdioxide is formed when energy sources containing sulfur, like coal and oil, are burned in industrial processes. Emissions can also result from fuel combustion in vehicles. When inhaled, sulfur dioxide can cause several health problems, including:21 nasal mucus choking irritation to the ears, eyes, and throat wheezing chest tightness shortness of breath Long term, sulfur dioxide exposure can cause acute respiratory illness and permanent changes in the lungs' biology. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gases that are emitted from liquids or solids. Like nitrogen dioxide, VOCs contribute to the creation of the pollutants PM2.5 and ozone. VOCs can be found in vehicle emissions and can also be emitted from many indoor and outdoor sources, such as fuels, household cleaners, and combustion. 22,23 VOCs can be toxic, depending on their composition. Health impacts of VOCs include: 24,25,26,27 irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat headaches breathing problems sick building sickness (SBS) allergies and asthma cancer kidney damage Ammonia Ammonia is a colorless and corrosive gas with a pungent smell. When combined with nitric and sulfate acids, ammonia can create ammonium salts, a harmful form of PM2.5.28 Ammonia comes from both natural and man-made sources, such as: decaying organic matter human and animal waste fertilizer manufacturing industrial processes waste disposal sites Health implications for ammonia exposure include: eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation severe cardiovascular and respiratory effects decreased lung function asthma aggravation premature death Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas. It's the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activity. Carbon dioxide is created naturally through animal respiration, oceans, and decaying plants. However, most greenhouse contributions come from human activities, such as transport, industry, and fuel burning for electricity and heating. Direct exposure to high concentrations of carbon dioxide can have several negative health impacts on people, including: 29 feeling lethargic clumsiness emotional upset headaches difficulty concentrating dizziness vomiting nausea","

Airborne pollutants pose a continual threat to human health, safety, and quality of life. Pollutants also pose a challenge to maintaining safe indoor air quality and to the outdoor environment.

Knowing which pollutants are most common and their sources is an important step towards protecting yourself against their negative health impacts. The following are some of the more frequently encountered and dangerous pollutants to be aware of.

$\"Health$

PM2.5

PM2.5 is a concentration measurement of particulate matter (PM) in the air with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less.

Of all the listed pollutants, PM2.5 poses the greatest health threat to human health.¹ This is because PM2.5 can lodge deep into the most sensitive part of the respiratory tract upon inhalation and trigger respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.

PM2.5can enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart, increasing the potential for cardiovascular problems such as arrhythmic heartbeats and heart attacks.

PM2.5can originate from both organic and inorganic sources. Common sources include:^3,4,5

soil
dust
soot
smoke
smoking
combustion emissions
construction and demolition

PM10

Like PM2.5, PM10 is suspended particulate matter which can appear in either a liquid or solid forms. PM 10 differs from PM2.5 only in terms of size.

While PM2.5 is particulate matter that has a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, PM10 is particulate matter with a diameter between 10 - 2.5 microns.PM10 is the larger, coarser particle of the two types.

PM10 is not as dangerous as PM2.5 because it’s relatively larger size prevents it from being easily absorbed into the bloodstream. It can, however, cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, while long term exposure can impact the lungs and heart.⁶

Sources for PM10 include:^7,8

dust and dirt
pollen
mold
smoke
combustion

Black Carbon

One of the possible components of particulate matter is black carbon. Black carbon is a major element of soot.

Sources of black carbon include:⁹

emissions from diesel engines and vehicles
residential burning such as wood and coal burning
agricultural waste field burnings
forest and vegetation fires

Black carbon can create problems in respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms and can result in premature death.

Ozone (O₃)

The o zone molecule is a naturally occurring compound that plays a vital role in blocking out harmful ultraviolet light from the sun. At the ground level, however, ozone is toxic.¹⁰

While other pollutants are emitted directly into the air by various sources, ozone is created by sunlight chemically reacting with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the air.Ozone is one of the most pervasive and most difficult to control of all airborne pollutants.

Symptoms can include:^11,12

chest pain
lung and throat irritation
wheeze and coughing
increased asthma attacks
continued lung damage after symptoms end

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)

Nitrogen dioxide is a pollutant with a characteristic acrid odor. In high concentrations, it appears as a reddish-orange gas.¹³

Nitrogen dioxide is either formed naturally during thunderstorms or from combustion processes, such as running car engines. Indoor sources include unvented heaters and gas stoves.¹⁴

Nitrogen dioxide is a precursor for pollutants like ozone (or smog)and particulate matter.

Health impacts from exposure to high concentrations of nitrogen can include:¹⁵

Coughing and wheezing
lung irritation
reduced lung function
increased asthma attacks
cardiovascular damage
lower birth weight
risk of premature death

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide(CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas. Accidental carbon monoxide poisoning poses a serious threat to life; its imperceptible nature causes it to be known as the silent killer.

Carbon monoxide can be created through incomplete combustion in vehicles, heating, coal-fired power generation, and biomass burning.^16,17

Symptoms and health problems from carbon monoxide poisoning can include:

headaches
dizziness
weakness
fatigue
nausea
confusion
blurred vision
death¹⁸\n

As reported in a 2015 study published in Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, high levels of CO can also be especially harmful to pregnant women and newborns.¹⁹

Sulphur dioxide (SO2)

Sulphur dioxide is a colorless gas with a strong, pungent smell. Sulfur dioxide is almost entirely from man-made sources.²⁰

Sulfurdioxide is formed when energy sources containing sulfur, like coal and oil, are burned in industrial processes. Emissions can also result from fuel combustion in vehicles.

When inhaled, sulfur dioxide can cause several health problems, including:²¹

nasal mucus
choking
irritation to the ears, eyes, and throat
wheezing
chest tightness
shortness of breath

Long term, sulfur dioxide exposure can cause acute respiratory illness and permanent changes in the lungs' biology.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gases that are emitted from liquids or solids. Like nitrogen dioxide, VOCs contribute to the creation of the pollutants PM2.5 and ozone.

VOCs can be found in vehicle emissions and can also be emitted from many indoor and outdoor sources, such as fuels, household cleaners, and combustion. ^22,23

VOCs can be toxic, depending on their composition. Health impacts of VOCs include: ^24,25,26,27

irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat
headaches
breathing problems
sick building sickness (SBS)
allergies and asthma
cancer
kidney damage

Ammonia

Ammonia is a colorless and corrosive gas with a pungent smell. When combined with nitric and sulfate acids, ammonia can create ammonium salts, a harmful form of PM2.5.²⁸

Ammonia comes from both natural and man-made sources, such as:

decaying organic matter
human and animal waste
fertilizer manufacturing
industrial processes
waste disposal sites

Health implications for ammonia exposure include:

eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation
severe cardiovascular and respiratory effects
decreased lung function
asthma aggravation
premature death

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas. It's the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activity.

Carbon dioxide is created naturally through animal respiration, oceans, and decaying plants. However, most greenhouse contributions come from human activities, such as transport, industry, and fuel burning for electricity and heating.

Direct exposure to high concentrations of carbon dioxide can have several negative health impacts on people, including: ²⁹

feeling lethargic
clumsiness
emotional upset
headaches
difficulty concentrating
dizziness
vomiting
nausea

","what-pollution-measures-should-i-watch-out-for","gid://shopify/Article/606887379243","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/what-pollution-measures-should-i-watch-out-for","2022-01-11T18:24:39Z",[390,653,658],"What pollutants should I watch out for?",{"_10":1230,"_243":1231,"_246":1232,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406390997366","Man in city coughing with face mask","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/HealthEffectsPollution_071921_Desktop_5a660776-8f92-4184-840b-b6b2e88a0f03.jpg?v=1751980945",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1234,"_1115":1235,"_1131":1236,"_1133":1236,"_1134":1237,"_1136":1238,"_985":1239,"_10":1240,"_1140":1241,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1242,"_577":1243,"_541":1244,"_1147":1245},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"There are many models to predict air pollution and air quality. But air pollution models require more complexity than weather forecast models. Learn more.","Similar to forecasting weather, there are models to predict levels of air pollution and air quality. There are many forecast models that require more complexity than weather forecast models. These models are mathematical simulations of how airborne pollutants disperse in the air (1). Why air quality information is needed Air pollution occurs when the surrounding air contains gases, dust, fumes or odors in high enough quantities to be harmful to the health of humans and animals or enough to cause damage to plants and materials. Air pollution is one of the great killers of our time. Polluted air is responsible for an estimated 7 million deaths worldwide every year: approximately 3 million from household air pollution and 4 million from ambient (outdoor) air pollution (2) (3). Data has shown that air pollution worldwide is linked to: 19% of all cardiovascular deaths 24% of ischaemic heart disease deaths 21% of stroke deaths 23% of lung cancer deaths(4) Additionally, outdoor air pollution appears to be an important risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders in children (5) and neurodegenerative diseases in adults (6). With the economic, ecologic and human toll air pollution takes, forecasting technology is an increasingly important endeavor. Benefits of air pollution information and forecasting Air pollution forecasting is a worthwhile investment on multiple levels - individual, community, national and global. Accurate forecasting helps people plan ahead, decreasing the effects on health and the costs associated. When people are aware of variations in the quality of the air they breathe, the effect of pollutants on their health, as well as concentrations likely to cause adverse effects, there is a greater likelihood of motivating changes in both individual behavior and public policy (7) (8). Such awareness has the potential to create a cleaner environment and a healthier population. Governments also make use of early forecasting to establish procedures to reduce the severity of local pollution levels (9). Accuracy in air quality forecasting When predicting air quality, there are many variables to consider, some of which are quite unpredictable. For example, Beijing’s authorities sometimes order coal plants and factories to close and ban a portion of the city’s millions of registered vehicles from operating (10). Air pollution levels are strongly correlated with local weather conditions and nearby pollution emissions (11) (12). However, long-range transport of pollution - through strong winds - is also a significant influencing factor and must be taken into consideration when forecasting local AQI readings (13). Predicting air quality, therefore, not only involves the difficulties of weather forecasting, it also requires data on and knowledge of: Local pollutant concentrations and emissions Pollutant concentrations and emissions from distant locations Movements and possible transformations of pollutants Prevailing winds The many factors at play in predicting air quality result in air pollution forecasting being both subjective and objective. Air quality forecasting techniques There are many such forecast models, and all require more complexity than weather forecast models. These models are mathematical simulations of how airborne pollutants disperse in the air. Meteorological forecasting The first step to an accurate air quality forecast is an excellent weather forecast. Meteorological (weather) forecasting can be categorized into three main categories: climatology, statistical methods and three-dimensional (3-D) models. Climatology Climatology uses the past is as an indicator of the future. This method is based on the relationship between specific weather conditions and pollution levels, and therefore can be very one-dimensional. This method is often extended to include the matching of weather patterns to pollution patterns. There are many limitations to this method and it is viewed as a tool to complement other forecasting methods. Statistical methods The association between air quality and weather patterns can be quantified using statistical methods. The three most commonly used include: Classification and regression tree (CART) is designed to classify data into dissimilar groups. Software identifies variables that correlate with ambient pollution levels. The data is used to forecast concentrations based on weather conditions and correlated pollutant concentrations. Regression analysis estimates relationships between variables. By analyzing historical data sets, associations are made between pollution levels and meteorological data variables. The result is an equation that can be used to forecast future pollution levels. Artificial neural networks use adaptive learning and pattern recognition techniques. Computer-based algorithms are designed to simulate the human brain’s capability for pattern recognition. This is debatably the most suited method for forecasting pollution due to its multi-dimensional approach. One disadvantage of the above statistical methods is that they assume stability in terms of the processes that affect air quality. Therefore, any drastic changes to emissions or climate (short or long term) will severely diminish the accuracy of these techniques. There are more complex methods that attempt to take these shortfalls into account. They are known as three-dimensional models. Three-dimensional (3-D) models Three-dimensional models mathematically represent all the important processes that have an impact on outdoor air pollution levels. Three-dimensional models simulate the emission, transport, and transformation of air pollution by making use of several submodels, including: Emission model: Simulates the spatial distribution of emissions from both natural and human sources. Meteorological model: Creates a trajectory model to predict the ambient levels of pollution using the 3-D meteorological model and emissions data. Chemical model: Looks at the transformation of primary (emitted) pollution into secondary pollution to determine the outcome of the pollutant (14). 7-Day air quality forecasts IQAir's AirVisual platform makes air quality forecasts available through mobile app and on the website. In addition to real-time air quality information, weather, and pollution readings, the platform includes 7-day air quality forecasts, so informed health and wellbeing decisions can be made and is also helpful to plan ahead accordingly. The platform uses advanced forecasting models, evolving algorithms, and machine learning to generate air quality forecasts that are accurate for the week ahead. With AirVisual's 7-day forecasts in hand, individuals and governments can take proactive steps when there are anticipated air quality concerns. Always know what’s in your airwith the #1 air quality app Download AirVisual The takeaway Pollution forecasting techniques and tools are rapidly improving and will continue increasing in accuracy. Accurate and accessible air pollution forecasts, like those found on AirVisual, help raise public awareness, allow for sensitive populations to plan ahead, and provide governments with information for public health alerts.","

Similar to forecasting weather, there are models to predict levels of air pollution and air quality. There are many forecast models that require more complexity than weather forecast models. These models are mathematical simulations of how airborne pollutants disperse in the air (1).

Why air quality information is needed

Air pollution occurs when the surrounding air contains gases, dust, fumes or odors in high enough quantities to be harmful to the health of humans and animals or enough to cause damage to plants and materials.

Air pollution is one of the great killers of our time. Polluted air is responsible for an estimated 7 million deaths worldwide every year: approximately 3 million from household air pollution and 4 million from ambient (outdoor) air pollution (2) (3). Data has shown that air pollution worldwide is linked to:

19% of all cardiovascular deaths
24% of ischaemic heart disease deaths
21% of stroke deaths
23% of lung cancer deaths(4)

Additionally, outdoor air pollution appears to be an important risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders in children (5) and neurodegenerative diseases in adults (6).

With the economic, ecologic and human toll air pollution takes, forecasting technology is an increasingly important endeavor.

Benefits of air pollution information and forecasting

Air pollution forecasting is a worthwhile investment on multiple levels - individual, community, national and global. Accurate forecasting helps people plan ahead, decreasing the effects on health and the costs associated.

When people are aware of variations in the quality of the air they breathe, the effect of pollutants on their health, as well as concentrations likely to cause adverse effects, there is a greater likelihood of motivating changes in both individual behavior and public policy (7) (8).

Such awareness has the potential to create a cleaner environment and a healthier population. Governments also make use of early forecasting to establish procedures to reduce the severity of local pollution levels (9).

Accuracy in air quality forecasting

When predicting air quality, there are many variables to consider, some of which are quite unpredictable. For example, Beijing’s authorities sometimes order coal plants and factories to close and ban a portion of the city’s millions of registered vehicles from operating (10).

Air pollution levels are strongly correlated with local weather conditions and nearby pollution emissions (11) (12). However, long-range transport of pollution - through strong winds - is also a significant influencing factor and must be taken into consideration when forecasting local AQI readings (13).

Predicting air quality, therefore, not only involves the difficulties of weather forecasting, it also requires data on and knowledge of:

Local pollutant concentrations and emissions
Pollutant concentrations and emissions from distant locations
Movements and possible transformations of pollutants
Prevailing winds

The many factors at play in predicting air quality result in air pollution forecasting being both subjective and objective.

Air quality forecasting techniques

There are many such forecast models, and all require more complexity than weather forecast models. These models are mathematical simulations of how airborne pollutants disperse in the air.

Meteorological forecasting

The first step to an accurate air quality forecast is an excellent weather forecast. Meteorological (weather) forecasting can be categorized into three main categories: climatology, statistical methods and three-dimensional (3-D) models.

Climatology

Climatology uses the past is as an indicator of the future. This method is based on the relationship between specific weather conditions and pollution levels, and therefore can be very one-dimensional. This method is often extended to include the matching of weather patterns to pollution patterns. There are many limitations to this method and it is viewed as a tool to complement other forecasting methods.

Statistical methods

The association between air quality and weather patterns can be quantified using statistical methods. The three most commonly used include:

\nClassification and regression tree (CART) is designed to classify data into dissimilar groups. Software identifies variables that correlate with ambient pollution levels. The data is used to forecast concentrations based on weather conditions and correlated pollutant concentrations.
\nRegression analysis estimates relationships between variables. By analyzing historical data sets, associations are made between pollution levels and meteorological data variables. The result is an equation that can be used to forecast future pollution levels.
\nArtificial neural networks use adaptive learning and pattern recognition techniques. Computer-based algorithms are designed to simulate the human brain’s capability for pattern recognition. This is debatably the most suited method for forecasting pollution due to its multi-dimensional approach.

One disadvantage of the above statistical methods is that they assume stability in terms of the processes that affect air quality. Therefore, any drastic changes to emissions or climate (short or long term) will severely diminish the accuracy of these techniques. There are more complex methods that attempt to take these shortfalls into account. They are known as three-dimensional models.

Three-dimensional (3-D) models

Three-dimensional models mathematically represent all the important processes that have an impact on outdoor air pollution levels. Three-dimensional models simulate the emission, transport, and transformation of air pollution by making use of several submodels, including:

\nEmission model: Simulates the spatial distribution of emissions from both natural and human sources.
\nMeteorological model: Creates a trajectory model to predict the ambient levels of pollution using the 3-D meteorological model and emissions data.
\nChemical model: Looks at the transformation of primary (emitted) pollution into secondary pollution to determine the outcome of the pollutant (14).

7-Day air quality forecasts

IQAir's AirVisual platform makes air quality forecasts available through mobile app and on the website. In addition to real-time air quality information, weather, and pollution readings, the platform includes 7-day air quality forecasts, so informed health and wellbeing decisions can be made and is also helpful to plan ahead accordingly. The platform uses advanced forecasting models, evolving algorithms, and machine learning to generate air quality forecasts that are accurate for the week ahead.

$\"7day-forecast$

With AirVisual's 7-day forecasts in hand, individuals and governments can take proactive steps when there are anticipated air quality concerns.

Always know what’s in your air
with the #1 air quality app

Download AirVisual

The takeaway

Pollution forecasting techniques and tools are rapidly improving and will continue increasing in accuracy. Accurate and accessible air pollution forecasts, like those found on AirVisual, help raise public awareness, allow for sensitive populations to plan ahead, and provide governments with information for public health alerts.

","can-air-pollution-be-predicted","gid://shopify/Article/606882627883","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/can-air-pollution-be-predicted","2022-01-11T00:07:36Z",[390,653],"Can air pollution be predicted?",{"_10":1246,"_243":1247,"_246":1248,"_248":1152,"_244":1153},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/405475295606","Woman checking air quality on phone","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/AQL_PollutionPredicted_Desk_B-2_c5f45668-7e69-483c-bdc2-bea9447788be.jpg?v=1748861276",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1250,"_1115":1251,"_1131":1252,"_1133":1252,"_1134":1253,"_1136":1254,"_985":1255,"_10":1256,"_1140":1257,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1258,"_577":1259,"_541":1260,"_1147":1261},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"Hundreds of residents of Porter Ranch, near Los Angeles, were recently sickened by a natural gas leak from a nearby underground storage facility a mile away. The cause of their headaches, nausea, and nosebleeds was mercaptan. Learn more.","Natural gas is an important fuel used for heating and cooling in more than half of all American homes. But methane, the key component in natural gas, is highly explosive and can become deadly when uncontrolled. In 2014, a natural gas explosion in two apartment buildings in New York killed eight people and injured 70 others.In addition to the risk of explosion, the smell of natural gas can make many people ill. Hundreds of residents of Porter Ranch, near Los Angeles, were recently sickened by a natural gas leak from a nearby underground storage facility a mile away. The cause of their headaches, nausea and nosebleeds was mercaptan, the chemical added to natural gas that smells like rotten eggs.What is natural gas?Natural gas is composed primarily (95% or more) of methane, a colorless, odorless, non-toxic flammable gas. Methane is emitted from natural sources such as wetlands and also from industrial and agricultural processes.Because methane is odorless, an additive known as mercaptan, or methanethiol, is added to natural gas to make the presence of methane detectable. Mercaptan additives contain sulfur, which is the reason natural gas smells like rotten eggs. Exposure to mercaptan can result in a variety of adverse health effects, including irritation of the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Natural gas can also contain small amounts of potentially harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as ethane, propane, butane and even toxic compounds such as benzene and toluene.Methane cannot be filtered. Mercaptan and VOCs can.Unfortunately, methane is not just dangerous – it’s also unfilterable. Adsorption and chemisorption, the two processes by which gas and odor air filters remove chemicals from the air, are ineffective against methane, which has an extremely low molecular weight. As a result, the only effective strategies for reducing indoor methane levels are source control/reduction and increased ventilation.Mercaptan and VOCs, however, can be efficiently filtered with a high-performance air filtration system with a combination of high quality activated carbon and potassium permanganate – such as the IQAir HealthPro Plus or GC MultiGas room air purifier. The activated carbon provides adsorption of VOCs, and the potassium permanganate provides excellent chemisorption of mercaptan and many other VOCs, such as formaldehyde. The combination of these two filtration media is ideal.Importance of monitoring methane levelsBecause methane is so highly explosive, high-performance air filtration to remove the odors associated with natural gas (mercaptan) is not recommended unless sufficient monitoring with a methane detector has determined that levels are safe. Methane detectors, also known as explosive gas detectors, can be purchased at hardware and home-supply stores.","

Natural gas is an important fuel used for heating and cooling in more than half of all American homes. But methane, the key component in natural gas, is highly explosive and can become deadly when uncontrolled. In 2014, a natural gas explosion in two apartment buildings in New York killed eight people and injured 70 others.

In addition to the risk of explosion, the smell of natural gas can make many people ill. Hundreds of residents of Porter Ranch, near Los Angeles, were recently sickened by a natural gas leak from a nearby underground storage facility a mile away. The cause of their headaches, nausea and nosebleeds was mercaptan, the chemical added to natural gas that smells like rotten eggs.

What is natural gas?

Natural gas is composed primarily (95% or more) of methane, a colorless, odorless, non-toxic flammable gas. Methane is emitted from natural sources such as wetlands and also from industrial and agricultural processes.

Because methane is odorless, an additive known as mercaptan, or methanethiol, is added to natural gas to make the presence of methane detectable. Mercaptan additives contain sulfur, which is the reason natural gas smells like rotten eggs. Exposure to mercaptan can result in a variety of adverse health effects, including irritation of the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Natural gas can also contain small amounts of potentially harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as ethane, propane, butane and even toxic compounds such as benzene and toluene.

Methane cannot be filtered. Mercaptan and VOCs can.

Unfortunately, methane is not just dangerous – it’s also unfilterable. Adsorption and chemisorption, the two processes by which gas and odor air filters remove chemicals from the air, are ineffective against methane, which has an extremely low molecular weight. As a result, the only effective strategies for reducing indoor methane levels are source control/reduction and increased ventilation.

Mercaptan and VOCs, however, can be efficiently filtered with a high-performance air filtration system with a combination of high quality activated carbon and potassium permanganate – such as the IQAir HealthPro Plus or GC MultiGas room air purifier. The activated carbon provides adsorption of VOCs, and the potassium permanganate provides excellent chemisorption of mercaptan and many other VOCs, such as formaldehyde. The combination of these two filtration media is ideal.

Importance of monitoring methane levels

Because methane is so highly explosive, high-performance air filtration to remove the odors associated with natural gas (mercaptan) is not recommended unless sufficient monitoring with a methane detector has determined that levels are safe. Methane detectors, also known as explosive gas detectors, can be purchased at hardware and home-supply stores.

","natural-gas-and-air-quality","gid://shopify/Article/606876926251","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/natural-gas-and-air-quality","2022-01-06T19:51:01Z",[853,390,653],"Natural gas and air quality",{"_10":1262,"_243":1263,"_246":1264,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/405473427830","Natural gas plant and air quality","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/33_gas_desktop_cf75e7b2-3822-4366-a592-c316ebfa529a.jpg?v=1748857039",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1266,"_1115":1267,"_1131":1268,"_1133":1268,"_1134":1269,"_1136":1270,"_985":1271,"_10":1272,"_1140":1273,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1274,"_577":1275,"_541":1276,"_1147":1277},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"Learn why outdoor grills may be an air quality hazard – and how to help protect yourself during summer barbecues.","Cooking outdoors over an open flame is a popular tradition around the world. Grilling and barbecuing in various forms have over two millennia of recorded human history. As many as 64% of all households in the United States and 72% in Canada own and use an outdoor grill. Grilling use is especially popular during major holidays like the American Independence Day, Canada Day, and South African Heritage Day(1). No one believes that these traditions should have to end for any reason. But even so, many people don’t realize that grilling can have impacts on health and air quality. This article will explore the health impacts and how to help minimize them. Carcinogens in grilled food Carcinogens can be generated by grilling certain foods, especially high-fat meats. Here are the two main ways that grilling and eating grilled food can expose people to carcinogens: Ingesting carcinogens. Grilled foods contain cancer-causing compounds (carcinogens) produced by the burning fats and high temperatures of grilling. Carcinogens are then ingested and absorbed through the stomach. Inhaling carcinogens. Smoke produced by grilling contains carcinogens and other pollutants that damage health. This smoke can be inhaled directly from the grill and can enter the body through the lungs. Smoke from the grill also contributes to local air pollution. Explore high-performance air purifiers CLICK HERE Ingestion of carcinogens As meat, poultry, and fish cook over a fire, fat drips from the cooking meat and burns. Burning fat produces smoke containing carcinogenic compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).A 2016 study in Food Chemistry found that removing fat drippings from the process of cooking meat reduced the levels of PAHs produced by grilling by 48 to 89 percent(2). Smoke particles also coat the meat that is being cooked.These particles contribute much of the flavor to cooked meat, but can also result in long-term bodily inflammation that may increase your risk of certain cancers. In 2015, the World Health Organization classified cooked red meat as “Probably carcinogenic to humans” based on preliminary evidence from epidemiological studies(3). In addition to causing cancer, PAHs have also been linked to reproductive and developmental abnormalities(4). High-temperature cooking methods, including grilling, also produce carcinogens known as heterocyclic amines (HCAs). This happens when meat and poultry are cooked at temperatures higher than 300 degrees, causing a reaction of amino acids, sugar and creatine(5). Well-done, grilled, and barbecued chicken and steak have high levels of HCAs.These have been linked to cancers in the following areas: colon rectum stomach breast lung prostate Inhalation of carcinogens In addition to the dangers of ingesting chemicals on grilled food, the inhalation of smoke from the grill is also a health risk. Barbecue smoke contains PAHs that are carcinogenic and easily absorbed into the lungs. Tiny ultrafine particles (UFPs) in smoke can also enter into the bloodstream from the lungs and affect every organ in the body, including the brain(6).This can increase an individual’s risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and brain damage. Smoke from charcoal or wood also produces: hydrocarbons, a type of volatile organic compound (VOC) soot, made of particles that can beinhaled deep in the lungs and contribute to a variety of respiratory illnesses Air pollution Grilling is also a source of outdoor air pollution. Student researchers at the University of California, Riversidefound that emissions from commercial grills in Southern California are a significant source of air pollution(7). The project, funded by an annual grant supporting student-designed research at U.S. universities, noted that “for comparison, the average diesel-engine truck on the road today would have to drive 10 miles on the freeway to put out the same mass of particles as a single charbroiled hamburger patty.” The average diesel-engine truck would have to drive 10 miles on the freeway to put out the same particles as a single charbroiled hamburger patty. In Beijing, authorities banned all outdoor grilling starting in 2014(8).Individuals face fines as high as 20,000 yuan ($3,200 USD) for infractions. Although motor vehicles and industrial factories are the greatest sources of air pollutants in Beijing, authorities say the ban on barbecues helps reduce the level of PM2.5 particulates in the air. Under current regulations, barbecues in the open are prohibited throughout the city. Cleaner, safer grilling A few simple steps can help make grilling safer, healthier, and a lot better for the environment. Here are a few suggestions: Pre-cook meat over low heat in a skillet, oven, or microwavebefore cooking it on the grill. This will help remove some of the fat that can drip and smoke, reducing the production of airborne pollutants and chemicals that coat the meat. Grill veggies instead of meats. Grilled vegetables do not contain HCAs, even when charred. Grilled vegetables can be delicious and offer many healthy nutrients and vitamins that are not present in meats.Some grilled vegetables, such as broccoli, spinach, and asparagus, have more protein per serving size than steak. Reduce drippings. Use aluminum foil as a protective barrier under meat to help prevent drippings from smoking. Choosing a leaner cut of meat will also reduce the amount of fat dripping onto the fire. Consider gas or propane over charcoal. Charcoal emits more smoke and pollutants than gas.Charcoal fires are often started with chemical starter fluids that emit additional pollutants. But charcoal from wood is a renewable resource and may be better for the environment in the long term.If you do use charcoal, do so sparingly and sustainably. Consider location and wind direction when grilling. Adjust the grilling location if grilling upwind from a home. Close windows if smoke from the grill is headed toward the house or a neighbors’ house.Use an air purifier for smoke that enters indoor spaces. Need help finding the perfect air purifier for your home? CLICK HERE The Takeaway Grilling with family and friends is a beloved tradition. By taking a few simple but important steps, we can make grilling safer, healthier, and more sustainable. We can ensure that our outdoor cooking activities not only bring joy and delicious meals but also prioritize our health and the well-being of the environment.","

Cooking outdoors over an open flame is a popular tradition around the world. Grilling and barbecuing in various forms have over two millennia of recorded human history.

As many as 64% of all households in the United States and 72% in Canada own and use an outdoor grill. Grilling use is especially popular during major holidays like the American Independence Day, Canada Day, and South African Heritage Day(1).

No one believes that these traditions should have to end for any reason. But even so, many people don’t realize that grilling can have impacts on health and air quality. This article will explore the health impacts and how to help minimize them.

Carcinogens in grilled food

Carcinogens can be generated by grilling certain foods, especially high-fat meats. Here are the two main ways that grilling and eating grilled food can expose people to carcinogens:

\nIngesting carcinogens. Grilled foods contain cancer-causing compounds (carcinogens) produced by the burning fats and high temperatures of grilling. Carcinogens are then ingested and absorbed through the stomach.
\nInhaling carcinogens. Smoke produced by grilling contains carcinogens and other pollutants that damage health. This smoke can be inhaled directly from the grill and can enter the body through the lungs. Smoke from the grill also contributes to local air pollution.

Explore high-performance air purifiers

CLICK HERE

Ingestion of carcinogens

As meat, poultry, and fish cook over a fire, fat drips from the cooking meat and burns.

Burning fat produces smoke containing carcinogenic compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).A 2016 study in Food Chemistry found that removing fat drippings from the process of cooking meat reduced the levels of PAHs produced by grilling by 48 to 89 percent(2).

Smoke particles also coat the meat that is being cooked.These particles contribute much of the flavor to cooked meat, but can also result in long-term bodily inflammation that may increase your risk of certain cancers. In 2015, the World Health Organization classified cooked red meat as “Probably carcinogenic to humans” based on preliminary evidence from epidemiological studies(3).

In addition to causing cancer, PAHs have also been linked to reproductive and developmental abnormalities(4).

High-temperature cooking methods, including grilling, also produce carcinogens known as heterocyclic amines (HCAs). This happens when meat and poultry are cooked at temperatures higher than 300 degrees, causing a reaction of amino acids, sugar and creatine(5).

Well-done, grilled, and barbecued chicken and steak have high levels of HCAs.These have been linked to cancers in the following areas:

colon
rectum
stomach
breast
lung
prostate

Inhalation of carcinogens

In addition to the dangers of ingesting chemicals on grilled food, the inhalation of smoke from the grill is also a health risk.

Barbecue smoke contains PAHs that are carcinogenic and easily absorbed into the lungs.

Tiny ultrafine particles (UFPs) in smoke can also enter into the bloodstream from the lungs and affect every organ in the body, including the brain(6).This can increase an individual’s risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and brain damage.

Smoke from charcoal or wood also produces:

\nhydrocarbons, a type of volatile organic compound (VOC)\n
\nsoot, made of particles that can beinhaled deep in the lungs and contribute to a variety of respiratory illnesses

Air pollution

Grilling is also a source of outdoor air pollution.

Student researchers at the University of California, Riversidefound that emissions from commercial grills in Southern California are a significant source of air pollution(7).

The project, funded by an annual grant supporting student-designed research at U.S. universities, noted that “for comparison, the average diesel-engine truck on the road today would have to drive 10 miles on the freeway to put out the same mass of particles as a single charbroiled hamburger patty.”

The average diesel-engine truck would have to drive 10 miles on the freeway to put out the same particles as a single charbroiled hamburger patty.

In Beijing, authorities banned all outdoor grilling starting in 2014(8).Individuals face fines as high as 20,000 yuan ($3,200 USD) for infractions.

Although motor vehicles and industrial factories are the greatest sources of air pollutants in Beijing, authorities say the ban on barbecues helps reduce the level of PM2.5 particulates in the air. Under current regulations, barbecues in the open are prohibited throughout the city.

Cleaner, safer grilling

A few simple steps can help make grilling safer, healthier, and a lot better for the environment. Here are a few suggestions:

\nPre-cook meat over low heat in a skillet, oven, or microwavebefore cooking it on the grill. This will help remove some of the fat that can drip and smoke, reducing the production of airborne pollutants and chemicals that coat the meat.
\nGrill veggies instead of meats. Grilled vegetables do not contain HCAs, even when charred. Grilled vegetables can be delicious and offer many healthy nutrients and vitamins that are not present in meats.Some grilled vegetables, such as broccoli, spinach, and asparagus, have more protein per serving size than steak.
\nReduce drippings. Use aluminum foil as a protective barrier under meat to help prevent drippings from smoking. Choosing a leaner cut of meat will also reduce the amount of fat dripping onto the fire.
\nConsider gas or propane over charcoal. Charcoal emits more smoke and pollutants than gas.Charcoal fires are often started with chemical starter fluids that emit additional pollutants. But charcoal from wood is a renewable resource and may be better for the environment in the long term.If you do use charcoal, do so sparingly and sustainably.
\nConsider location and wind direction when grilling. Adjust the grilling location if grilling upwind from a home. Close windows if smoke from the grill is headed toward the house or a neighbors’ house.Use an air purifier for smoke that enters indoor spaces.

Need help finding the perfect air purifier for your home?

CLICK HERE

The Takeaway

Grilling with family and friends is a beloved tradition. By taking a few simple but important steps, we can make grilling safer, healthier, and more sustainable. We can ensure that our outdoor cooking activities not only bring joy and delicious meals but also prioritize our health and the well-being of the environment.

","your-backyard-barbecue-health-hazard","gid://shopify/Article/606876598571","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/your-backyard-barbecue-health-hazard","2022-01-04T18:47:09Z",[390,653],"Is your backyard barbecue a health hazard?",{"_10":1278,"_243":1279,"_246":1280,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/405535883638","Man barbecuing","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/58_barbq_banner_f811f6db-3bf9-4282-acea-960a98e28ec0.jpg?v=1749030742",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1282,"_1115":1283,"_1131":1284,"_1133":1284,"_1134":1285,"_1136":1286,"_985":1287,"_10":1288,"_1140":1289,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1290,"_577":1291,"_541":1293,"_1147":1294},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"Don't fall for false home remedies to treat your asthma. Learn the facts.","Asthma is a dangerous condition that affects your ability to breathe by constricting your airways with inflammation and mucus.Fortunately, asthma is manageable with proper treatment.1 Over 300 million people live and breathe comfortably using inhalers and controlling allergens in their homes.But asthma symptoms can still be frightening. These symptoms can include: Shallow breathing and pain or tightness in your chest Coughing and wheezing Being unable to speak because of a lack of breath If you’ve seen your doctor for asthma, you’ve probably used inhalers and medications to control your symptoms.2 Serious asthma attacks may even have required a trip or two to urgent care or the hospital.These treatments may not always seem to work, and medical care for asthma can be expensive.That’s why so many home remedies have become popular. They claim to make asthma symptoms go away without an inhaler or a trip to the ER. And as global air pollution increases, more people are becoming affected by asthma. This has vastly driven up demand for quick home “cures,” so it can feel impossible to sort through all the science behind these claims.That’s why we’re giving you a breakdown of the five most popular asthma “cures.”We’ll help you make sense of the facts, the fictions, and the potentially dangerous results of these claims.GarlicThe ClaimsYou can’t research home remedies for asthma without running into garlic.Because of garlic’s anti-inflammatory characteristics, garlic is thought to be effective against both allergy and asthma symptoms caused by histamine. Histamine is a compound in your body that causes inflammation in your airways.3,4Using garlic for asthma is an attractive prospect. It’s cheap and delicious: you can eat cloves of garlic raw, cook it into your food and even take it as a dietary supplement. But is garlic really worth it?The FactsAside from giving you bad breath, eating too much raw garlic (more than 1-2 cloves a day) can have dangerous side effects.Garlic reduces histamine production by affecting the H1 histamine receptor, the cause of many allergy symptoms. However, asthma is not stimulated by the H1 receptor, so garlic has little to no impact on its histamine-related symptoms. In fact, another histamine receptor, H4, may be more crucial for understanding what causes asthma as opposed to allergies.5Garlic contains proteins that can promote inflammation even if you’re not exposed to asthma triggers. It’s possible for your asthma symptoms to become worse after you’ve consumed garlic. Having too much garlic can even cause an asthma attack to happen on its own.6It’s possible for your asthma symptoms to become worse after you’ve consumed garlic.Garlic’s also a natural blood thinner. Eating garlic regularly can cause heavy bleeding after an injury or during surgery. Garlic can make these effects more severe if you’re already taking blood thinners like aspirin.EchinaceaThe ClaimsMany people take echinacea to boost their immune system function and fight colds.7,8 Echinacea is thought to be effective in relieving asthma symptoms, too, because of its anti-inflammatory characteristics.Echinacea is widely available as an herbal supplement, juice or tea. It’s often coupled with goldenseal. This herb is purported to help relieve symptoms of muscle spasms, stomach problems, and even cancer.The FactsEchinacea is dangerous to take for asthma. Because asthma is caused by an immune system response that tightens your airways, the immune-boosting properties of echinacea can make your asthma symptoms more severe.9,10The immune-boosting properties of echinacea can make your asthma symptoms more severe.Echinacea comes from a plant genus called the coneflowers. This genus comprises nine different species. Many manufacturers don’t specify which species they use in their supplements. You may have an allergy to one of these species and not know it.11 In these cases, taking an echinacea supplement can make your asthma symptoms worse as well as cause severe allergy symptoms, such as: Skin rashes Shortness of breath Tightening of your throat CaffeineThe ClaimsResearch suggests that caffeine can open your airways for up to four hours after asthma symptoms appear.12 This is because it has similar effects to an asthma medication called theophylline.Caffeine and theophylline are both bronchodilators. They dilate, or open up, passages in your airways that give oxygen to your lungs.13 Bronchodilators have become widely used to treat asthma because they act quickly to improve breathing during an asthma attack.But can your cup of coffee really soothe your asthma symptoms?The FactsCaffeine can increase your heart rate and cause high blood pressure and insomnia. Some of these side effects can induce anxiety or panic attacks, which can make it even harder for you to breathe during an asthma attack. Coffee also contains salicylates, which you might be especially intolerant to if you have asthma.14Even having small amounts of caffeine (100-200 milligrams) during an asthma attack can cause these symptoms if you’re not used to consuming caffeine. Having too much caffeine (400 milligrams or more) can cause heart palpitations and fever.15 If you’re already taking an asthma medication that contains theophylline, caffeine can magnify these symptoms.Asthma dietsThe ClaimsYour diet can have a positive effect on your asthma. Losing weight can help you breathe easier and make some asthma symptoms less severe.Also, foods rich in antioxidants, magnesium, and vitamins A and D may be able to reduce asthma symptoms.16,17,18The FactsSimply adding new vitamins or foods to your diet won’t treat your asthma on its own.19In most cases, you’ll need to reconsider your entire diet and lifestyle to ensure that any nutritional changes benefit your asthma symptoms.20 Changing your diet suddenly or without professional guidance can quickly lead to a deficiency in important nutrients.5 Steps you can take to control your asthma Follow your doctor’s orders. If you’re seeing a medical professional for asthma treatment, closely follow any instructions or treatment plans your doctor gives you. Ask your doctor before starting any home remedies or dietary changes. This not only helps you keep your symptoms under control but also keep you from unintentionally harming yourself with unproven home treatments. Monitor your Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Indoor pollutants from cooking, smoking and cleaning chemicals can all trigger asthma symptoms. AirVisual Pro by IQAir is an air quality monitor that empowers you to monitor pollutant levels in your indoor and outdoor air so that you know when to act to improve your ambient air quality. Avoid your triggers. Asthma is often triggered by your lifestyle as well as exposure to chemicals and allergens. Limit or remove these triggers from your environment to help prevent asthma symptoms: Exercise indoors when outdoor air quality is poor or when it’s cold and dry outside. Wear an N95 respirator mask to keep yourself from breathing in asthma triggers. Take steps to prevent and remove mold if it’s triggering your asthma. Limit your exposure to pets that produce dander, including dogs, cats and birds. If you can’t bear to be away from your pet, make sure they’re not allowed in areas where you eat, sleep or spend a lot of time. Use a high-performance air purifier to reduce asthma triggers in the air. The HealthPro Plus® by IQAir is the #1 rated room air purifier for allergies and asthma, filtering 99.5% of particles down to 0.003 microns from the air. This includes asthma triggers like dust, pet dander, and mold spores. Wear an air pollution mask to reduce your exposure to asthma triggers when you're outdoors or in heavily polluted areas. A KN95-certified pollution protection mask, such as the IQAir Mask, can filter virtually all asthma triggers from the air you breathe. Keep your home at an optimal humidity level. Your home’s relative humidity (RH) should be around 40%. Use a humidifier if it’s too low, as your airways can dry out and increase your risk of asthma symptoms. Try a dehumidifier if humidity is too high, as dust mites and mold spores can multiply and trigger symptoms. Never use any home remedy for asthma unless your doctor says it’s okay. When you introduce new substances into your body, you may not know exactly what they’re doing to your body until it’s too late.Never use any home remedy for asthma unless your doctor says it’s okay.Most home remedies for asthma probably won’t do you any real harm. But don’t rely on them for relief. See your doctor to create an asthma action plan so that you always know exactly what to do when poor air quality or allergens trigger your symptoms.21","

Asthma is a dangerous condition that affects your ability to breathe by constricting your airways with inflammation and mucus.

Fortunately, asthma is manageable with proper treatment.¹ Over 300 million people live and breathe comfortably using inhalers and controlling allergens in their homes.

But asthma symptoms can still be frightening. These symptoms can include:

Shallow breathing and pain or tightness in your chest
Coughing and wheezing
Being unable to speak because of a lack of breath

If you’ve seen your doctor for asthma, you’ve probably used inhalers and medications to control your symptoms.² Serious asthma attacks may even have required a trip or two to urgent care or the hospital.

These treatments may not always seem to work, and medical care for asthma can be expensive.

That’s why so many home remedies have become popular. They claim to make asthma symptoms go away without an inhaler or a trip to the ER. And as global air pollution increases, more people are becoming affected by asthma. This has vastly driven up demand for quick home “cures,” so it can feel impossible to sort through all the science behind these claims.

That’s why we’re giving you a breakdown of the five most popular asthma “cures.”

We’ll help you make sense of the facts, the fictions, and the potentially dangerous results of these claims.

Garlic

The Claims

You can’t research home remedies for asthma without running into garlic.

Because of garlic’s anti-inflammatory characteristics, garlic is thought to be effective against both allergy and asthma symptoms caused by histamine. Histamine is a compound in your body that causes inflammation in your airways.^3,4

Using garlic for asthma is an attractive prospect. It’s cheap and delicious: you can eat cloves of garlic raw, cook it into your food and even take it as a dietary supplement. But is garlic really worth it?

The Facts

Aside from giving you bad breath, eating too much raw garlic (more than 1-2 cloves a day) can have dangerous side effects.

Garlic reduces histamine production by affecting the H1 histamine receptor, the cause of many allergy symptoms. However, asthma is not stimulated by the H1 receptor, so garlic has little to no impact on its histamine-related symptoms. In fact, another histamine receptor, H4, may be more crucial for understanding what causes asthma as opposed to allergies.⁵

Garlic contains proteins that can promote inflammation even if you’re not exposed to asthma triggers. It’s possible for your asthma symptoms to become worse after you’ve consumed garlic. Having too much garlic can even cause an asthma attack to happen on its own.⁶

It’s possible for your asthma symptoms to become worse after you’ve consumed garlic.

Garlic’s also a natural blood thinner. Eating garlic regularly can cause heavy bleeding after an injury or during surgery. Garlic can make these effects more severe if you’re already taking blood thinners like aspirin.

Echinacea

The Claims

Many people take echinacea to boost their immune system function and fight colds.^7,8 Echinacea is thought to be effective in relieving asthma symptoms, too, because of its anti-inflammatory characteristics.

Echinacea is widely available as an herbal supplement, juice or tea. It’s often coupled with goldenseal. This herb is purported to help relieve symptoms of muscle spasms, stomach problems, and even cancer.

The Facts

Echinacea is dangerous to take for asthma. Because asthma is caused by an immune system response that tightens your airways, the immune-boosting properties of echinacea can make your asthma symptoms more severe.^9,10

The immune-boosting properties of echinacea can make your asthma symptoms more severe.

Echinacea comes from a plant genus called the coneflowers. This genus comprises nine different species. Many manufacturers don’t specify which species they use in their supplements. You may have an allergy to one of these species and not know it.¹¹ In these cases, taking an echinacea supplement can make your asthma symptoms worse as well as cause severe allergy symptoms, such as:

Skin rashes
Shortness of breath
Tightening of your throat

Caffeine

The Claims

Research suggests that caffeine can open your airways for up to four hours after asthma symptoms appear.¹² This is because it has similar effects to an asthma medication called theophylline.

Caffeine and theophylline are both bronchodilators. They dilate, or open up, passages in your airways that give oxygen to your lungs.¹³ Bronchodilators have become widely used to treat asthma because they act quickly to improve breathing during an asthma attack.

But can your cup of coffee really soothe your asthma symptoms?

The Facts

Caffeine can increase your heart rate and cause high blood pressure and insomnia. Some of these side effects can induce anxiety or panic attacks, which can make it even harder for you to breathe during an asthma attack. Coffee also contains salicylates, which you might be especially intolerant to if you have asthma.¹⁴

Even having small amounts of caffeine (100-200 milligrams) during an asthma attack can cause these symptoms if you’re not used to consuming caffeine. Having too much caffeine (400 milligrams or more) can cause heart palpitations and fever.¹⁵ If you’re already taking an asthma medication that contains theophylline, caffeine can magnify these symptoms.

Asthma diets

The Claims

Your diet can have a positive effect on your asthma. Losing weight can help you breathe easier and make some asthma symptoms less severe.

Also, foods rich in antioxidants, magnesium, and vitamins A and D may be able to reduce asthma symptoms.^16,17,18

The Facts

Simply adding new vitamins or foods to your diet won’t treat your asthma on its own.¹⁹

In most cases, you’ll need to reconsider your entire diet and lifestyle to ensure that any nutritional changes benefit your asthma symptoms.²⁰ Changing your diet suddenly or without professional guidance can quickly lead to a deficiency in important nutrients.

5 Steps you can take to control your asthma

\nFollow your doctor’s orders. If you’re seeing a medical professional for asthma treatment, closely follow any instructions or treatment plans your doctor gives you. Ask your doctor before starting any home remedies or dietary changes. This not only helps you keep your symptoms under control but also keep you from unintentionally harming yourself with unproven home treatments.
\nMonitor your Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Indoor pollutants from cooking, smoking and cleaning chemicals can all trigger asthma symptoms. AirVisual Pro by IQAir is an air quality monitor that empowers you to monitor pollutant levels in your indoor and outdoor air so that you know when to act to improve your ambient air quality.
\nAvoid your triggers. Asthma is often triggered by your lifestyle as well as exposure to chemicals and allergens. Limit or remove these triggers from your environment to help prevent asthma symptoms:\n\n\t
- Exercise indoors when outdoor air quality is poor or when it’s cold and dry outside.
- Wear an N95 respirator mask to keep yourself from breathing in asthma triggers.
- Take steps to prevent and remove mold if it’s triggering your asthma.
\n\n\t
\nLimit your exposure to pets that produce dander, including dogs, cats and birds. If you can’t bear to be away from your pet, make sure they’re not allowed in areas where you eat, sleep or spend a lot of time.
\nUse a high-performance air purifier to reduce asthma triggers in the air. The HealthPro Plus® by IQAir is the #1 rated room air purifier for allergies and asthma, filtering 99.5% of particles down to 0.003 microns from the air. This includes asthma triggers like dust, pet dander, and mold spores.
\nWear an air pollution mask to reduce your exposure to asthma triggers when you're outdoors or in heavily polluted areas. A KN95-certified pollution protection mask, such as the IQAir Mask, can filter virtually all asthma triggers from the air you breathe.
\nKeep your home at an optimal humidity level. Your home’s relative humidity (RH) should be around 40%. Use a humidifier if it’s too low, as your airways can dry out and increase your risk of asthma symptoms. Try a dehumidifier if humidity is too high, as dust mites and mold spores can multiply and trigger symptoms.

Never use any home remedy for asthma unless your doctor says it’s okay. When you introduce new substances into your body, you may not know exactly what they’re doing to your body until it’s too late.

Never use any home remedy for asthma unless your doctor says it’s okay.

Most home remedies for asthma probably won’t do you any real harm. But don’t rely on them for relief. See your doctor to create an asthma action plan so that you always know exactly what to do when poor air quality or allergens trigger your symptoms.²¹

","asthma-home-remedies","gid://shopify/Article/606882726187","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/asthma-home-remedies","2022-01-04T17:57:54Z",[390,1292,653],"Allergies and Asthma","4 Asthma “cures” you need to stop using right now",{"_10":1295,"_243":1296,"_246":1297,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406316548470","Common home remedies for asthma on a table","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/asthma_20home_20remedies_20debunked_65cb47b9-e3d7-4f8e-8f5b-d556a90ba9e3.jpg?v=1751632563",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1299,"_1115":1300,"_1131":1301,"_1133":1301,"_1134":1302,"_1136":1303,"_985":1304,"_10":1305,"_1140":1306,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1307,"_577":1308,"_541":1309,"_1147":1310},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"Learn how to help protect yourself from airborne infections if you’re going back to work.","With increasing vaccination rates against SARS-CoV-2 and ongoing decreases in the cases and deaths worldwide caused by COVID-19 (a serious disease, often fatal, that is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus),conversations have begun around what work will look like as many workplaces and schools anticipate re-opening during 2021. As organizations consider re-opening and employees return to workplaces, it’s time to revisit best practices for helping prevent COVID-19 spread and infection in shared workspaces and other communal work settings. How does the COVID-19 coronavirus spread? There are three main ways that COVID-19 can spread from person to person. Prior to vaccination, avoiding exposure to these methods of transmission remains your best weapon against the coronavirus. Droplet spray in short-range transmission COVID-19 can be transmitted through respiratory droplets expelled when an infected person exhales (breathes, coughs, sneezes, sings, yells, or talks). Respiratory droplets are generally greater than 5 microns in diameter. They will rapidly fall from the air within seconds to minutes. Along with social distancing and engineered filtration pressure differentials, masks can be helpful in preventing short-range transmission.1 Since the coronavirus is spread through mucous membranes, which are the thin mucus-producing layers that line your airways, it is important to avoid close contact. This is how most infections occur.2,3 What you can do: Choose an appropriate mask. Protection for yourself and others will vary based on the type of mask you wear. Be sure you know the differences between masks before you purchase one. Properly wearing masks is also essential to infection control and for helping prevent transmission. Until there is widespread vaccination and herd immunity is achieved, it is essential to continue wearing a mask even when fully vaccinated. Keep 6 feet apart from the next person so that you are out of harm’s way in case they sneeze or cough. Do not share utensils, cups, dishes, pens, etc. Do not touch people. This includes handshakes, hugs, and other common sources of physical contact. Keep meetings small with enough space to be six feet apartor join with video conferencing. Contact (direct or indirect) The virus can spread from a surface or object with viral RNA shed from an infected person.4 Coronavirus ribonucleic acid (RNA), the basic building blocks that make many viruses, can last for hours or days on almost any surface, including:5 plastic wood metal clothes When an infected person sneezes or coughs, they can infect surfaces with their mucous droplets. When you touch a contaminated surface, infectious material gets on your hands (or other body part). And when you touch your face with this hand, you can infect yourself. What you can do: Do not touch your face. Follow public health official guidance and wear a mask.6,7,8,9 While wearing a mask, you may be more aware when you touch your face, which can help you remember to minimize the contact your hands make with your face. Wash or sanitize your hands often. Although most people don’t intend to touch their face, they inevitably do. By washing and sanitizing your hands often, it reduces the risk of infection in case you do accidentally touch your face. Cover your coughs and sneezes to prevent spreading your own mucous. Wearing a face mask helps prevent you from spreading your mucous. Change your clothes and remove your shoes when you get home. After you’ve finished changing or removing your shoes, immediately wash your hands or sanitize them. This gives you a fresh, germ-free start at home. Bathing or showering can be helpful. Although it’s not necessary, taking a hot bath or shower might help you feel better and more refreshed. Using soap or body wash, rinse viral material off your body before you walk around or do any activities in your home. Aerosol in long-range transmission (airborne transmission) When an infected person coughs or sneezes, not all of the mucous membrane that’s released lands on surfaces – there is a portion of that mucous that remains airborne.10,11,12 These small respiratory droplets, 5 microns in diameter or smaller, can remain in the air and travel on air currents far from their source.13 The distance can depend on environmental factors, but can be over 3 feet and beyond. If the air is left unfiltered after dozens of coughs or sneezes over the course of several hours, the airborne concentration of the virus can become very high. In fact, in hospital settings or in the homes of people who are infected, the airborne concentration can be so high that simply breathing in this environment can cause infection.14,15 This is why health workers, medical professionals, and first responders need special safety equipment, such as N95 masks. What you can do: Keep 6 feet apart from the next person so that you are out of harm’s way in case they sneeze or cough. Avoid stagnant air. Keep your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit running on fan \"ON\" setting—not \"AUTO\"—to ensure that the air is always moving. HVAC air filtration can help reduce airborne infectious material. If there is no HVAC in your office, keep windows open as often as possible. This helps ensure that airborne viruses are diluted to non-critical levels. Use a high-performance air purifier. Some air purifiers can help reduce airborne viruses and improve air quality at work when source control measures, such as handwashing, wearing masks, and maintaining social distance, are being practiced in workplaces. Consider using a personal air purifier. A personal air purifier in your workplace can help provide direct access to clean air. What to do if you’re vaccinated To further reduce infection rates and avoid illness, get vaccinated when appropriate. Follow local or national vaccination guidelines to find out when you’re eligible to be vaccinated. In the United States and Canada, the priority order for who can receive a vaccination has been largely set by states and provinces.16,17 Other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Israel, have set vaccination priority at the national level.18,19 In early 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted guidance on how vaccinated people could safely consider interacting with vaccinated and unvaccinated people in private and in public.20 The takeaway As governments and businesses lift restrictions and shift guidance on gathering, the danger of the coronavirus remains real. The dangers still exist even with rising vaccination levels. Make sure that you and those around you are consistently taking the proper measures to protect yourselves.","

With increasing vaccination rates against SARS-CoV-2 and ongoing decreases in the cases and deaths worldwide caused by COVID-19 (a serious disease, often fatal, that is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus),conversations have begun around what work will look like as many workplaces and schools anticipate re-opening during 2021.

As organizations consider re-opening and employees return to workplaces, it’s time to revisit best practices for helping prevent COVID-19 spread and infection in shared workspaces and other communal work settings.

$\"Return$

How does the COVID-19 coronavirus spread?

There are three main ways that COVID-19 can spread from person to person. Prior to vaccination, avoiding exposure to these methods of transmission remains your best weapon against the coronavirus.

Droplet spray in short-range transmission

COVID-19 can be transmitted through respiratory droplets expelled when an infected person exhales (breathes, coughs, sneezes, sings, yells, or talks). Respiratory droplets are generally greater than 5 microns in diameter. They will rapidly fall from the air within seconds to minutes.

Along with social distancing and engineered filtration pressure differentials, masks can be helpful in preventing short-range transmission.¹

Since the coronavirus is spread through mucous membranes, which are the thin mucus-producing layers that line your airways, it is important to avoid close contact. This is how most infections occur.^2,3

What you can do:

\nChoose an appropriate mask. Protection for yourself and others will vary based on the type of mask you wear. Be sure you know the differences between masks before you purchase one. Properly wearing masks is also essential to infection control and for helping prevent transmission. Until there is widespread vaccination and herd immunity is achieved, it is essential to continue wearing a mask even when fully vaccinated.
\nKeep 6 feet apart from the next person so that you are out of harm’s way in case they sneeze or cough.
\nDo not share utensils, cups, dishes, pens, etc.
\nDo not touch people. This includes handshakes, hugs, and other common sources of physical contact.
\nKeep meetings small with enough space to be six feet apartor join with video conferencing.

Contact (direct or indirect)

The virus can spread from a surface or object with viral RNA shed from an infected person.⁴

Coronavirus ribonucleic acid (RNA), the basic building blocks that make many viruses, can last for hours or days on almost any surface, including:⁵

plastic
wood
metal
clothes

When an infected person sneezes or coughs, they can infect surfaces with their mucous droplets. When you touch a contaminated surface, infectious material gets on your hands (or other body part). And when you touch your face with this hand, you can infect yourself.

What you can do:

\nDo not touch your face. Follow public health official guidance and wear a mask.^6,7,8,9 While wearing a mask, you may be more aware when you touch your face, which can help you remember to minimize the contact your hands make with your face.
\nWash or sanitize your hands often. Although most people don’t intend to touch their face, they inevitably do. By washing and sanitizing your hands often, it reduces the risk of infection in case you do accidentally touch your face.
\nCover your coughs and sneezes to prevent spreading your own mucous. Wearing a face mask helps prevent you from spreading your mucous.
\nChange your clothes and remove your shoes when you get home. After you’ve finished changing or removing your shoes, immediately wash your hands or sanitize them. This gives you a fresh, germ-free start at home.
\nBathing or showering can be helpful. Although it’s not necessary, taking a hot bath or shower might help you feel better and more refreshed. Using soap or body wash, rinse viral material off your body before you walk around or do any activities in your home.

Aerosol in long-range transmission (airborne transmission)

When an infected person coughs or sneezes, not all of the mucous membrane that’s released lands on surfaces – there is a portion of that mucous that remains airborne.^10,11,12

These small respiratory droplets, 5 microns in diameter or smaller, can remain in the air and travel on air currents far from their source.13 The distance can depend on environmental factors, but can be over 3 feet and beyond.

$\"particle$

If the air is left unfiltered after dozens of coughs or sneezes over the course of several hours, the airborne concentration of the virus can become very high. In fact, in hospital settings or in the homes of people who are infected, the airborne concentration can be so high that simply breathing in this environment can cause infection.^14,15

This is why health workers, medical professionals, and first responders need special safety equipment, such as N95 masks.

What you can do:

\nKeep 6 feet apart from the next person so that you are out of harm’s way in case they sneeze or cough.
\nAvoid stagnant air. Keep your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit running on fan \"ON\" setting—not \"AUTO\"—to ensure that the air is always moving. HVAC air filtration can help reduce airborne infectious material. If there is no HVAC in your office, keep windows open as often as possible. This helps ensure that airborne viruses are diluted to non-critical levels.
\nUse a high-performance air purifier. Some air purifiers can help reduce airborne viruses and improve air quality at work when source control measures, such as handwashing, wearing masks, and maintaining social distance, are being practiced in workplaces.
\nConsider using a personal air purifier. A personal air purifier in your workplace can help provide direct access to clean air.

What to do if you’re vaccinated

To further reduce infection rates and avoid illness, get vaccinated when appropriate. Follow local or national vaccination guidelines to find out when you’re eligible to be vaccinated. In the United States and Canada, the priority order for who can receive a vaccination has been largely set by states and provinces.^16,17 Other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Israel, have set vaccination priority at the national level.^18,19

In early 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted guidance on how vaccinated people could safely consider interacting with vaccinated and unvaccinated people in private and in public.²⁰

The takeaway

As governments and businesses lift restrictions and shift guidance on gathering, the danger of the coronavirus remains real. The dangers still exist even with rising vaccination levels. Make sure that you and those around you are consistently taking the proper measures to protect yourselves.

","return-to-work-after-covid-19","gid://shopify/Article/606888263979","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/return-to-work-after-covid-19","2022-01-03T20:00:00Z",[653],"Returning to work after COVID-19",{"_10":1311,"_243":1312,"_246":1313,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406223290742","Man carrying bag and face mask in hand","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/AQL_ReturntoWork_Desktop_2_948d5d25-d83d-4e64-8186-660179f45afd.jpg?v=1751367617",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1315,"_1115":1316,"_1131":1317,"_1133":1317,"_1134":1318,"_1136":1319,"_985":1320,"_10":1321,"_1140":1322,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1323,"_577":1324,"_541":1326,"_1147":1327},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"Indoor air quality can be two to five times worse than it is outside. What can you do to protect your newborn? Here’s how to improve the air your baby breathes.","They say that the easiest way to identify new parents in a crowd is to look for the large dark circles underneath their eyes. Indeed, every proud parent can attest to just how difficult it is to catch those ever-elusive winks of precious sleep when they’re up all night caring for their babies’ cold, cough, or skin rash. What purifier is best for your baby? Help Me Choose Not sure which purifier is best? We'll help you choose the perfect one for you and your baby. GET STARTED But few of them are aware that the culprit behind their little ones’ woes could be the air that they breathe in their bedroom or nursery. Read on to learn about the common indoor air pollutants, how these contaminants affect your baby’s health, and what you can do about it. The adverse effects of indoor air pollution on babies’ health Studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that the air pollution in our homes is two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.1 While you may not immediately experience adverse health effects when you’re exposed to indoor air pollution, young children are particularly susceptible to the air quality in your home for a few key reasons. For one, babies’ lungs aren’t fully developed until they become adults.2 Furthermore, their tiny, developing bodies are less able to metabolize, detoxify, and excrete the toxicants contained in air pollution.3 It also doesn’t help that children under the age of 24 months frequently spend most of their time in their room, which exposes them to airborne contaminants essentially around the clock. Constant exposure to these contaminants can cause numerous health problems, such as: dizziness coughing sinus congestion nausea fatigue headaches irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat asthma Perhaps most alarmingly, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), a leading cause of infant mortality in developed countries, has been associated with exposure to indoor air pollutants.4 What you can’t see can harm your child Indoor air pollution is caused by these primary pollutants: PM10 particles, PM2.5 particles, ultrafine particles (UFPs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and biological agents. PM10 particles PM10 particles are particulate matter that’s smaller than 10 microns (for reference, a human hair is 50-70 microns in size). Many PM10 particles have natural sources. Examples of PM10 particles include: dust mold pollen PM2.5 particles PM2.5 particles are particulate matter that’s smaller than 2.5 microns. Most PM2.5 in outdoor air is produced by human activity. Examples of PM2.5 particles include: vehicle exhaust factory emissions smoke from burning wood or other biomass fuels Ultrafine particles (UFPs) 90% of all airborne particles are ultrafine particles — particulate matter that’s smaller than 0.1 microns. UFPs are particularly dangerous because they’re small enough to penetrate through your lung tissue and into your bloodstream. UFPs have been linked to heart attacks, strokes, asthma, and even cancer. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) VOCs are compounds that vaporize (become a gas) at room temperature. Several sources emit these compounds, including:5 building materials carpets combustion sources (cigarettes, cooking, etc.) furniture home cleaning products paints, paint strippers, and other solvents personal care products (cosmetics, perfumes, etc.) And, unfortunately, baby products and furniture aren’t off the hook for emitting dangerous amounts of VOCs—several studies proved that baby crib mattresses, cribs, and changing tables emit VOCs.6,7 Other studies indicated that children exposed to Formaldehyde, one of the most common VOCs, have higher risks of acquiring asthma. Biological agents Biological agents are also a significant source of indoor air pollution: animal dander (from cats, dogs, etc.) dust mites These biological agents can cause a myriad of health effects in infants, from diseases to allergies. Here are 9 ways to improve the air quality in your baby’s bedroom All this distressing information may be too much to process at first, but don’t panic—there are a few relatively simple steps you can take to safeguard your bundle of joy against indoor air pollutants: Monitor your indoor air quality. Monitoring the air quality in your baby’s room is the first step in determining what measures you’ll have to take to improve the air that your baby breathes. The most effective way to monitor the air quality of your baby’s bedroom or nursery is to use the IQAir AirVisual Series to take ultra-precise, hyperlocal measurements of the air quality index. The AirVisual Seriesutilizes advanced laser technology to provide highly accurate air quality readings of tiny fine particles (PM2.5). Once you’ve determined the exact air quality index of your baby’s room, you’ll have a better understanding of which of the following measures you can take to clean up the air in your child’s bedroom. Use an air purifier to clean the air. The easiest, most effective way to improve the air quality in your baby’s room is to outfit it with an air purification system. The Atem Desk is the most effective, portable air purifier for small rooms such as baby nurseries. It employs HyperHEPAfiltration technology that’s proven and certified by an independent third-party lab to effectively filter at least 99.5% of harmful ultrafine particles (UFPs) down to 0.003 microns. As a refresher, UFPs are the most damaging of all airborne particles because they are so easily inhaled, deposited into the lungs, and absorbed into the bloodstream. From there, the invasive contaminants can reach any organ in the body, including the brain, heart, and liver. Best of all, the unparalleled performance of IQAir air filtration technology is achieved using only safe, proven, mechanical filtration technology, without producing potentially harmful byproducts like ozone, ions, and chemicals.If you’re looking for the single best way to ensure that your baby breathes only the safest, purest air, the IQAir Atem Desk should be at the top of your baby nursery essentials. Purchase non-toxic, naturally-finished furniture. Just because some furniture is marketed for babies doesn’t mean that it’s safe for babies. Before you purchase a baby crib, mattress, or other furnishings for your little one’s room, ask the manufacturer about the formaldehyde emissions and material composition. Avoid baby furniture constructed from suspect materials like composite wood. If your budgetary constraints limit you to cheaper, composite baby furniture, air out the furniture outdoors for about a week — this will reduce the VOCs that are outgassed in your baby’s room. Manage the humidity. High indoor humidity not only makes the air heavier and more difficult to breathe but also spurs the growth of harmful fungus, yeast, and bacteria. The ideal relative humidity of your baby’s room should be around 40 percent. One cost-effective way to ensure the perfect humidity in your baby’s bedroom is to furnish it with a dehumidifier. For best results, you’ll have to clean the dehumidifier daily. Ventilate the room. Even if you’ve placed an IQAir air purifier in your baby’s quarters, it’s recommended that you open the windows at least ten minutes a day to exchange the indoor air. If your home features a ventilation system, make sure it’s cleaned and maintained regularly to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. Replace your window air conditioner or routinely change central air filters. If your window-mounted air conditioner is over three years old, use a flashlight and peek into the vent and housing—you’ll likely spot progressed mold everywhere. Older air conditioners spew out exponential mold spores, which contaminate bedrooms and cause various illnesses. If you have central air conditioning or heating, change the air filters and schedule a thorough cleaning of the HVAC unit. Replace old and compromised units to prevent the spread of illness. Go green when remodeling. We’ve all seen the perennial scene in movies where the proud new parents remodel their baby’s nursery via a cheesy montage, but the truth is that this is one of the most dangerous things you can do for your newborn. New carpeting, paint, and furniture all too often send the concentration of VOCs skyrocketing in your baby’s room. According to a recent study, the optimal waiting period for the VOCs in recently renovated rooms to reach a safe level can be up to 60 days.8 If you absolutely must remodel your newborn’s room, try to use only VOC-free paints, naturally-finished wood furniture, and low-pile carpet derived from natural fibers. Doing so will limit your infant's exposure to toxic fumes. Reduce pet dander. Your furry four-legged friends shed dead skin cells and hair, which may negatively impact your baby’s lungs and sinus health. To reduce the amount of pet dander that your baby inhales, regularly groom your pets and consider keeping them out of your child’s room all together. Routinely wash your baby’s bedding to ensure that pet dander is taken care of before it accumulates in high concentration. Since pet dander is quite pervasive, it’s inevitable that it’ll find its way into your baby’s room even if you follow the above steps. IQAir filtration systems are the perfect indoor pollution solutions because its HyperHEPA filtration technology effectively cleans up any pet dander in the air. Use a HEPA filter vacuum. Vacuum the flooring and furniture in your baby’s room with a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner. A HEPA-certified vacuum cleaner will filter and capture 99.7% of particulates below 0.3 microns. HEPA-certified vacuum cleaners are vital to curbing indoor air pollution because they effectively remove harmful, microscopic allergens from the carpeting. The wrap-up Being more concerned about the tangible, visible threats to your baby’s well-being rather than those that are intangible, invisible is a common pitfall of parenting. The harmful airborne particulate matter that surrounds your newborn is one of those frequently overlooked health hazards. Indoor air pollution is an unfortunate reality of our modern industrialized life, but the above tips will help improve the air quality in your child's room.","

They say that the easiest way to identify new parents in a crowd is to look for the large dark circles underneath their eyes. Indeed, every proud parent can attest to just how difficult it is to catch those ever-elusive winks of precious sleep when they’re up all night caring for their babies’ cold, cough, or skin rash.

\n \n

\n\n

What purifier is best for your baby? Help Me Choose

Not sure which purifier is best? We'll help you choose the perfect one for you and your baby.

\n\n

\n GET STARTED\n

But few of them are aware that the culprit behind their little ones’ woes could be the air that they breathe in their bedroom or nursery.

Read on to learn about the common indoor air pollutants, how these contaminants affect your baby’s health, and what you can do about it.

The adverse effects of indoor air pollution on babies’ health

Studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that the air pollution in our homes is two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.¹

While you may not immediately experience adverse health effects when you’re exposed to indoor air pollution, young children are particularly susceptible to the air quality in your home for a few key reasons.

For one, babies’ lungs aren’t fully developed until they become adults.² Furthermore, their tiny, developing bodies are less able to metabolize, detoxify, and excrete the toxicants contained in air pollution.³

It also doesn’t help that children under the age of 24 months frequently spend most of their time in their room, which exposes them to airborne contaminants essentially around the clock. Constant exposure to these contaminants can cause numerous health problems, such as:

dizziness
coughing
sinus congestion
nausea
fatigue
headaches
irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat
asthma

Perhaps most alarmingly, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), a leading cause of infant mortality in developed countries, has been associated with exposure to indoor air pollutants.⁴

What you can’t see can harm your child

Indoor air pollution is caused by these primary pollutants: PM10 particles, PM2.5 particles, ultrafine particles (UFPs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and biological agents.

PM10 particles

PM10 particles are particulate matter that’s smaller than 10 microns (for reference, a human hair is 50-70 microns in size). Many PM10 particles have natural sources. Examples of PM10 particles include:

dust
mold
pollen

PM2.5 particles

PM2.5 particles are particulate matter that’s smaller than 2.5 microns. Most PM2.5 in outdoor air is produced by human activity. Examples of PM2.5 particles include:

vehicle exhaust
factory emissions
smoke from burning wood or other biomass fuels

Ultrafine particles (UFPs)

90% of all airborne particles are ultrafine particles — particulate matter that’s smaller than 0.1 microns. UFPs are particularly dangerous because they’re small enough to penetrate through your lung tissue and into your bloodstream. UFPs have been linked to heart attacks, strokes, asthma, and even cancer.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

VOCs are compounds that vaporize (become a gas) at room temperature. Several sources emit these compounds, including:⁵

building materials
carpets
combustion sources (cigarettes, cooking, etc.)
furniture
home cleaning products
paints, paint strippers, and other solvents
personal care products (cosmetics, perfumes, etc.)

And, unfortunately, baby products and furniture aren’t off the hook for emitting dangerous amounts of VOCs—several studies proved that baby crib mattresses, cribs, and changing tables emit VOCs.^6,7 Other studies indicated that children exposed to Formaldehyde, one of the most common VOCs, have higher risks of acquiring asthma.

Biological agents

Biological agents are also a significant source of indoor air pollution:

animal dander (from cats, dogs, etc.)
dust mites

These biological agents can cause a myriad of health effects in infants, from diseases to allergies.

Here are 9 ways to improve the air quality in your baby’s bedroom

All this distressing information may be too much to process at first, but don’t panic—there are a few relatively simple steps you can take to safeguard your bundle of joy against indoor air pollutants:

\nMonitor your indoor air quality.\n
Monitoring the air quality in your baby’s room is the first step in determining what measures you’ll have to take to improve the air that your baby breathes.
\n
The most effective way to monitor the air quality of your baby’s bedroom or nursery is to use the IQAir AirVisual Series to take ultra-precise, hyperlocal measurements of the air quality index. The AirVisual Seriesutilizes advanced laser technology to provide highly accurate air quality readings of tiny fine particles (PM2.5).
\n
Once you’ve determined the exact air quality index of your baby’s room, you’ll have a better understanding of which of the following measures you can take to clean up the air in your child’s bedroom.
\n
\nUse an air purifier to clean the air.\n
The easiest, most effective way to improve the air quality in your baby’s room is to outfit it with an air purification system.
\n
The Atem Desk is the most effective, portable air purifier for small rooms such as baby nurseries. It employs HyperHEPAfiltration technology that’s proven and certified by an independent third-party lab to effectively filter at least 99.5% of harmful ultrafine particles (UFPs) down to 0.003 microns. As a refresher, UFPs are the most damaging of all airborne particles because they are so easily inhaled, deposited into the lungs, and absorbed into the bloodstream. From there, the invasive contaminants can reach any organ in the body, including the brain, heart, and liver.
\n
Best of all, the unparalleled performance of IQAir air filtration technology is achieved using only safe, proven, mechanical filtration technology, without producing potentially harmful byproducts like ozone, ions, and chemicals.
If you’re looking for the single best way to ensure that your baby breathes only the safest, purest air, the IQAir Atem Desk should be at the top of your baby nursery essentials.
\n
\nPurchase non-toxic, naturally-finished furniture.\n
Just because some furniture is marketed for babies doesn’t mean that it’s safe for babies. Before you purchase a baby crib, mattress, or other furnishings for your little one’s room, ask the manufacturer about the formaldehyde emissions and material composition. Avoid baby furniture constructed from suspect materials like composite wood.
\n
If your budgetary constraints limit you to cheaper, composite baby furniture, air out the furniture outdoors for about a week — this will reduce the VOCs that are outgassed in your baby’s room.
\n
\nManage the humidity.\n
High indoor humidity not only makes the air heavier and more difficult to breathe but also spurs the growth of harmful fungus, yeast, and bacteria. The ideal relative humidity of your baby’s room should be around 40 percent. One cost-effective way to ensure the perfect humidity in your baby’s bedroom is to furnish it with a dehumidifier. For best results, you’ll have to clean the dehumidifier daily.
\n
\nVentilate the room.\n
Even if you’ve placed an IQAir air purifier in your baby’s quarters, it’s recommended that you open the windows at least ten minutes a day to exchange the indoor air. If your home features a ventilation system, make sure it’s cleaned and maintained regularly to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.
\n
\nReplace your window air conditioner or routinely change central air filters.\n
If your window-mounted air conditioner is over three years old, use a flashlight and peek into the vent and housing—you’ll likely spot progressed mold everywhere. Older air conditioners spew out exponential mold spores, which contaminate bedrooms and cause various illnesses.
\n
If you have central air conditioning or heating, change the air filters and schedule a thorough cleaning of the HVAC unit. Replace old and compromised units to prevent the spread of illness.
\n
\nGo green when remodeling.\n
We’ve all seen the perennial scene in movies where the proud new parents remodel their baby’s nursery via a cheesy montage, but the truth is that this is one of the most dangerous things you can do for your newborn. New carpeting, paint, and furniture all too often send the concentration of VOCs skyrocketing in your baby’s room. According to a recent study, the optimal waiting period for the VOCs in recently renovated rooms to reach a safe level can be up to 60 days.⁸
\n
If you absolutely must remodel your newborn’s room, try to use only VOC-free paints, naturally-finished wood furniture, and low-pile carpet derived from natural fibers. Doing so will limit your infant's exposure to toxic fumes.
\n
\nReduce pet dander.\n
Your furry four-legged friends shed dead skin cells and hair, which may negatively impact your baby’s lungs and sinus health. To reduce the amount of pet dander that your baby inhales, regularly groom your pets and consider keeping them out of your child’s room all together. Routinely wash your baby’s bedding to ensure that pet dander is taken care of before it accumulates in high concentration.
\n
Since pet dander is quite pervasive, it’s inevitable that it’ll find its way into your baby’s room even if you follow the above steps. IQAir filtration systems are the perfect indoor pollution solutions because its HyperHEPA filtration technology effectively cleans up any pet dander in the air.
\n
\nUse a HEPA filter vacuum.\n
Vacuum the flooring and furniture in your baby’s room with a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner. A HEPA-certified vacuum cleaner will filter and capture 99.7% of particulates below 0.3 microns. HEPA-certified vacuum cleaners are vital to curbing indoor air pollution because they effectively remove harmful, microscopic allergens from the carpeting.
\n

The wrap-up

Being more concerned about the tangible, visible threats to your baby’s well-being rather than those that are intangible, invisible is a common pitfall of parenting. The harmful airborne particulate matter that surrounds your newborn is one of those frequently overlooked health hazards.

Indoor air pollution is an unfortunate reality of our modern industrialized life, but the above tips will help improve the air quality in your child's room.

","improving-the-air-your-baby-breathes","gid://shopify/Article/606884233515","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/improving-the-air-your-baby-breathes","2022-01-03T16:12:32Z",[390,653,1325],"Parents","9 Ways to improve the air quality in your baby’s room",{"_10":1328,"_243":1329,"_246":1330,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/405891449206","Baby room Atem","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/BabyRoom_Desktop_Optimized_8423c468-cb92-4db4-9157-0074bff62451.jpg?v=1750237175","pageInfo",{"_1333":53,"_1334":53,"_1335":1336,"_1337":1338},"hasPreviousPage","hasNextPage","endCursor","eyJsYXN0X2lkIjo2MDY4ODQyMzM1MTUsImxhc3RfdmFsdWUiOjE2NDEyMjYzNTIwMDAsIm9mZnNldCI6ODN9","startCursor","eyJsYXN0X2lkIjo2MDY4NzI3OTc0ODMsImxhc3RfdmFsdWUiOjE2NjgxMTA0MDAwMDAsIm9mZnNldCI6NzJ9","selectedTag",{"_541":1341,"_983":43,"_246":987,"_988":1342},"IQAir News - Health and Wellness",{"_990":991,"_992":1343,"_12":1341,"_983":43,"_246":987},"Blog","categorizedArticles",{"_1346":1347,"_1384":1385,"_1486":1487,"_1553":1554,"_1624":1625},"featured",[1348,1367],{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1349,"_1115":1350,"_1131":1351,"_1133":1352,"_1134":1353,"_1136":1354,"_985":1355,"_10":1356,"_1140":1357,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1358,"_577":1359,"_541":1361,"_1147":1362},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"See how Cameroon’s campus-based air quality monitoring is helping students, teachers, and communities make invisible pollution visible.","

See how Cameroon’s campus-based air quality monitoring is helping students, teachers, and communities make invisible pollution visible.

","In Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, students at Franky Comprehensive Secondary School now have access to something most schools in the country have never had before: real-time air quality data from their own campus. Franky Comprehensive Secondary School is home to Cameroon’s first campus-based real-time air quality monitoring station. This is an important step in a country where public access to pollution data has long been limited. At the time of installation, the station was among a small number of sites in Cameroon providing real-time air quality data—and the first to be installed on a school campus. Why a school was the right place to begin Air pollution is often discussed at the level of cities, countries, or global health reports. But for children, it is also deeply local. It affects the air they breathe on the way to school, during outdoor activities, and throughout the school day. That local reality is one reason the project began on a campus. The installation was carried out through a partnership involving Franky Comprehensive Secondary School and Global Youth Strategy on Air Pollution and Climate Health (GYS). According to Elvis Ndikum, founder and chair of GYS, schools are one of the most effective places to build long-term public awareness around respiratory health. Discussing asthma prevalence among adolescents, he points to air pollution as an environmental hazard that is often overlooked, even though children are especially vulnerable to its effects. Turning invisible pollution into something students can see The AirVisual Outdoor monitor installed at Franky Comprehensive Secondary School provides real-time measurements of PM2.5, PM10, PM1, temperature, and humidity. The campus’s station profile data can be viewed online on IQAir’s live air quality map and mobile app, allowing students, staff, families, and the wider community to follow local air conditions throughout the day. That kind of visibility changes the role air quality plays in school and community life. When students see PM2.5 levels rise on hazy days and drop again after rainfall, air pollution stops being abstract. It becomes something observable and immediate—something that helps explain why some days feel different than others, and why health protection might need to change with conditions. For many students, this may be the first time local air quality has felt tangible. It also creates a local baseline of publicly visible air quality data—something that can support awareness now and stronger health and policy conversations over time. Filling a major monitoring gap in Cameroon Cameroon has a population of roughly 29 million people, yet public access to real-time air quality monitoring has historically been very limited. That makes it harder for communities to understand exposure risks, for researchers to build evidence, and for decision-makers to respond effectively. In that context, the new campus station is significant far beyond the school itself. It adds a new source of publicly visible data in a country where monitoring coverage remains sparse—and where limited data can make pollution risks harder to quantify and address. The project shows how local organizations and educational institutions can help close critical data gaps—not only by hosting equipment, but by making air quality part of community awareness. In doing so, the project helps build a stronger culture of attention around air quality and respiratory health. The local partnership driving the project The project’s strength lies in its core collaborative partnership. GYS helps position air pollution not just as an environmental topic, but as a youth and public-health issue. Franky Comprehensive Secondary School provides a place where monitoring can directly support awareness, learning, and daily decision-making. Together, they have created a model that shows what school-based air quality visibility can look like in practice, connecting local public-health awareness with broader efforts to expand access to air quality data. A first step with wider meaning The station at Franky Comprehensive Secondary School is an important first step, but its significance lies in what it could lead to next. As more schools gain access to monitoring, the benefits can extend outward: stronger awareness, more localized data, better public understanding, and a clearer picture of air quality over time. For Cameroon, this project shows that even a single campus installation can begin to shift how communities understand the air around them. That matters because the first step in responding to air pollution is often the same everywhere: making local conditions visible. Conclusion Cameroon’s first campus air quality monitor shows how local leadership can turn air pollution from an unseen risk into something communities can observe, understand, and respond to. The installation is part of IQAir’s Schools4Earth initiative to expand access to air quality monitoring in educational communities. Through Schools4Earth, IQAir supports school-based monitoring projects that help students and teachers understand local air quality conditions while contributing to broader public visibility. In Cameroon, that framework helped support a project already rooted in local health awareness and community engagement. At Franky Comprehensive Secondary School, students and teachers now have access to real-time air quality information in a setting where that knowledge can shape awareness early and locally. The project highlights the role schools can play not only in education, but also in building the public-health visibility that stronger air quality action requires.","

In Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, students at Franky Comprehensive Secondary School now have access to something most schools in the country have never had before: real-time air quality data from their own campus.

Franky Comprehensive Secondary School is home to Cameroon’s first campus-based real-time air quality monitoring station. This is an important step in a country where public access to pollution data has long been limited. At the time of installation, the station was among a small number of sites in Cameroon providing real-time air quality data—and the first to be installed on a school campus.

Why a school was the right place to begin

Air pollution is often discussed at the level of cities, countries, or global health reports. But for children, it is also deeply local. It affects the air they breathe on the way to school, during outdoor activities, and throughout the school day. That local reality is one reason the project began on a campus.

The installation was carried out through a partnership involving Franky Comprehensive Secondary School and Global Youth Strategy on Air Pollution and Climate Health (GYS).

According to Elvis Ndikum, founder and chair of GYS, schools are one of the most effective places to build long-term public awareness around respiratory health. Discussing asthma prevalence among adolescents, he points to air pollution as an environmental hazard that is often overlooked, even though children are especially vulnerable to its effects.

Turning invisible pollution into something students can see

The AirVisual Outdoor monitor installed at Franky Comprehensive Secondary School provides real-time measurements of PM2.5, PM10, PM1, temperature, and humidity.

The campus’s station profile data can be viewed online on IQAir’s live air quality map and mobile app, allowing students, staff, families, and the wider community to follow local air conditions throughout the day.

That kind of visibility changes the role air quality plays in school and community life. When students see PM2.5 levels rise on hazy days and drop again after rainfall, air pollution stops being abstract. It becomes something observable and immediate—something that helps explain why some days feel different than others, and why health protection might need to change with conditions.

For many students, this may be the first time local air quality has felt tangible. It also creates a local baseline of publicly visible air quality data—something that can support awareness now and stronger health and policy conversations over time.

Filling a major monitoring gap in Cameroon

Cameroon has a population of roughly 29 million people, yet public access to real-time air quality monitoring has historically been very limited. That makes it harder for communities to understand exposure risks, for researchers to build evidence, and for decision-makers to respond effectively.

In that context, the new campus station is significant far beyond the school itself. It adds a new source of publicly visible data in a country where monitoring coverage remains sparse—and where limited data can make pollution risks harder to quantify and address.

The project shows how local organizations and educational institutions can help close critical data gaps—not only by hosting equipment, but by making air quality part of community awareness. In doing so, the project helps build a stronger culture of attention around air quality and respiratory health.

The local partnership driving the project

The project’s strength lies in its core collaborative partnership. GYS helps position air pollution not just as an environmental topic, but as a youth and public-health issue. Franky Comprehensive Secondary School provides a place where monitoring can directly support awareness, learning, and daily decision-making. Together, they have created a model that shows what school-based air quality visibility can look like in practice, connecting local public-health awareness with broader efforts to expand access to air quality data.

A first step with wider meaning

The station at Franky Comprehensive Secondary School is an important first step, but its significance lies in what it could lead to next.

As more schools gain access to monitoring, the benefits can extend outward: stronger awareness, more localized data, better public understanding, and a clearer picture of air quality over time. For Cameroon, this project shows that even a single campus installation can begin to shift how communities understand the air around them.

That matters because the first step in responding to air pollution is often the same everywhere: making local conditions visible.

Conclusion

Cameroon’s first campus air quality monitor shows how local leadership can turn air pollution from an unseen risk into something communities can observe, understand, and respond to.

The installation is part of IQAir’s Schools4Earth initiative to expand access to air quality monitoring in educational communities. Through Schools4Earth, IQAir supports school-based monitoring projects that help students and teachers understand local air quality conditions while contributing to broader public visibility. In Cameroon, that framework helped support a project already rooted in local health awareness and community engagement.

At Franky Comprehensive Secondary School, students and teachers now have access to real-time air quality information in a setting where that knowledge can shape awareness early and locally. The project highlights the role schools can play not only in education, but also in building the public-health visibility that stronger air quality action requires.

","revealing-the-invisible-campus-air-quality-monitoring-cameroon","gid://shopify/Article/1000900952438","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/revealing-the-invisible-campus-air-quality-monitoring-cameroon","2026-04-22T17:38:02Z",[643,1360,648],"Featured articles","Revealing the Invisible: Campus air quality monitoring in Cameroon",{"_10":1363,"_243":-5,"_246":1364,"_248":1365,"_244":1366},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/414739464566","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/A_88a6fab2-72f4-4a7d-89e3-e1e4587baadc.jpg?v=1776879489",839,674,{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1368,"_1115":1369,"_1131":1370,"_1133":1371,"_1134":1372,"_1136":1373,"_985":1374,"_10":1375,"_1140":1376,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1377,"_577":1378,"_541":1379,"_1147":1380},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"Find out whether running an air purifier all day is necessary, safe, and worth it for cleaner indoor air.","

Find out whether running an air purifier all day is necessary, safe, and worth it for cleaner indoor air.

","In most cases, yes. If your goal is to reduce all and any exposure to air pollution, running an air purifier throughout the day is the most effective approach. That’s because indoor air pollution is not a one-time event. Dust settles and gets stirred up again, cooking releases particles and gases, outdoor pollution seeps indoors, and people and pets continuously add new pollutants to the air. Running your air purifier continuously is one of the most effective ways to reduce many common airborne pollutants, including dust, allergens, smoke particles, some airborne microbes carried in droplets or aerosols, and—if the purifier includes the right gas-phase media—certain odors and VOCs. Modern air purifiers are generally designed for continuous operation. Many models also include quieter settings, automatic modes, or smart sensors that help balance air cleaning with energy use and noise. Why continuous operation is best for air quality Indoor air can contain higher concentrations of pollutants than outdoor air, due to poor ventilation, off-gassing from furniture and cleaning products, pet dander, and outdoor pollution seeping indoors. Even after you clean a room once, new pollutants keep entering and forming—so turning a purifier off for long stretches often means you’re letting the room “reload.” Unlike intermittent use, which allows pollutants to accumulate between cycles, all-day operation ensures that contaminants like PM2.5 – particulate matter measuring 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller – are constantly filtered out, providing consistent protection. This is especially true in urban areas, near busy roads, or during wildfire and high-pollution events. Energy, noise, and maintenance considerations Running an air purifier all day does use electricity, but many modern units are designed to do so efficiently—especially on lower or auto settings. In real life, operating cost depends on the model, fan speed, and how many hours per day it runs. Noise also matters. Most high-quality purifiers are quiet enough for everyday use on lower settings, which is why many people run them continuously in bedrooms, living rooms, and home offices. During smoke events or high-pollution periods, a higher fan speed may be worth the extra sound because it helps reduce particle levels more quickly. Continuous use can also mean filters load faster. That’s normal. The tradeoff is straightforward: more run time usually means cleaner air, but also more consistent maintenance. The best approach is to follow the manufacturer’s replacement guidance or filter-life indicator rather than guessing. When you might adjust your approach While all-day use is ideal, there are a few scenarios where you might adjust: Low-pollution periods: If outdoor air quality is excellent and your home is well-ventilated, you can run the purifier intermittently or use an automated mode to conserve energy. Unoccupied rooms: If a room is rarely used, you can turn the purifier off or set it to a lower fan speed. Budget constraints: If energy use is a concern, prioritize the rooms where you spend the most time—especially bedrooms and main living spaces—and use lower or automatic settings when pollution levels are lower. Best practices for all-day air purifier use For best results, place your air purifier where air can move freely around it and avoid blocking it with furniture or walls. In bedrooms, many people prefer to place the unit a few feet from the bed, so the airflow isn’t directed straight at them. If your air purifier has an automatic or smart mode, use it. These settings can raise fan speed when pollution increases and lower it when air is cleaner, helping balance performance, noise, and energy use. During wildfire smoke or heavy outdoor pollution, keep windows and doors closed so you’re not constantly pulling new contaminants into the room. And to maintain performance over time, replace filters according to the manufacturer’s guidance or the system’s filter-life indicator. Frequently Asked Questions Is it safe to run an air purifier all day?Yes, most modern filtration-based air purifiers are designed for continuous operation. Choose a model that does not intentionally generate ozone, keep airflow unobstructed, and follow routine maintenance guidance to keep performance steady. Will running an air purifier all day increase my electricity bill?The impact is usually minimal. Energy-efficient air purifiers often cost only a few dollars per month to run continuously, and automatic or smart modes can further reduce energy use by lowering fan speed as needed. Can I run an air purifier in my bedroom overnight?Yes. Many people run air purifiers overnight, often on a lower or quieter setting. Place the unit a few feet from the bed to avoid direct airflow and minimize noise disruption. Do I need to run an air purifier if I have good ventilation?Even with good ventilation, indoor air can still contain pollutants from cooking, cleaning, pets, and outdoor sources. An air purifier adds an extra layer of protection, especially in urban or high-traffic areas. Conclusion If you want your indoor air to stay cleaner, it usually makes sense to leave your air purifier on throughout the day. Indoor pollution is constantly entering, forming, and being stirred back into the air—even when a room looks clean. For most households, the best strategy is simple: run the purifier consistently, place it well, maintain the filters, and increase fan speed during smoke, traffic, or other high-pollution periods. Clean air is easiest to maintain when you treat it as an ongoing condition—not a one-time fix.","

In most cases, yes. If your goal is to reduce all and any exposure to air pollution, running an air purifier throughout the day is the most effective approach.

That’s because indoor air pollution is not a one-time event. Dust settles and gets stirred up again, cooking releases particles and gases, outdoor pollution seeps indoors, and people and pets continuously add new pollutants to the air. Running your air purifier continuously is one of the most effective ways to reduce many common airborne pollutants, including dust, allergens, smoke particles, some airborne microbes carried in droplets or aerosols, and—if the purifier includes the right gas-phase media—certain odors and VOCs.

Modern air purifiers are generally designed for continuous operation. Many models also include quieter settings, automatic modes, or smart sensors that help balance air cleaning with energy use and noise.

Why continuous operation is best for air quality

Indoor air can contain higher concentrations of pollutants than outdoor air, due to poor ventilation, off-gassing from furniture and cleaning products, pet dander, and outdoor pollution seeping indoors. Even after you clean a room once, new pollutants keep entering and forming—so turning a purifier off for long stretches often means you’re letting the room “reload.”

Unlike intermittent use, which allows pollutants to accumulate between cycles, all-day operation ensures that contaminants like PM2.5 – particulate matter measuring 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller – are constantly filtered out, providing consistent protection. This is especially true in urban areas, near busy roads, or during wildfire and high-pollution events.

Energy, noise, and maintenance considerations

Running an air purifier all day does use electricity, but many modern units are designed to do so efficiently—especially on lower or auto settings. In real life, operating cost depends on the model, fan speed, and how many hours per day it runs.

Noise also matters. Most high-quality purifiers are quiet enough for everyday use on lower settings, which is why many people run them continuously in bedrooms, living rooms, and home offices. During smoke events or high-pollution periods, a higher fan speed may be worth the extra sound because it helps reduce particle levels more quickly.

Continuous use can also mean filters load faster. That’s normal. The tradeoff is straightforward: more run time usually means cleaner air, but also more consistent maintenance. The best approach is to follow the manufacturer’s replacement guidance or filter-life indicator rather than guessing.

When you might adjust your approach

While all-day use is ideal, there are a few scenarios where you might adjust:

\nLow-pollution periods: If outdoor air quality is excellent and your home is well-ventilated, you can run the purifier intermittently or use an automated mode to conserve energy.
\nUnoccupied rooms: If a room is rarely used, you can turn the purifier off or set it to a lower fan speed.
\nBudget constraints: If energy use is a concern, prioritize the rooms where you spend the most time—especially bedrooms and main living spaces—and use lower or automatic settings when pollution levels are lower.
\n

Best practices for all-day air purifier use

For best results, place your air purifier where air can move freely around it and avoid blocking it with furniture or walls. In bedrooms, many people prefer to place the unit a few feet from the bed, so the airflow isn’t directed straight at them.

If your air purifier has an automatic or smart mode, use it. These settings can raise fan speed when pollution increases and lower it when air is cleaner, helping balance performance, noise, and energy use.

During wildfire smoke or heavy outdoor pollution, keep windows and doors closed so you’re not constantly pulling new contaminants into the room. And to maintain performance over time, replace filters according to the manufacturer’s guidance or the system’s filter-life indicator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to run an air purifier all day?
Yes, most modern filtration-based air purifiers are designed for continuous operation. Choose a model that does not intentionally generate ozone, keep airflow unobstructed, and follow routine maintenance guidance to keep performance steady.

Will running an air purifier all day increase my electricity bill?
The impact is usually minimal. Energy-efficient air purifiers often cost only a few dollars per month to run continuously, and automatic or smart modes can further reduce energy use by lowering fan speed as needed.

Can I run an air purifier in my bedroom overnight?
Yes. Many people run air purifiers overnight, often on a lower or quieter setting. Place the unit a few feet from the bed to avoid direct airflow and minimize noise disruption.

Do I need to run an air purifier if I have good ventilation?
Even with good ventilation, indoor air can still contain pollutants from cooking, cleaning, pets, and outdoor sources. An air purifier adds an extra layer of protection, especially in urban or high-traffic areas.

Conclusion

If you want your indoor air to stay cleaner, it usually makes sense to leave your air purifier on throughout the day. Indoor pollution is constantly entering, forming, and being stirred back into the air—even when a room looks clean.

For most households, the best strategy is simple: run the purifier consistently, place it well, maintain the filters, and increase fan speed during smoke, traffic, or other high-pollution periods. Clean air is easiest to maintain when you treat it as an ongoing condition—not a one-time fix.

","should-you-leave-an-air-purifier-on-all-day","gid://shopify/Article/1000802746742","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/should-you-leave-an-air-purifier-on-all-day","2026-04-21T06:00:00Z",[853,1360],"Should you leave an air purifier on all day?",{"_10":1381,"_243":1382,"_246":1383,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/414733304182","Air purifer in living room","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/ShouldYouLeaveAirPurifierOn_Desk_3056c115-415f-48a5-a861-e48d89427895.jpg?v=1776870059","latest",[1386,1403,1420,1436,1453,1470],{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1387,"_1115":1388,"_1131":1389,"_1133":1390,"_1134":1391,"_1136":1392,"_985":1393,"_10":1394,"_1140":1395,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1396,"_577":1397,"_541":1399,"_1147":1400},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"Wildfires spread across Brantley County in Georgia, burning structures and causing road closures. Learn more about what is causing the Georgia wildfires.","

Wildfires spread across Brantley County in Georgia, burning structures and causing road closures. Learn more about what is causing the Georgia wildfires.

","What is the name and location of the wildfire? On April 24, 2026, the Brantley Highway 82 Fire is burning in southeastern region of Georgia, neighboring the northern Florida border. The fire is located just off U.S. Highway 82 near the Brantley County line, bordering Glynn County and spreading into Camden County (1)(2). Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire? The Brantley Highway 82 wildfire has spread across multiple highways, neighborhoods, and communities, including (3)(4): Atkinson Waynesville Happy Hollow U.S. Highway 82 area, from Nahunta to Post Road Highway 110 West, near Camden County line Highway 259, near Camden County line What is the current containment status of the Brantley Highway 82 Fire? On April 24, 2026, the Brantley Highway 82 Fires has burned approximately 7,567 acres and is about 15% contained. Brantley County, Glynn County, and Effingham County Fire Rescue teams have been working together to contain the wildfire and stop the spread to neighboring communities. Glynn County issued a temporary outdoor burn ban, prohibiting outdoor fires ignited by residents such as fireworks and bonfire pits, to prevent additional wildfires (5)(6). Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place? Mandatory evacuation orders for several neighborhoods and communities have been issued all throughout Brantley County, including Happy Hollow, Hawks Landing, and Drury Court. Those needing to evacuate are directed to use Highway 32 for safety. Various neighboring cities are on wildfire watch as winds continue to carry smoke throughout the state. On April 22, 2026, all Brantley County schools were closed due to the wildfire breaching containment. Shelters are open to the public through various churches in the Nahunta and Hortense region, providing food and water to locals in need. Residents in neighboring cities on wildfire watch alert are advised to stay indoors, keep windows closed, and monitor fire updates and alerts (7). How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke? Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke. Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts. Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode. Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke. Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data. Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask. On April 24, 2026, this fire is 15% contained.","

What is the name and location of the wildfire?

On April 24, 2026, the Brantley Highway 82 Fire is burning in southeastern region of Georgia, neighboring the northern Florida border.

The fire is located just off U.S. Highway 82 near the Brantley County line, bordering Glynn County and spreading into Camden County (1)(2).

Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire?

The Brantley Highway 82 wildfire has spread across multiple highways, neighborhoods, and communities, including (3)(4):

Atkinson
Waynesville
Happy Hollow
U.S. Highway 82 area, from Nahunta to Post Road
Highway 110 West, near Camden County line
Highway 259, near Camden County line

What is the current containment status of the Brantley Highway 82 Fire?

On April 24, 2026, the Brantley Highway 82 Fires has burned approximately 7,567 acres and is about 15% contained.

Brantley County, Glynn County, and Effingham County Fire Rescue teams have been working together to contain the wildfire and stop the spread to neighboring communities. Glynn County issued a temporary outdoor burn ban, prohibiting outdoor fires ignited by residents such as fireworks and bonfire pits, to prevent additional wildfires (5)(6).

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

Mandatory evacuation orders for several neighborhoods and communities have been issued all throughout Brantley County, including Happy Hollow, Hawks Landing, and Drury Court. Those needing to evacuate are directed to use Highway 32 for safety. Various neighboring cities are on wildfire watch as winds continue to carry smoke throughout the state.

On April 22, 2026, all Brantley County schools were closed due to the wildfire breaching containment. Shelters are open to the public through various churches in the Nahunta and Hortense region, providing food and water to locals in need. Residents in neighboring cities on wildfire watch alert are advised to stay indoors, keep windows closed, and monitor fire updates and alerts (7).

How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?

Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.

\nGet a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke.
Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.\n

On April 24, 2026, this fire is 15% contained.

","wildfire-map-spotlight-brantley-highway-82-fire-georgia","gid://shopify/Article/1001165488502","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/wildfire-map-spotlight-brantley-highway-82-fire-georgia","2026-04-24T14:30:39Z",[390,638,1398],"Wildfires","Wildfire Map Spotlight: Brantley Highway 82 Fire, Georgia",{"_10":1401,"_243":-5,"_246":1402,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/414818664822","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/Wildfire2Desktop_a1a81ad2-9e56-4c3c-bae2-aa589175f7ed.jpg?v=1777041247",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1404,"_1115":1405,"_1131":1406,"_1133":1407,"_1134":1408,"_1136":1409,"_985":1410,"_10":1411,"_1140":1412,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1413,"_577":1414,"_541":1415,"_1147":1416},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"Find out more about the Pressey Fire burning near Oconto in central Nebraska, including affected areas, containment efforts, and emergency updates.","

Find out more about the Pressey Fire burning near Oconto in central Nebraska, including affected areas, containment efforts, and emergency updates.

","What is the name and location of the wildfire? As of April 24, 2026, the Pressey Fire is active in Pressey Park near Oconto in Custer County, Nebraska. The fire is located north of Oconto along Highway 21 in central Nebraska and has impacted areas surrounding Pressey Park. Emergency crews remain focused on protecting nearby communities, property, and critical infrastructure as firefighting operations continue (1). Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire? The cities and areas affected by the Pressey Fire include: Custer County Oconto Pressey Park Surrounding areas along Highway 21 What is the current containment status of the Pressey Fire? As of April 24, 2026, the Pressey Fire remains at 0% containment and has burned 8,953 acres. More than 130 personnel are actively working around the clock to contain the fire, with additional resources continuing to arrive. Support efforts include two Nebraska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters conducting bucket drops, along with a National Guard hand crew assisting firefighters on the ground (2). Officials also reported that one home and several outbuildings have been destroyed, while the cause of the wildfire remains under investigation (3). Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place? No evacuation orders have been issued, but officials are strongly urging residents and visitors to avoid the Pressey Park area near Oconto to allow emergency responders to safely continue firefighting operations. How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke? Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke. Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts. Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode. Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke. Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data. Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask. As of April 24, 2026, this fire is 0% contained.","

What is the name and location of the wildfire?

As of April 24, 2026, the Pressey Fire is active in Pressey Park near Oconto in Custer County, Nebraska. The fire is located north of Oconto along Highway 21 in central Nebraska and has impacted areas surrounding Pressey Park.

Emergency crews remain focused on protecting nearby communities, property, and critical infrastructure as firefighting operations continue (1).

Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire?

The cities and areas affected by the Pressey Fire include:

Custer County
Oconto
Pressey Park
Surrounding areas along Highway 21

What is the current containment status of the Pressey Fire?

As of April 24, 2026, the Pressey Fire remains at 0% containment and has burned 8,953 acres.

More than 130 personnel are actively working around the clock to contain the fire, with additional resources continuing to arrive. Support efforts include two Nebraska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters conducting bucket drops, along with a National Guard hand crew assisting firefighters on the ground (2).

Officials also reported that one home and several outbuildings have been destroyed, while the cause of the wildfire remains under investigation (3).

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

No evacuation orders have been issued, but officials are strongly urging residents and visitors to avoid the Pressey Park area near Oconto to allow emergency responders to safely continue firefighting operations.

\n\n

How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?

Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.

\nGet a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke.
Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.\n

As of April 24, 2026, this fire is 0% contained.

","wildfire-map-spotlight-pressey-fire-central-nebraska","gid://shopify/Article/1001196618102","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/wildfire-map-spotlight-pressey-fire-central-nebraska","2026-04-24T10:40:51Z",[390,638,663,1398],"Wildfire Map Spotlight: Pressey Fire, Central Nebraska",{"_10":1417,"_243":1418,"_246":1419,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/414807687542","massive wildfire spreading through a forest","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/Wildfire1Desktop_3a9a8879-4919-4a46-9079-6e33ce45802d.jpg?v=1777027763",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1421,"_1115":1422,"_1131":1423,"_1133":1424,"_1134":1425,"_1136":1426,"_985":1427,"_10":1428,"_1140":1429,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1430,"_577":1431,"_541":1432,"_1147":1433},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"Southeast Asia grapples with unhealthy air pollution, affecting major cities and public health. Learn more about the impacted regions, underlying causes, and expected improvements.","

Southeast Asia grapples with unhealthy air pollution, affecting major cities and public health. Learn more about the impacted regions, underlying causes, and expected improvements.

","Is the air quality good in Southeast Asia? On April 24, 2026, air quality across Southeast Asia remains poor, with some of the major cities experiencing air quality in the \"unhealthy\" range and high PM2.5 concentrations, posing serious health risks to residents, especially children and the elderly. By 5:00 PM (local time, UTC+7), several urban centers have recorded AQI readings between 100 and 200, prompting health warnings. Residents are advised to limit outdoor activity, keep windows closed, wear masks when outside, and use air purifiers indoors. While conditions remain variable, Southeast Asia’s average PM2.5 levels in 2025 continued to exceed WHO guidelines across the region. Indonesia recorded around 30 µg/m³, about six times the guideline, while Vietnam reached 29.7 µg/m³, or 5.9 times higher. Myanmar and Laos measured 4.7 and 4.5 times the limit, respectively, while Thailand and Cambodia were each about 3.6 times above, underscoring persistent regional air quality challenges. Air quality map of Southeast Asia and neighboring countries as of 5:00 PM (local time) on April 24, 2026. Source: IQAir. When will the air quality improve in Southeast Asia? As of April 24, 2026, several major cities across Southeast Asia are reporting poor air quality. Some of the affected cities include: Chiang Mai, Thailand Chiang Rai, Thailand Lampang, Thailand Luang Prabang, Laos Phitsanulok, Thailand Air quality conditions can change rapidly throughout the day. For a complete, real-time overview of pollution levels nationwide, see Southeast Asia air quality map. Chiang Mai ranked among the most polluted major cities globally, as of 5:00 PM (local time) on April 24, 2026. Source: IQAir. When will air quality improve in Southeast Asia? Conditions usually begin to improve in late April as weather patterns shift and the rainy season approaches, with rainfall and increased atmospheric mixing helping to disperse smoke particles and reduce PM2.5 concentrations. By Songkran in mid-April, air quality in northern Thailand typically clears, though the pattern of \"fine one day, hazardous the next\" persists until monsoon rains provide more sustained relief. For maritime Southeast Asia, the dry season runs through October, meaning improvement there depends on the onset of the northeast monsoon. Lasting regional progress requires coordinated cross-border emission controls and a transition away from open burning practices (1). What is causing poor air quality in Southeast Asia? Southeast Asia experiences two distinct burning seasons each year, with mainland countries including Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam affected from November through May, while more equatorial maritime nations including Indonesia and Malaysia face peak fire activity from June through October (2).; Biomass burning accounts for approximately 48% of annual average PM2.5 concentrations across mainland Southeast Asia, with forest fires, shrubland fires, and crop residue burning peaking in March when monthly average PM2.5 reaches 45 µg/m³. Indonesia is the major contributor to transboundary haze across the region, as combustion of biomass and organic peat soil generates large volumes of carbonaceous fine particles that are carried by prevailing winds into Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and neighboring countries. Urban sources including vehicle emissions, coal-fired power generation, and industrial activity add to the pollution burden year-round (3). How can I protect myself from poor air quality? Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts. Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode. Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data. Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask. Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.","

Is the air quality good in Southeast Asia?

On April 24, 2026, air quality across Southeast Asia remains poor, with some of the major cities experiencing air quality in the \"unhealthy\" range and high PM2.5 concentrations, posing serious health risks to residents, especially children and the elderly.

By 5:00 PM (local time, UTC+7), several urban centers have recorded AQI readings between 100 and 200, prompting health warnings. Residents are advised to limit outdoor activity, keep windows closed, wear masks when outside, and use air purifiers indoors.

While conditions remain variable, Southeast Asia’s average PM2.5 levels in 2025 continued to exceed WHO guidelines across the region. Indonesia recorded around 30 µg/m³, about six times the guideline, while Vietnam reached 29.7 µg/m³, or 5.9 times higher. Myanmar and Laos measured 4.7 and 4.5 times the limit, respectively, while Thailand and Cambodia were each about 3.6 times above, underscoring persistent regional air quality challenges.

$\"\"$ Air quality map of Southeast Asia and neighboring countries as of 5:00 PM (local time) on April 24, 2026. Source: IQAir.

When will the air quality improve in Southeast Asia?

As of April 24, 2026, several major cities across Southeast Asia are reporting poor air quality. Some of the affected cities include:

\nChiang Mai, Thailand
\nChiang Rai, Thailand
\nLampang, Thailand
\nLuang Prabang, Laos
\nPhitsanulok, Thailand

Air quality conditions can change rapidly throughout the day. For a complete, real-time overview of pollution levels nationwide, see Southeast Asia air quality map.

$\"\"$ Chiang Mai ranked among the most polluted major cities globally, as of 5:00 PM (local time) on April 24, 2026. Source: IQAir.

When will air quality improve in Southeast Asia?

Conditions usually begin to improve in late April as weather patterns shift and the rainy season approaches, with rainfall and increased atmospheric mixing helping to disperse smoke particles and reduce PM2.5 concentrations.

By Songkran in mid-April, air quality in northern Thailand typically clears, though the pattern of \"fine one day, hazardous the next\" persists until monsoon rains provide more sustained relief.

For maritime Southeast Asia, the dry season runs through October, meaning improvement there depends on the onset of the northeast monsoon. Lasting regional progress requires coordinated cross-border emission controls and a transition away from open burning practices (1).

What is causing poor air quality in Southeast Asia?

Southeast Asia experiences two distinct burning seasons each year, with mainland countries including Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam affected from November through May, while more equatorial maritime nations including Indonesia and Malaysia face peak fire activity from June through October (2).;

Biomass burning accounts for approximately 48% of annual average PM2.5 concentrations across mainland Southeast Asia, with forest fires, shrubland fires, and crop residue burning peaking in March when monthly average PM2.5 reaches 45 µg/m³.

Indonesia is the major contributor to transboundary haze across the region, as combustion of biomass and organic peat soil generates large volumes of carbonaceous fine particles that are carried by prevailing winds into Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and neighboring countries. Urban sources including vehicle emissions, coal-fired power generation, and industrial activity add to the pollution burden year-round (3).

How can I protect myself from poor air quality?

\nGet a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.\n
Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.

","southeast-asia-air-quality-alert","gid://shopify/Article/1001100673398","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/southeast-asia-air-quality-alert","2026-04-24T10:11:45Z",[390,638],"Southeast Asia Air Quality Alert",{"_10":1434,"_243":-5,"_246":1435,"_248":1365,"_244":1366},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/414805197174","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/SoutheastAsia_Fire_Desk_3c24b03f-de67-4da2-9cc3-c86e58b2da6c.jpg?v=1777025511",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1437,"_1115":1438,"_1131":1439,"_1133":1440,"_1134":1441,"_1136":1442,"_985":1443,"_10":1444,"_1140":1445,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1446,"_577":1447,"_541":1448,"_1147":1449},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"Find out more about the Pineland Road Fire and its impact on communities in southern Georgia.","

Find out more about the Pineland Road Fire and its impact on communities in southern Georgia.

","What is the name and location of the wildfire? As of April 23, 2026, the Pineland Road Fire is burning in southern Georgia across Clinch and Echols regions. The fire is located approximately 5 miles west of Colon Road and Mud Camp Pineland Road, near Highway 441 and close to the Suwannee River at the boundary between the two regions (1). Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire? The cities and areas affected by the Pineland Road Fire include: Colon Echols region Fargo Highway area Needmore Regions near Headlight Road Regions near Tiger Lake Road Regions near Will Rewis Road and Barnes Road What is the current containment status of the Pineland Road Fire? As of April 23, 2026, the Pineland Road Fire has burned approximately 30,477 acres and is about 10% contained. Firefighting crews continue suppression efforts under challenging conditions, including drought, low humidity, and strong winds (2). Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place? Evacuation alerts remain in place for residents living near Highway 441 between Headlight Road and Tiger Lake Road, as well as areas east of Will Rewis Road and Barnes Road. While no mandatory evacuation order has been issued, officials have urged residents to stay prepared to leave quickly if conditions worsen. Emergency alerts have advised residents to monitor updates, prepare essential items, and follow instructions from local authorities as fire behavior may shift rapidly (3). How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke? Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke. Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts. Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode. Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke. Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data. Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask. As of April 23, 2026, this fire is 10% contained.","

What is the name and location of the wildfire?

As of April 23, 2026, the Pineland Road Fire is burning in southern Georgia across Clinch and Echols regions.

The fire is located approximately 5 miles west of Colon Road and Mud Camp Pineland Road, near Highway 441 and close to the Suwannee River at the boundary between the two regions (1).

Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire?

The cities and areas affected by the Pineland Road Fire include:

Colon
Echols region
Fargo Highway area
Needmore
Regions near Headlight Road
Regions near Tiger Lake Road
Regions near Will Rewis Road and Barnes Road

What is the current containment status of the Pineland Road Fire?

As of April 23, 2026, the Pineland Road Fire has burned approximately 30,477 acres and is about 10% contained.

Firefighting crews continue suppression efforts under challenging conditions, including drought, low humidity, and strong winds (2).

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

Evacuation alerts remain in place for residents living near Highway 441 between Headlight Road and Tiger Lake Road, as well as areas east of Will Rewis Road and Barnes Road.

While no mandatory evacuation order has been issued, officials have urged residents to stay prepared to leave quickly if conditions worsen.

Emergency alerts have advised residents to monitor updates, prepare essential items, and follow instructions from local authorities as fire behavior may shift rapidly (3).

How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?

Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.

\nGet a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke.
Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.\n

As of April 23, 2026, this fire is 10% contained.

","wildfire-map-spotlight-pineland-road-fire-georgia","gid://shopify/Article/1001134391670","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/wildfire-map-spotlight-pineland-road-fire-georgia","2026-04-23T14:45:46Z",[390,638,663,1398],"Wildfire Map Spotlight: Pineland Road Fire, Georgia",{"_10":1450,"_243":1451,"_246":1452,"_248":1365,"_244":1366},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/414782783862","Wildfire engulfs a dense forest","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/Wildfire9Desktop_dcac3133-2442-4e61-a2e3-e93717d6b653.jpg?v=1776955719",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1454,"_1115":1455,"_1131":1456,"_1133":1457,"_1134":1458,"_1136":1459,"_985":1460,"_10":1461,"_1140":1462,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1463,"_577":1464,"_541":1465,"_1147":1466},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"Find out more about the extreme heatwave affecting multiple regions across India as temperatures continue to rise across the country.","

Find out more about the extreme heatwave affecting multiple regions across India as temperatures continue to rise across the country.

","Why is there a heatwave in India? As of April 23, 2026, India is experiencing widespread extreme heat across northern, central, and eastern regions, with Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi reporting dangerously high temperatures (1). According to recent reports, 19 of the world’s 20 hottest cities are currently located in India. Among the hardest-hit locations are Bhagalpur in Bihar, Talcher in Odisha, Asansol in West Bengal, and Medinipur in West Bengal. The current heatwave is being fueled by a combination of weather and climate factors. Strong pre-monsoon solar heating is rapidly warming land surfaces. Cloudless skies are also allowing prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Reduced winter snowfall across the Himalayas and parts of Eurasia has also contributed to higher temperatures by reducing natural cooling effects. At the same time, hot and dry northwesterly winds are suppressing rainfall across large parts of the country. Shifting Pacific Ocean patterns and ENSO-neutral conditions are further weakening cooling weather systems, allowing extreme temperatures to persist for longer periods. Areas near the Himalayan region are also experiencing abnormal warming due to reduced snow cover, while eastern plains near Nepal’s Lumbini region are facing similar extreme heat conditions (2). How long will the heatwave last? The current heat event began intensifying after April 20, 2026, as temperatures rose sharply across multiple regions. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heatwave conditions are expected to continue through at least April 26 to April 27 in several states. Some areas may not experience meaningful relief until later in the month as pre-monsoon weather activity increases. Heatwave conditions are expected to persist across: Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana through April 24–25 West Uttar Pradesh through April 23–25 East Uttar Pradesh through April 22–26 Rajasthan through April 24–26 Madhya Pradesh through April 23–26 Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh through April 24–27 Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal through April 22–23 Southern coastal regions, including Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and coastal Karnataka, are also expected to experience prolonged hot and humid weather conditions (3). Are there any alerts in place? The India Meteorological Department has issued multiple heat-related alerts across affected regions as temperatures continue to rise. Yellow alerts remain in place in several states where heat exposure poses moderate health risks, particularly for children, older adults, and individuals with existing medical conditions. Orange alerts have also been issued in areas facing a higher risk of heat-related illness due to prolonged exposure. Delhi remains under a yellow alert through April 24, while severe heat advisories continue across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and parts of eastern India. At this time, no evacuation orders or emergency shelters have been reported in connection with the heatwave. Health officials are advising residents to take precautions, including staying hydrated, limiting outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours, wearing lightweight clothing, and recognizing signs of heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Officials have also warned about unusually warm nighttime temperatures in Delhi, Haryana, Odisha, and Konkan. These warmer nights may increase health risks by limiting the body’s ability to recover from prolonged daytime heat exposure (4).","

Why is there a heatwave in India?

As of April 23, 2026, India is experiencing widespread extreme heat across northern, central, and eastern regions, with Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi reporting dangerously high temperatures (1).

According to recent reports, 19 of the world’s 20 hottest cities are currently located in India. Among the hardest-hit locations are Bhagalpur in Bihar, Talcher in Odisha, Asansol in West Bengal, and Medinipur in West Bengal.

The current heatwave is being fueled by a combination of weather and climate factors. Strong pre-monsoon solar heating is rapidly warming land surfaces. Cloudless skies are also allowing prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

Reduced winter snowfall across the Himalayas and parts of Eurasia has also contributed to higher temperatures by reducing natural cooling effects. At the same time, hot and dry northwesterly winds are suppressing rainfall across large parts of the country.

Shifting Pacific Ocean patterns and ENSO-neutral conditions are further weakening cooling weather systems, allowing extreme temperatures to persist for longer periods.

Areas near the Himalayan region are also experiencing abnormal warming due to reduced snow cover, while eastern plains near Nepal’s Lumbini region are facing similar extreme heat conditions (2).

How long will the heatwave last?

The current heat event began intensifying after April 20, 2026, as temperatures rose sharply across multiple regions.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heatwave conditions are expected to continue through at least April 26 to April 27 in several states. Some areas may not experience meaningful relief until later in the month as pre-monsoon weather activity increases.

Heatwave conditions are expected to persist across:

\nDelhi, Punjab, and Haryana through April 24–25
West Uttar Pradesh through April 23–25
East Uttar Pradesh through April 22–26
\nRajasthan through April 24–26
\nMadhya Pradesh through April 23–26
Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh through April 24–27
\nBihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal through April 22–23

Southern coastal regions, including Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and coastal Karnataka, are also expected to experience prolonged hot and humid weather conditions (3).

Are there any alerts in place?

The India Meteorological Department has issued multiple heat-related alerts across affected regions as temperatures continue to rise.

Yellow alerts remain in place in several states where heat exposure poses moderate health risks, particularly for children, older adults, and individuals with existing medical conditions.

Orange alerts have also been issued in areas facing a higher risk of heat-related illness due to prolonged exposure.

Delhi remains under a yellow alert through April 24, while severe heat advisories continue across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and parts of eastern India.

At this time, no evacuation orders or emergency shelters have been reported in connection with the heatwave.

Health officials are advising residents to take precautions, including staying hydrated, limiting outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours, wearing lightweight clothing, and recognizing signs of heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

Officials have also warned about unusually warm nighttime temperatures in Delhi, Haryana, Odisha, and Konkan. These warmer nights may increase health risks by limiting the body’s ability to recover from prolonged daytime heat exposure (4).

","heatwave-map-spotlight-northern-central-and-eastern-india","gid://shopify/Article/1001168863606","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/heatwave-map-spotlight-northern-central-and-eastern-india","2026-04-23T09:16:54Z",[390,638],"Heatwave Map Spotlight: Northern, Central, and Eastern India",{"_10":1467,"_243":1468,"_246":1469,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/414755193206","A man wipes sweat from his face under the scorching sun.","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/Heatwave2Desktop_201f1ef3-3ac0-4fcd-86f6-216c4a5b07b3.jpg?v=1776936733",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1471,"_1115":1472,"_1131":1473,"_1133":1474,"_1134":1475,"_1136":1476,"_985":1477,"_10":1478,"_1140":1479,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1480,"_577":1481,"_541":1482,"_1147":1483},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"China grapples with unhealthy air pollution, affecting major cities and public health. Learn more about the impacted regions, underlying causes, and expected improvements.","

China grapples with unhealthy air pollution, affecting major cities and public health. Learn more about the impacted regions, underlying causes, and expected improvements.

","Is the air quality good in China? As of April 23, 2026, air quality in China remains poor, with some of the major cities experiencing air quality in the \"unhealthy\" range and high PM2.5 concentrations, posing serious health risks to residents, especially children and the elderly. By 1:30 PM (Chinese Standard Time, GMT+8), several urban centers have recorded AQI readings between 100 and 200, prompting health warnings. Residents are advised to limit outdoor activity, keep windows closed, wear masks when outside, and use air purifiers indoors. While conditions remain poor, China’s average PM2.5 concentration in 2025 was 29.6 µg/m3, equivalent to an AQI of 87, classified as \"moderate\". This level is nearly 5.92 times higher than the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m3, placing China among the world’s 20 most polluted countries in 2025. Air quality map of China and neighboring countries as of 1:30 PM (CST) on April 23, 2026. Source: IQAir. Which cities are affected by bad air quality in China? As of April 23, 2026, several major cities across China are reporting poor air quality. Some of the affected cities include: Aksu Beijing Jinchang Kashgar Lanzhou Puer Yinchuan Air quality conditions can change rapidly throughout the day. For a complete, real-time overview of pollution levels nationwide, see China's air quality map. Beijing ranked among the most polluted major cities globally, as of 1:30 PM (CST) on April 23, 2026. Source: IQAir. When will the air quality improve in China? With spring now underway, the end of the coal-fired heating season should bring some relief, as heating-related emissions begin to ease. However, March and April bring their own challenge: this period has the highest frequency of sand and dust weather, with storms primarily originating from Mongolia, capable of spiking PM10 concentrations several fold. More sustained improvement is expected by late April to May, as warmer temperatures, stronger winds, and spring rainfall help disperse pollutants. Lasting progress still depends on continued emission controls and cleaner energy adoption (1). What is causing poor air quality in China? The root causes of air pollution in China include dependence on fossil fuels, coal combustion, biomass burning, traffic and waste incineration emission, industrial pollution, and soil dust, with coal and other fossil fuels exploited despite renewable investments (2). In spring (March-May), pollution persists due to frequent dust storms from the Gobi Desert, Taklimakan Desert, and Inner Mongolian Plateau, causing sudden PM10 spikes. Higher temperature and humidity levels rise, and winds contribute to the smog by carrying pollutants from industrialized regions. Resuspended road dust from construction and urbanization, and transboundary pollution also contribute. Meteorological conditions favor the mobilization and transport of dust in spring (3). How can I protect myself from poor air quality? Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts. Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode. Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data. Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask. Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.","

Is the air quality good in China?

As of April 23, 2026, air quality in China remains poor, with some of the major cities experiencing air quality in the \"unhealthy\" range and high PM2.5 concentrations, posing serious health risks to residents, especially children and the elderly.

By 1:30 PM (Chinese Standard Time, GMT+8), several urban centers have recorded AQI readings between 100 and 200, prompting health warnings. Residents are advised to limit outdoor activity, keep windows closed, wear masks when outside, and use air purifiers indoors.

While conditions remain poor, China’s average PM2.5 concentration in 2025 was 29.6 µg/m3, equivalent to an AQI of 87, classified as \"moderate\". This level is nearly 5.92 times higher than the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m3, placing China among the world’s 20 most polluted countries in 2025.

$\"\"$ Air quality map of China and neighboring countries as of 1:30 PM (CST) on April 23, 2026. Source: IQAir.

Which cities are affected by bad air quality in China?

As of April 23, 2026, several major cities across China are reporting poor air quality. Some of the affected cities include:

Aksu
Beijing
Jinchang
Kashgar
Lanzhou
Puer
Yinchuan

Air quality conditions can change rapidly throughout the day. For a complete, real-time overview of pollution levels nationwide, see China's air quality map.

$\"\"$ Beijing ranked among the most polluted major cities globally, as of 1:30 PM (CST) on April 23, 2026. Source: IQAir.

When will the air quality improve in China?

With spring now underway, the end of the coal-fired heating season should bring some relief, as heating-related emissions begin to ease. However, March and April bring their own challenge: this period has the highest frequency of sand and dust weather, with storms primarily originating from Mongolia, capable of spiking PM10 concentrations several fold.

More sustained improvement is expected by late April to May, as warmer temperatures, stronger winds, and spring rainfall help disperse pollutants. Lasting progress still depends on continued emission controls and cleaner energy adoption (1).

What is causing poor air quality in China?

The root causes of air pollution in China include dependence on fossil fuels, coal combustion, biomass burning, traffic and waste incineration emission, industrial pollution, and soil dust, with coal and other fossil fuels exploited despite renewable investments (2).

In spring (March-May), pollution persists due to frequent dust storms from the Gobi Desert, Taklimakan Desert, and Inner Mongolian Plateau, causing sudden PM10 spikes. Higher temperature and humidity levels rise, and winds contribute to the smog by carrying pollutants from industrialized regions.

Resuspended road dust from construction and urbanization, and transboundary pollution also contribute. Meteorological conditions favor the mobilization and transport of dust in spring (3).

How can I protect myself from poor air quality?

\nGet a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.\n
Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.

","china-air-quality-alert","gid://shopify/Article/999656948086","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/china-air-quality-alert","2026-04-23T05:30:23Z",[390,638],"China Air Quality Alert",{"_10":1484,"_243":-5,"_246":1485,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/414748639606","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/BeijingDesktop_bc51c3b5-6b87-4b64-b0ee-e36d75f0f16e.jpg?v=1776922227","popular",[1488,1505,1521,1537],{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1489,"_1115":1490,"_1131":1491,"_1133":1491,"_1134":1492,"_1136":1493,"_985":1494,"_10":1495,"_1140":1496,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1497,"_577":1498,"_541":1500,"_1147":1501},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"Learn why wildfire smoke poses a health risk to people living far downwind and what you can do to help protect yourself.","When considering the dangers of wildfires, thoughts of fleeing your home while a raging wildfire rapidly approaches can easily consume your imagination. However, the number one cause of death from fires is smoke inhalation. The primary cause of death from wildfires is smoke inhalation. 50 to 80 percent of fire deaths are from smoke inhalation. Inhaling smoke damages your body in one or both of the following ways: by robbing it of oxygen through particulate matter irritation Smoke inhalation is particularly dangerous because you may not show symptoms until 24 to 48 hours after exposure. 50–80 percent of fire deaths are from smoke inhalation.1 Read on to learn how to help protect the health of yourself and your loved ones, and learn some wildfire smoke safety tips to rest assured that you’ve taken the necessary wildfire safety precautions to reduce the consequences of toxic wildfire smoke. What’s in wildfire smoke? Wildfire smoke is a mixture of thousands of individual compounds, including harmful particles and gases that pose a severe health risk to anyone (including pets) nearby and downwind from a fire. Wildfire smoke often contains: water vapor particulate matter trace minerals carbon dioxide carbon monoxide nitrogen oxides hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide compounds that contribute to elevated ozone (O3) levels volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including acrolein and formaldehyde (potent respiratory irritants) Wildfire smoke often contains fine (PM2.5) and ultrafine particles that can be absorbed directly into your blood stream and reach any organ or area of your body. Pictured: The typical contents of wildfire smoke, including ultrafine particles (≤ 0.3 microns), PM2.5 (2.5-10 microns), acrolein, PM10 (> 10 microns), formaldehyde, carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons. Source: IQAir Wildfire smoke composition depends upon multiple factors, including: the types of wood and vegetation burning the moisture content the fire temperature wind conditions other weather-related influences The primary pollutant threatening the health of those nearby and downwind of a wildfire is particulate matter. Wildfire smoke often contains fine (or PM2.5) and ultrafine particles. These tiny airborne particles are the most dangerous to your health. Fine particles (smaller than 2.5 microns) penetrate deeply into your lungs. The most dangerous are ultrafine particles (smaller than 0.1 microns), which represent 90% of all airborne particles. These particles are tiny and can be absorbed directly into your bloodstream. Once in your blood, they can reach any organ or area of your body. Clean the air with high-performance air filtration Learn more about our wildfire smoke air purifiers Click here Wildfire smoke and at-risk populations Most healthy adults will recover from smoke exposure. However, certain individuals are more at risk for severe health consequences, including:2 Young children. Children whose lungs are still developing are considered more vulnerable, regardless of whether they have a pre-existing condition. Pregnant women. Wildfire smoke inhalation puts pregnant women and their unborn children at a higher risk than the general population. Older adults. This population is at-risk due to an increased rate of pre-existing heart and lung disease. Anyone with a respiratory disease. Individuals with emphysema, chronic bronchitis, COPD, asthma, or another respiratory disease are at-risk. Individuals with heart disease. Circulatory diseases include high blood pressure, vascular diseases, heart failure, and cerebrovascular conditions. These conditions make sufferers susceptible to heart attacks, transient chest pain, heart failure, stroke, and sudden death from cardiac arrhythmia. Young children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with respiratory and cardiovascular pre-existing conditions may find that they experience more severe symptoms and find it harder to breathe.3 The full impact of wildfire smoke is not yet fully understood. A 2017 review in Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology found that there are still important study opportunities for exploring the long-term health implications of smoke exposure, smoke exposure recovery, and additional smoke inhalation health impacts for children.4 Exposure to smoke can be dangerous simply due to the microorganisms within the smoke. A 2020 study in Science magazine noted that microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungal spores, comprise some of the particulate matter found in smoke.5 The study theorizes that infectious disease may be spread as bacteria and fungi become part of smoke’s particulate composition. Microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungal spores, comprise some of the particulate matter found in smoke, and infectious disease may be spread as they become part of the smoke’s particulate composition. How wildfire smoke behaves Many factors affect wildfire smoke behavior, such as: weather geographical terrain the stage of the fire wind Use the live, interactive air quality map below to see how weather, wind, and location can impact the behavior of wildfire smoke near you. Windy conditions generally cause smoke to mix with larger volumes of air to lower smoke concentrations. However, strong winds also can spread fires more quickly, causing larger fires with greater impact. Regional weather can be the dominant determinant in how a fire behaves as well as how smoke affects surrounding areas. However, regional weather systems can spread fires quickly and result in larger fires with more smoke generated, creating the potential for even greater impacts. Strong regional weather systems can also dominate a fire’s behavior for days and be the determining factor of where and how smoke will affect an area. Smoke can travel for miles beyond its source. In 2020, smoke from wildfires in the Western United States drifted for nearly 5,000 miles, eventually being detected in Europe. Smoke can travel for miles beyond its source. In 2020, smoke from wildfires in the western United States drifted for nearly 5,000 miles, eventually being detected in Europe.6 Wildfire safety tips Wildfire smoke events can occur seemingly without warning. But there are steps you can take to prepare yourself using appropriate safety precautions for wildfires. Keep the air clean in your home. Keep windows and doors closed closed and seal off any openings to the outside, including vents, to help prevent outdoor smoke from getting in. When using an air conditioner, be sure to set it to re-circulate and close the fresh-air intake. Filter the air when ventilating the space. An air purifier for wildfire smoke, will help remove smoke particles of all sizes down to 0.003 microns from the indoor air and help control ozone levels. This is critical if you live in an urban area downwind (even remotely) from wildfires. Stay indoors as much as possible. This tactic is most useful in buildings that effectively stop outdoor air from getting inside. If you need to travel by car to leave or evacuate an area affected by wildfire smoke, use a car air purifier to help keep your vehicle interior air clean as you pass through smoky or polluted areas. You can also use a portable, personal air purifier to access clean air where other air filtration systems are not available. Wear a mask outdoors. Only use an air pollution mask with an N95, KN95, N100, or FFP2 rating to help. Avoid activities that further pollute the indoor air. Avoid burning candles, using the fireplace, or even vacuuming unless you own a high-performance HEPA vacuum cleaner. All of these activities can otherwise become additional sources of indoor air pollutants. Monitor your indoor air quality. Use an air quality monitor to track levels of indoor pollutants like PM2.5 and CO2 from smoke and other indoor pollution sources. Take action if indoor air pollutants rise to dangerous levels by running an air purifier, circulating fresh air through your HVAC system, or leaving your home temporarily if indoor air becomes unsafe to breathe or your home is threatened by wildfire. Use an air quality monitoring app to keep track of pollutants in your environment. The AirVisual app displays real-time hyperlocal data from over 80,000 sensors around the world. The app also tracks up to six key wildfire pollutants, such as PM2.5, CO2, and NO2, so that you have the best picture of your local air quality during a wildfire and can take action to help protect your health. Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity. Wildfire smoke can negatively affect your health, even if you’re far away from the actual fire. Learn to protect the health of yourself and your family, and rest assured that you’ve taken the necessary precautions. During a wildfire, it’s also important to monitor your local air quality to see how wildfire smoke will affect your outdoor air. The takeaway Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity. Wildfire smoke can negatively affect your health, even if you’re far away from the actual fire. And while wildfire smoke may be a warning sign of imminent fires, smoke also delivers its own set of risks for people living miles beyond the source. Though smoke pollutants carried on the wind may be invisible, their impacts are felt by those most at risk. Smoke pollutants pose health threats that range from irritation and cough to more serious respiratory and cardiac risks. By helping control smoke pollutants that threaten our indoor air quality through monitoring and air purification, it's possible to help manage wildfire smoke health risks.","

When considering the dangers of wildfires, thoughts of fleeing your home while a raging wildfire rapidly approaches can easily consume your imagination. However, the number one cause of death from fires is smoke inhalation.

The primary cause of death from wildfires is smoke inhalation. 50 to 80 percent of fire deaths are from smoke inhalation.

Inhaling smoke damages your body in one or both of the following ways:

by robbing it of oxygen
through particulate matter irritation

Smoke inhalation is particularly dangerous because you may not show symptoms until 24 to 48 hours after exposure. 50–80 percent of fire deaths are from smoke inhalation.¹

Read on to learn how to help protect the health of yourself and your loved ones, and learn some wildfire smoke safety tips to rest assured that you’ve taken the necessary wildfire safety precautions to reduce the consequences of toxic wildfire smoke.

What’s in wildfire smoke?

Wildfire smoke is a mixture of thousands of individual compounds, including harmful particles and gases that pose a severe health risk to anyone (including pets) nearby and downwind from a fire.

Wildfire smoke often contains:

\n
water vapor
\n
\n
particulate matter
\n
\n
trace minerals
\n
\n
carbon dioxide
\n
\n
carbon monoxide
\n
\n
nitrogen oxides
\n
\n
hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide compounds that contribute to elevated ozone (O₃) levels
\n
\n
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including acrolein and formaldehyde (potent respiratory irritants)
\n

Wildfire smoke often contains fine (PM2.5) and ultrafine particles that can be absorbed directly into your blood stream and reach any organ or area of your body.

$\"What's$

Pictured: The typical contents of wildfire smoke, including ultrafine particles (≤ 0.3 microns), PM2.5 (2.5-10 microns), acrolein, PM10 (> 10 microns), formaldehyde, carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons. Source: IQAir

Wildfire smoke composition depends upon multiple factors, including:

\n
the types of wood and vegetation burning
\n

\n
the moisture content
\n
\n
the fire temperature
\n
\n
wind conditions
\n
\n
other weather-related influences
\n

The primary pollutant threatening the health of those nearby and downwind of a wildfire is particulate matter. Wildfire smoke often contains fine (or PM2.5) and ultrafine particles. These tiny airborne particles are the most dangerous to your health.

Fine particles (smaller than 2.5 microns) penetrate deeply into your lungs.

The most dangerous are ultrafine particles (smaller than 0.1 microns), which represent 90% of all airborne particles. These particles are tiny and can be absorbed directly into your bloodstream. Once in your blood, they can reach any organ or area of your body.

\n \n

\n\n

Clean the air with high-performance air filtration
Learn more about our wildfire smoke air purifiers

\n\n

Click here

Wildfire smoke and at-risk populations

Most healthy adults will recover from smoke exposure. However, certain individuals are more at risk for severe health consequences, including:²

\n
Young children. Children whose lungs are still developing are considered more vulnerable, regardless of whether they have a pre-existing condition.
\n
\n
Pregnant women. Wildfire smoke inhalation puts pregnant women and their unborn children at a higher risk than the general population.
\n
\n
Older adults. This population is at-risk due to an increased rate of pre-existing heart and lung disease.
\n
\n
Anyone with a respiratory disease. Individuals with emphysema, chronic bronchitis, COPD, asthma, or another respiratory disease are at-risk.
\n
\n
Individuals with heart disease. Circulatory diseases include high blood pressure, vascular diseases, heart failure, and cerebrovascular conditions. These conditions make sufferers susceptible to heart attacks, transient chest pain, heart failure, stroke, and sudden death from cardiac arrhythmia.
\n

Young children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with respiratory and cardiovascular pre-existing conditions may find that they experience more severe symptoms and find it harder to breathe.³

The full impact of wildfire smoke is not yet fully understood. A 2017 review in Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology found that there are still important study opportunities for exploring the long-term health implications of smoke exposure, smoke exposure recovery, and additional smoke inhalation health impacts for children.⁴

Exposure to smoke can be dangerous simply due to the microorganisms within the smoke. A 2020 study in Science magazine noted that microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungal spores, comprise some of the particulate matter found in smoke.⁵ The study theorizes that infectious disease may be spread as bacteria and fungi become part of smoke’s particulate composition.

 Microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungal spores, comprise some of the particulate matter found in smoke, and infectious disease may be spread as they become part of the smoke’s particulate composition.

How wildfire smoke behaves

Many factors affect wildfire smoke behavior, such as:

\n
weather
\n
\n
geographical terrain
\n
\n
the stage of the fire
\n
\n
wind
\n

Use the live, interactive air quality map below to see how weather, wind, and location can impact the behavior of wildfire smoke near you.

$\"placeholder$

Windy conditions generally cause smoke to mix with larger volumes of air to lower smoke concentrations. However, strong winds also can spread fires more quickly, causing larger fires with greater impact.

Regional weather can be the dominant determinant in how a fire behaves as well as how smoke affects surrounding areas. However, regional weather systems can spread fires quickly and result in larger fires with more smoke generated, creating the potential for even greater impacts.

Strong regional weather systems can also dominate a fire’s behavior for days and be the determining factor of where and how smoke will affect an area.

Smoke can travel for miles beyond its source. In 2020, smoke from wildfires in the Western United States drifted for nearly 5,000 miles, eventually being detected in Europe.

Smoke can travel for miles beyond its source. In 2020, smoke from wildfires in the western United States drifted for nearly 5,000 miles, eventually being detected in Europe.⁶

Wildfire safety tips

Wildfire smoke events can occur seemingly without warning. But there are steps you can take to prepare yourself using appropriate safety precautions for wildfires.

\n
Keep the air clean in your home. Keep windows and doors closed closed and seal off any openings to the outside, including vents, to help prevent outdoor smoke from getting in. When using an air conditioner, be sure to set it to re-circulate and close the fresh-air intake. Filter the air when ventilating the space. An air purifier for wildfire smoke, will help remove smoke particles of all sizes down to 0.003 microns from the indoor air and help control ozone levels. This is critical if you live in an urban area downwind (even remotely) from wildfires.
\n
\n
Stay indoors as much as possible. This tactic is most useful in buildings that effectively stop outdoor air from getting inside. If you need to travel by car to leave or evacuate an area affected by wildfire smoke, use a car air purifier to help keep your vehicle interior air clean as you pass through smoky or polluted areas. You can also use a portable, personal air purifier to access clean air where other air filtration systems are not available.
\n
\n
Wear a mask outdoors. Only use an air pollution mask with an N95, KN95, N100, or FFP2 rating to help.
\n
\n
Avoid activities that further pollute the indoor air. Avoid burning candles, using the fireplace, or even vacuuming unless you own a high-performance HEPA vacuum cleaner. All of these activities can otherwise become additional sources of indoor air pollutants.
\n
\n
Monitor your indoor air quality. Use an air quality monitor to track levels of indoor pollutants like PM2.5 and CO₂ from smoke and other indoor pollution sources. Take action if indoor air pollutants rise to dangerous levels by running an air purifier, circulating fresh air through your HVAC system, or leaving your home temporarily if indoor air becomes unsafe to breathe or your home is threatened by wildfire.
\n
\n
Use an air quality monitoring app to keep track of pollutants in your environment. The AirVisual app displays real-time hyperlocal data from over 80,000 sensors around the world. The app also tracks up to six key wildfire pollutants, such as PM2.5, CO₂, and NO₂, so that you have the best picture of your local air quality during a wildfire and can take action to help protect your health.
\n

$\"Google$ $\"App$ $\"Android\"$

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity. Wildfire smoke can negatively affect your health, even if you’re far away from the actual fire. Learn to protect the health of yourself and your family, and rest assured that you’ve taken the necessary precautions.

During a wildfire, it’s also important to monitor your local air quality to see how wildfire smoke will affect your outdoor air.

The takeaway

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity. Wildfire smoke can negatively affect your health, even if you’re far away from the actual fire. And while wildfire smoke may be a warning sign of imminent fires, smoke also delivers its own set of risks for people living miles beyond the source.

Though smoke pollutants carried on the wind may be invisible, their impacts are felt by those most at risk. Smoke pollutants pose health threats that range from irritation and cough to more serious respiratory and cardiac risks.

By helping control smoke pollutants that threaten our indoor air quality through monitoring and air purification, it's possible to help manage wildfire smoke health risks.

","how-to-protect-yourself-from-wildfire-smoke","gid://shopify/Article/606869291307","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/how-to-protect-yourself-from-wildfire-smoke","2025-07-01T20:46:00Z",[390,638,1499,1398],"Popular articles","How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke",{"_10":1502,"_243":1503,"_246":1504,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406601138550","Wildfire at night in hills","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/AQL_21_WildfireDesktop_a_790d6d55-874f-4c95-bff8-11655661a476.jpg?v=1752702197",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1506,"_1115":1507,"_1131":1508,"_1133":1508,"_1134":1509,"_1136":1510,"_985":1511,"_10":1512,"_1140":1513,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1514,"_577":1515,"_541":1516,"_1147":1517},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"How can you know what air purifier manufacturers to trust? Let's look more critically at air purification.","The home air purifier market has undergone many shifts and starts in its decades-long history as an affordable solution for indoor air quality. Along with those shifts have been seemingly ground breaking advancements in filtration technologies that may seem like the next revolution in air purification. But not all air purifiers safely clean the air. Not all air purifiers safely clean the air. Let's take an evidence-based approach to the industry and separate the fact from the fiction. What should I look for in an air purifier? Before we examine the various air purifiers on the market with a critical eye, it’s essential to have a solid understanding of what does make a good air purifier. 1. HEPA filters are the standard for the industry. What is a HEPA filter? High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters capture airborne particles from moving air using a dense, random arrangement of fibers. HEPA filters use the physics of particles moving through air to yank them out of the air flow. Their operation is simple but extremely effective, and HEPA filters are now standard issue for almost every air purifier on the market. But it wasn’t always that way. Air purifiers have been around for well over a century. The first air purification systems appeared in the 1850s in charcoal-based masks used by coal miners. They were designed to keep toxic dust out of their lungs. The technology was so successful that, less than twenty years later, respirators were added to these types of masks to protect firefighters from breathing in smoke chemicals and pollutants (1). Beginning in the 1940s, the United States Atomic Energy Commission started experimenting with high-efficiency particulate arrestance, better known now as HEPA, as a method of shielding soldiers from atomic radiation on World War II battlefields (2). HEPA filters did nothing to filter radiation particles, but researchers quickly learned that HEPA filters could filter out many harmful pollutants. In 1963, Manfred and Klaus Hammes, the founders of IQAir, introduced the world’s first residential air filter based on HEPA technology, helping reduce indoor pollution as well as chronic asthma symptoms. Not long after, HEPA became so widespread that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) required that all filters sold under the name “HEPA” must filter at least 99.97% of airborne particles down to 0.3 microns (3). Since then, HEPA air purification has become the standard for the air purification industry. HEPA is now thrown around as a generic term for air filters, but HEPA filters continue to filter 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns. The HyperHEPA filter builds upon the HEPA model to create even more efficient filtration systems. Many manufacturers, including IQAir, have built upon the HEPA model to create even more efficient filtration systems. IQAir’s patented HyperHEPAfilter is one such filter. HyperHEPA filters remove 99.5% of particles down to 0.003 microns, which are 100 times smaller than the DOE’s required 0.3-micron particle size. 2. Not all air purifier designs are created equal. All air purifier manufacturers know that their filters need to live up to this HEPA standard. But long-standing, strict guidelines around air filters can provide a false sense of security in HEPA. To advertise an air purifier as HEPA, it only needs to contain HEPA paper, the paper used to construct a HEPA filter. Whether the air purifier’s Total System Efficiency meets HEPA requirements is another story. In fact, most HEPA air purifiers are not tested for total efficiency (4). The hidden factor at work here is leakage. Despite the high efficiency of many HEPA filters, the housing designs of many air purifiers are not airtight. This means that dirty, unfiltered air passes around the HEPA filter through tiny openings, cracks, and space around the frame of the HEPA filter itself or between the frame and the purifier housing (5). So even though many air purifiers claim that their HEPA filters remove nearly 100% of particles from the air that passes through them, they’re only telling part of the story. In some cases, the actual efficiency of the whole air purifier design, with leakage considered, is closer to 80% or less (6). Even though many air purifiers claim that their HEPA filters remove nearly 100% of particles from the air that passes through them, the actual efficiency of the whole air purifier design, with leakage considered, is closer to 80% or less. Some air purifier manufacturers have resolved this issue with designs that are built to minimize or eliminate leakage. IQAir uses patented 3D UltraSeal knife-edge-in-groove sealing between the filter frame and the purifier housing to guarantee the full efficiency of our HyperHEPA filtration media. 3. Concerned about gas and odors? Go beyond HEPA. While HyperHEPA filters are great at getting particles out of the air, they do NOT take gases and odors out of the air. Unlike particles, the molecules that comprise gases, odors, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are not solid and will float through even the densest HyperHEPA filters. That’s where activated carbon filters come in. How do these filters work? It’s simpler than you might think: Chunks of carbon material (like charcoal) are exposed to high concentrations of oxygen. Countless pores open on the carbon surface, increasing the carbon surface area enormously. At this point, a pound of activated carbon can have the same surface area as 100 football fields. Several pounds of activated carbon are arranged in a flat “bed” and packaged in a proprietary filter design (such as IQAir’s V5 Cell gas and odor control filter). Air passes through the activated carbon bed. Gas, chemical, and VOC molecules are adsorbed into the carbon pores, meaning that they chemically bond to the extensive charcoal surface area. Activated carbon adsorption is the go-to method of filtration for gases as well as chemical pollutants from vehicle emissions and combustion processes (7)(8). Activated carbon adsorption is the go-to method of filtration for gases as well as chemical pollutants from vehicle emissions and combustion processes. Some air purifiers are designed to maximize activated carbon in case you’re more concerned about, for example, gases from cooking or odors from pets than about particle pollution in your home. IQAir’s GC MultiGas is built for such a purpose—while carbon filters generally use a few pounds of carbon, the GC MultiGas contains 12 pounds of activated carbon as well as impregnated alumina, providing well over 1200 football fields worth of surface area for gas and VOC molecules to adsorb to. The takeaway Now you know that the elements of a good air purifier are: HyperHEPA media for particle filtration No system leakage due to sealed filter and purifier housing Activated carbon for gas and odor filtration But we're not done yet. Just as important to know is what not to look for in an air purifier. What should I avoid in an air purifier? When considering air purifiers, some people wonder about their effectiveness and even potential risks. Question often arise, such as \"Do air purifiers work?\" or \"Are air purifiers effective?\" The answer is that while some air cleaning methods can remove particles and pollutants from the air, their capabilities are often limited. But it's not just about effectiveness. People also ask, \"Are air purifiers bad for you?\" This concern arises from potential hidden costs to your health. It's important to be aware of inefficiencies and any potential risks associated with the air purifier you're considering before making a purchase. So, if you're in the market for an air purifier, remember to ask yourself whether it will be effective at removing pollutants and particles from the air, and whether it poses any risks to your health. Ionizer air purifiers Ionizers are purported to purify air by sending out negatively charged ions (anions) that attract positively charged pollution particles (cations), causing them to leave the air and stick to surfaces like ceilings, walls, and furniture. Many popular air purifiers use ionization technology, also called negative ionization, as a central component of their operation. Research suggests that ionizers can help stop potentially infectious molds and bacteria from spreading in sterile environments like dental clinics and hospitals (9)(10). But there are two critical downsides to ionization (11)(12): Ionizer air purifiersdon’t get rid of pollutants. Particles charged by negative ions aren’t removed from the air—they merely stick to surfaces nearby. This includes surfaces inside your airways, such as your windpipe and alveoli, the sacs of air in your lungs. Pollutant build-up can cause heart, lung, and other respiratory conditions. Ionizer air purifierscan generate harmful ozone. Ionizers produce ozone (O3) that can build up to dangerous levels indoors. At even low levels, indoor ozone can irritate your airways, trigger asthma attacks, damage your olfactory bulb (the organ that helps your brain process odors), and even be fatal at high concentrations. Indoor ozone can irritate your airways, trigger asthma attacks, damage your olfactory bulb, and even be fatal at high concentrations. Verdict Don't buy an ionizer air purifier.They don’t remove particles from the air, and the ozone they produce can have harmful side effects, even if the purifier claims that they only charge the particles “a little bit.” Ozone Generators It’s worth saying again: ozone is TERRIBLE for you, especially indoor ozone build-up. The health concerns are serious enough that in 2017, California banned the use of ozonehome air purifiers (13). Ozone generators use a process called corona discharge to release ozone molecules into the air. When an ozone molecule intermingles with a particle or gas molecule, an ozone atom clings to the other molecule and blows it up in a process known as oxidation. Oxidation in the atmosphere after a lightning strike is also what makes the air smell so distinct after a thunderstorm. However, ozone generators do little to clean air and are quite bad for you. Here’s just a short (and far from complete) list of reasons why (14)(15)(16)(17)(18): Ozone can take years to fully clear even a small room of gases. Ozone reactions can introduce ultrafine particles (UFPs) into the air.UFPs can get into your lungs and your bloodstream, causing heart disease and even stunting lung development in children. Indoor ozone levels can rise five to ten times above recommended limits,which range from 0.05 to 0.1 parts per million (ppm), because of a lack of ventilation and in combination with outdoor ozone that seeps indoors.To put this in perspective, those who are sensitive to ozone, such as children, people with asthma, and pets, start experiencing health effects at only 0.01 ppm. Even a “safe” ozone generator that emits a small amount of ozone can quickly trigger potentially life-threatening ailments like asthma attacks. Verdict Don’t buy an ozone generator. They’re NOT air purifiers. Not only do they fail to clean your air, they hurt you and the most vulnerable in your home: your children and your pets. UV Light Purifiers Ultraviolet (UV) light is often used to disinfect equipment in hospitals and prevent the spread of harmful strains of bacteria and viruses (19)(20). One of the most common UV purification methods is called ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, or UVGI. In UVGI, intense UV lights are shined on bacteria and viruses, damaging their DNA beyond repair. Bacterial cells and viruses then shut themselves down because they can no longer function. This is called apoptosis, or programmed cell death, which effectively destroys their ability to cause infections (21). But UV air purification isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Here’s why(22) (23) (24) (25) (26): Bacteria and viruses need to be exposed to UV light for a certain amount of timebefore they’re rendered harmless: some strains need to be treated with UV for several hours in direct UV light before they’re destroyed.Home UV air purifiers don’t shine UV light on them long enough to be genuinely useful. Some bacteria can come back to life and become infectious again even after being disinfected by UV light. UV lights do nothing for pollutant particles.Air treated with UV light can still be full of harmful particulate matter, like PM10 and PM2.5. Many UV air purifiers produce ozone. UV light can burn your skin and damage your eyes. Sure, most UV purifiers block the light from shining out of the purifier, but even brief UV exposure can cause permanent skin and eye damage as well as cancer. Air treated with UV light can still be full of harmful particulate matter. Verdict Don’t buy a UV light air purifier. UV light somewhat disinfects but doesn’t purify air, and research shows that UV’s disinfection potential for air may be exaggerated. What do I do now? At this point, you should feel like you have a good sense of what’s fact and what’s fiction when it comes to a truly effective air purification system. So, what should you do now, armed with your knowledge of what makes a good air purifier? You have a multitude of options for maximizing your indoor air quality: Get a HyperHEPA air purifier. Patented HyperHEPA filtration technology removes 99.5% of pollutant particles down to 0.003 microns, the smallest particles in existence. Use advanced gas-phase filtration. Patented V5 Cell gas and odor control filters, used in HealthPro Series air purifiers, eliminateharmful chemicals and compounds with five pounds of activated carbon. The GC MultiGas features 12 pounds of activated carbon and impregnated alumina to help protect you against indoor gases and chemicals, in addition to our powerful HyperHEPA particle filtration. Use a personal air purifier. Atem Series personal air purifiers are equipped with HyperHEPA filtration technology and a PureJet diffuser that instantly blankets you in clean air. They’re sleek, compact, and portable, allowing you to breathe virtually pure air anytime, anywhere. Install a whole-house air purifier. Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system at home uses outdoor air to heat and cool your home, so even with an indoor air purifier, your air still might become polluted by outdoor particulates on days with poor air quality. The PerfectPro Series whole-house air purifier is equipped with the most powerful HyperHEPA filters available for a residential air purification systems. It fits seamlessly into your existing HVAC system, ensuring that air entering your home is always up to the highest possible standard of quality. Still not sure? Read about some of the misconceptions that surround air purification technology. Use our Help Me Choose tool to see what air purifier may work best for your indoor air quality needs. The most capable air purification technology is always backed by evidence-based facts and science. When it comes to choosing the best air purifier, science has got your back.","

The home air purifier market has undergone many shifts and starts in its decades-long history as an affordable solution for indoor air quality. Along with those shifts have been seemingly ground breaking advancements in filtration technologies that may seem like the next revolution in air purification.

But not all air purifiers safely clean the air.

Not all air purifiers safely clean the air.

Let's take an evidence-based approach to the industry and separate the fact from the fiction.

What should I look for in an air purifier?

Before we examine the various air purifiers on the market with a critical eye, it’s essential to have a solid understanding of what does make a good air purifier.

$\"Air$

1. HEPA filters are the standard for the industry.

What is a HEPA filter?

High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters capture airborne particles from moving air using a dense, random arrangement of fibers. HEPA filters use the physics of particles moving through air to yank them out of the air flow. Their operation is simple but extremely effective, and HEPA filters are now standard issue for almost every air purifier on the market.

But it wasn’t always that way.

Air purifiers have been around for well over a century. The first air purification systems appeared in the 1850s in charcoal-based masks used by coal miners. They were designed to keep toxic dust out of their lungs. The technology was so successful that, less than twenty years later, respirators were added to these types of masks to protect firefighters from breathing in smoke chemicals and pollutants (1).

Beginning in the 1940s, the United States Atomic Energy Commission started experimenting with high-efficiency particulate arrestance, better known now as HEPA, as a method of shielding soldiers from atomic radiation on World War II battlefields (2).

HEPA filters did nothing to filter radiation particles, but researchers quickly learned that HEPA filters could filter out many harmful pollutants.

In 1963, Manfred and Klaus Hammes, the founders of IQAir, introduced the world’s first residential air filter based on HEPA technology, helping reduce indoor pollution as well as chronic asthma symptoms. Not long after, HEPA became so widespread that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) required that all filters sold under the name “HEPA” must filter at least 99.97% of airborne particles down to 0.3 microns (3).

Since then, HEPA air purification has become the standard for the air purification industry. HEPA is now thrown around as a generic term for air filters, but HEPA filters continue to filter 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns.

The HyperHEPA filter builds upon the HEPA model to create even more efficient filtration systems.

Many manufacturers, including IQAir, have built upon the HEPA model to create even more efficient filtration systems. IQAir’s patented HyperHEPAfilter is one such filter. HyperHEPA filters remove 99.5% of particles down to 0.003 microns, which are 100 times smaller than the DOE’s required 0.3-micron particle size.

2. Not all air purifier designs are created equal.

All air purifier manufacturers know that their filters need to live up to this HEPA standard. But long-standing, strict guidelines around air filters can provide a false sense of security in HEPA.

To advertise an air purifier as HEPA, it only needs to contain HEPA paper, the paper used to construct a HEPA filter. Whether the air purifier’s Total System Efficiency meets HEPA requirements is another story. In fact, most HEPA air purifiers are not tested for total efficiency (4).

The hidden factor at work here is leakage. Despite the high efficiency of many HEPA filters, the housing designs of many air purifiers are not airtight. This means that dirty, unfiltered air passes around the HEPA filter through tiny openings, cracks, and space around the frame of the HEPA filter itself or between the frame and the purifier housing (5).

So even though many air purifiers claim that their HEPA filters remove nearly 100% of particles from the air that passes through them, they’re only telling part of the story. In some cases, the actual efficiency of the whole air purifier design, with leakage considered, is closer to 80% or less (6).

Even though many air purifiers claim that their HEPA filters remove nearly 100% of particles from the air that passes through them, the actual efficiency of the whole air purifier design, with leakage considered, is closer to 80% or less.

Some air purifier manufacturers have resolved this issue with designs that are built to minimize or eliminate leakage. IQAir uses patented 3D UltraSeal knife-edge-in-groove sealing between the filter frame and the purifier housing to guarantee the full efficiency of our HyperHEPA filtration media.

3. Concerned about gas and odors? Go beyond HEPA.

While HyperHEPA filters are great at getting particles out of the air, they do NOT take gases and odors out of the air.

Unlike particles, the molecules that comprise gases, odors, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are not solid and will float through even the densest HyperHEPA filters. That’s where activated carbon filters come in.

How do these filters work? It’s simpler than you might think:

Chunks of carbon material (like charcoal) are exposed to high concentrations of oxygen.
Countless pores open on the carbon surface, increasing the carbon surface area enormously. At this point, a pound of activated carbon can have the same surface area as 100 football fields.
Several pounds of activated carbon are arranged in a flat “bed” and packaged in a proprietary filter design (such as IQAir’s V5 Cell gas and odor control filter).
Air passes through the activated carbon bed.
Gas, chemical, and VOC molecules are adsorbed into the carbon pores, meaning that they chemically bond to the extensive charcoal surface area.

Activated carbon adsorption is the go-to method of filtration for gases as well as chemical pollutants from vehicle emissions and combustion processes (7)(8).

Activated carbon adsorption is the go-to method of filtration for gases as well as chemical pollutants from vehicle emissions and combustion processes.

Some air purifiers are designed to maximize activated carbon in case you’re more concerned about, for example, gases from cooking or odors from pets than about particle pollution in your home. IQAir’s GC MultiGas is built for such a purpose—while carbon filters generally use a few pounds of carbon, the GC MultiGas contains 12 pounds of activated carbon as well as impregnated alumina, providing well over 1200 football fields worth of surface area for gas and VOC molecules to adsorb to.

The takeaway

Now you know that the elements of a good air purifier are:

\nHyperHEPA media for particle filtration
\nNo system leakage due to sealed filter and purifier housing
\nActivated carbon for gas and odor filtration

But we're not done yet. Just as important to know is what not to look for in an air purifier.

What should I avoid in an air purifier?

When considering air purifiers, some people wonder about their effectiveness and even potential risks. Question often arise, such as \"Do air purifiers work?\" or \"Are air purifiers effective?\" The answer is that while some air cleaning methods can remove particles and pollutants from the air, their capabilities are often limited.

But it's not just about effectiveness. People also ask, \"Are air purifiers bad for you?\" This concern arises from potential hidden costs to your health. It's important to be aware of inefficiencies and any potential risks associated with the air purifier you're considering before making a purchase.

So, if you're in the market for an air purifier, remember to ask yourself whether it will be effective at removing pollutants and particles from the air, and whether it poses any risks to your health.

Ionizer air purifiers

Ionizers are purported to purify air by sending out negatively charged ions (anions) that attract positively charged pollution particles (cations), causing them to leave the air and stick to surfaces like ceilings, walls, and furniture.

Many popular air purifiers use ionization technology, also called negative ionization, as a central component of their operation. Research suggests that ionizers can help stop potentially infectious molds and bacteria from spreading in sterile environments like dental clinics and hospitals (9)(10).

But there are two critical downsides to ionization (11)(12):

\nIonizer air purifiersdon’t get rid of pollutants. Particles charged by negative ions aren’t removed from the air—they merely stick to surfaces nearby. This includes surfaces inside your airways, such as your windpipe and alveoli, the sacs of air in your lungs. Pollutant build-up can cause heart, lung, and other respiratory conditions.
\nIonizer air purifierscan generate harmful ozone. Ionizers produce ozone (O3) that can build up to dangerous levels indoors. At even low levels, indoor ozone can irritate your airways, trigger asthma attacks, damage your olfactory bulb (the organ that helps your brain process odors), and even be fatal at high concentrations. \n

Indoor ozone can irritate your airways, trigger asthma attacks, damage your olfactory bulb, and even be fatal at high concentrations.

Verdict

Don't buy an ionizer air purifier.They don’t remove particles from the air, and the ozone they produce can have harmful side effects, even if the purifier claims that they only charge the particles “a little bit.”

Ozone Generators

It’s worth saying again: ozone is TERRIBLE for you, especially indoor ozone build-up. The health concerns are serious enough that in 2017, California banned the use of ozonehome air purifiers (13).

Ozone generators use a process called corona discharge to release ozone molecules into the air. When an ozone molecule intermingles with a particle or gas molecule, an ozone atom clings to the other molecule and blows it up in a process known as oxidation. Oxidation in the atmosphere after a lightning strike is also what makes the air smell so distinct after a thunderstorm.

However, ozone generators do little to clean air and are quite bad for you. Here’s just a short (and far from complete) list of reasons why (14)(15)(16)(17)(18):

\nOzone can take years to fully clear even a small room of gases.
\nOzone reactions can introduce ultrafine particles (UFPs) into the air.UFPs can get into your lungs and your bloodstream, causing heart disease and even stunting lung development in children.
\nIndoor ozone levels can rise five to ten times above recommended limits,which range from 0.05 to 0.1 parts per million (ppm), because of a lack of ventilation and in combination with outdoor ozone that seeps indoors.To put this in perspective, those who are sensitive to ozone, such as children, people with asthma, and pets, start experiencing health effects at only 0.01 ppm. Even a “safe” ozone generator that emits a small amount of ozone can quickly trigger potentially life-threatening ailments like asthma attacks.

Verdict

Don’t buy an ozone generator. They’re NOT air purifiers. Not only do they fail to clean your air, they hurt you and the most vulnerable in your home: your children and your pets.

UV Light Purifiers

Ultraviolet (UV) light is often used to disinfect equipment in hospitals and prevent the spread of harmful strains of bacteria and viruses (19)(20).

One of the most common UV purification methods is called ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, or UVGI.

In UVGI, intense UV lights are shined on bacteria and viruses, damaging their DNA beyond repair. Bacterial cells and viruses then shut themselves down because they can no longer function. This is called apoptosis, or programmed cell death, which effectively destroys their ability to cause infections (21).

But UV air purification isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Here’s why(22) (23) (24) (25) (26):

\nBacteria and viruses need to be exposed to UV light for a certain amount of timebefore they’re rendered harmless: some strains need to be treated with UV for several hours in direct UV light before they’re destroyed.Home UV air purifiers don’t shine UV light on them long enough to be genuinely useful.
\nSome bacteria can come back to life and become infectious again even after being disinfected by UV light.
\nUV lights do nothing for pollutant particles.Air treated with UV light can still be full of harmful particulate matter, like PM10 and PM2.5.
Many UV air purifiers produce ozone.
\nUV light can burn your skin and damage your eyes. Sure, most UV purifiers block the light from shining out of the purifier, but even brief UV exposure can cause permanent skin and eye damage as well as cancer.

Air treated with UV light can still be full of harmful particulate matter.

Verdict

Don’t buy a UV light air purifier. UV light somewhat disinfects but doesn’t purify air, and research shows that UV’s disinfection potential for air may be exaggerated.

What do I do now?

At this point, you should feel like you have a good sense of what’s fact and what’s fiction when it comes to a truly effective air purification system.

So, what should you do now, armed with your knowledge of what makes a good air purifier? You have a multitude of options for maximizing your indoor air quality:

\nGet a HyperHEPA air purifier. Patented HyperHEPA filtration technology removes 99.5% of pollutant particles down to 0.003 microns, the smallest particles in existence.
\nUse advanced gas-phase filtration.\n
- Patented V5 Cell gas and odor control filters, used in HealthPro Series air purifiers, eliminateharmful chemicals and compounds with five pounds of activated carbon.
- The GC MultiGas features 12 pounds of activated carbon and impregnated alumina to help protect you against indoor gases and chemicals, in addition to our powerful HyperHEPA particle filtration.
\n
\nUse a personal air purifier. Atem Series personal air purifiers are equipped with HyperHEPA filtration technology and a PureJet diffuser that instantly blankets you in clean air. They’re sleek, compact, and portable, allowing you to breathe virtually pure air anytime, anywhere.
\nInstall a whole-house air purifier. Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system at home uses outdoor air to heat and cool your home, so even with an indoor air purifier, your air still might become polluted by outdoor particulates on days with poor air quality. The PerfectPro Series whole-house air purifier is equipped with the most powerful HyperHEPA filters available for a residential air purification systems. It fits seamlessly into your existing HVAC system, ensuring that air entering your home is always up to the highest possible standard of quality.

Still not sure? Read about some of the misconceptions that surround air purification technology. Use our Help Me Choose tool to see what air purifier may work best for your indoor air quality needs.

The most capable air purification technology is always backed by evidence-based facts and science. When it comes to choosing the best air purifier, science has got your back.

","do-air-purifiers-work-air-purifier-myths-and-facts-debunked","gid://shopify/Article/606869193003","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/do-air-purifiers-work-air-purifier-myths-and-facts-debunked","2022-01-02T14:14:32Z",[853,653,1499],"Do air purifiers work? Air purifier myths and facts debunked",{"_10":1518,"_243":1519,"_246":1520,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/408358224246","Close-up of what appears to be a room air purifier with some plants in the background (another indoor air purifying tool that has been shown to be ineffective in improving indoor air quality).","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/AQL_misconceptions-about-air-purifiers_5058ed72-2e8d-4b0f-9570-93510f9f1f89.jpg?v=1758212336",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1522,"_1115":1523,"_1131":1524,"_1133":1524,"_1134":1525,"_1136":1526,"_985":1527,"_10":1528,"_1140":1529,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1530,"_577":1531,"_541":1532,"_1147":1533},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"They look great on your nightstand, but are they worth their salt as air purifiers? Learn more.","Himalayan salt lamps DO NOT purify indoor air.These trendy little lamps consist of a light bulb placed inside a chunk of pink Himalayan salt. They’re easily recognized by their hand-carved, often stylized shapes and dim, pinkish glow they emit when light shines through them.They’ve been gaining popularity for years, mostly because their distinct color and unique appearance make them attractive objects for interior decoration, and their glow can add a pleasing atmosphere to a room.But their recent rise in popularity as “natural” air purifiers should trouble you.A host of (often misleading) studies supporting the use of salt in treating respiratory conditions have escalated demand for these little pink things, especially within the well-primed alternative medicine market, full of people who may already be seeking home remedies for all sorts of health conditions and indoor environmental issues when modern medicine hasn’t seemed to help.And you shouldn’t buy a Himalayan salt lamp to purify your air for one major reason: they’re negative ionizers, and negative ionization is one of the most absurd air purification myths ever devised.Why are Himalayan salt lamps bad for air quality?Again, two words: negative ionization.If you ever hear the words “ionization” (in one form or another) and “air purification” in the same sentence, you should run in the opposite direction.In the context of air purification, negative ionization happens when negatively charged particles attach themselves, or “charge,” pollutant particles in the air, effectively removing them from ambient air by causing them to stick to nearby surfaces.This phenomenon also occurs in nature – know that distinct smell in the air after a thunderstorm? That’s the result of “atmospheric space charge” as air ions are generated by the electric fields of storms.1 Many air purifiers and purification devices sold in stores, including Himalayan salt lamps and a variety of “air ionizers,” artificially produce high voltage to achieve this same effect.The problem with negative ionization, though, is that it doesn’t actually remove pollutants from your indoor air – it just causes the particles to adhere themselves to nearby surfaces, where they’re easily stirred up by indoor activities like dusting, vacuuming, and ventilation.Charged particles can also stick to your respiratory tract, where charged particles can settle in your windpipe and lungs and cause even more harm that if they’d just remained in the air. Studies show that these particles can penetrate deep into your respiratory system and cause both heart and lung conditions.2The average, nightstand-sized Himalayan salt lamp generates only a small number of negative ions into the air, so you may not notice any tangible change in your air quality or health, at least immediately. But these lamps can be huge: you can buy salt lamps that weight up to 300 pounds for thousands of dollars, and their ionization effects may have a more noticeable effect on your air, especially if you live in an airtight, energy-efficient home in which indoor pollutants have a much harder time getting out.And negative ionizers have another dark secret: they can also create indoor ozone (O3).There are two main types of ozone: Stratospheric ozone: Alayer of ozone occurs naturally several miles up in the atmosphere, where it protects the surface of the earth (and people’s skin) from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Tropospheric ozone: Also called ground-level ozone or smog, ground-level ozone tends to develop when heat from sunlight reacts with chemicals near the ground, many of which are produced by emissions from vehicle exhaust and factory smoke. Negative ionization can generate tropospheric ozone indoors. While stratospheric ozone has no interaction with us in the lower atmosphere, ground-level ozone is far more harmful when it builds up to high levels. And perhaps one of the starkest examples of ground-level ozone is one that millions of us know very well – the smog that forms in major cities during rush hour.If you live near a freeway, dense urban center, or even at a high elevation where you can see the area around an urban area. A few hours or less after rush hour begins and the sun begins to rise, you’ll start to notice a visible layer of haze build up. This is ground-level ozone, and even though it’s a typical feature of modern life, extensive research shows that it causes a plethora of immediate symptoms, including: Coughing Wheezing Trouble breathing Stuffy nose Dizziness Tingling in arms and legs Fever3,4 Further research suggests that ozone is also responsible for long-term health problems, such as asthma, heart disease, and lung disease. Emerging studies on rats also suggest that ozone could cause seizures and blindness.So even though you may not get rush-hour levels of ozone in your home from a salt lamp, indoor ozone buildup can indeed cause some disruptive health effects if you don’t follow best practices for good Indoor Air Quality.So what’s so special about Himalayan salt?So how did someone come up with the idea that Himalayan salt lamps have any health effects at all?The story stretches back millennia. Truly authentic Himalayan salt comes from the Khewra salt reserves in the Punjab region of Pakistan. Salt mined here is thought to be millions of years old and contain numerous minerals.Salt lamps have been proposed for use in treatments for conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) because of their purported therapeutic effects on your respiratory system. This treatment even has a clinical term: halotherapy, based on an ages-old respiratory treatment technique known as speleotherapy. First used in Eastern Europe, speleotherapy consists of spending time in a salt cave, where four environmental conditions are thought to help reduce symptoms of respiratory illness:5 Stable air temperature Moderate to high humidity Presence of aerosol elements, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium Lack of airborne pollutants Halotherapy takes the notion that salt cave environments are good for respiratory health by having people inhale small amounts of salt particles that are released into the ambient air of a controlled room to “reproduce” a salt cave’s microclimate. But there’s no conclusive evidence that either speleotherapy or halotherapy actually relieve respiratory symptoms.6Take the claims with a grain of...well, saltSo here’s the takeaway: We’re not saying you shouldn’t get a Himalayan salt lamp. Their dim glow can be quite soothing at night when you’re trying to fall asleep.But they don’t purify air. And “air purifiers” that emits ions and ozone may make your indoor air quality worse, introduce new health problems, and exacerbate existing ones.You can take many precautions to monitorand keep your indoor air clean, but buying a salt lamp isn’t one of them. Try these proven methods instead: Be aware of your indoor air quality. The AirVisual Series consists of portable air quality monitors that use cutting-edge laser technology to give you real-time measurements of key pollutants, including particulate matter. AirVisual Series also provides 72-hour historical and forecast data so that you can know exactly when and why your indoor air quality changes. Control sources of poor indoor air quality. If you’re thinking about buying a salt lamp to purify your air, chances are that you do have air quality issues that you may be able to do something about. The first step to improving your indoor indoor air quality is source control.This means eliminating individual sources of pollution or reducing their emissions. Regularly clean your HVAC system ducts. Install a whole-house air purifier into your HVAC system to reduce indoor pollutants by up to 95%. Replace water-damaged areas of your home to prevent mold and dust mites. Keep paints, solvents, and other chemicals in well-ventilated areas. Ventilate your home. Let in fresh air regularly to lower the concentrations of indoor air pollutants. This is especially important if you live in an airtight, energy-efficient home in which indoor pollutants have nowhere to go and thus build up to dangerous levels. Open doors and windows when outdoor air quality is good. Use a range hood for your stove to capture gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cooking. Use an air purifier with HyperHEPA technology. The IQAir HealthPro Plusis the best air purifier for even the smallest pollutant particles, removing up to 99.5% of particulates down to 0.003 microns, like viruses and ultrafine particles from vehicle exhaust. The Atempersonal air purifier can also provide pure, pollutant-free air directly into your personal breathing zone. Sure, a salt lamp can be a nice accessory and bring some calm into your home. But there’s plenty you can do to actually keep your indoor air clean and bring yourself some peace of mind knowing that your home is a clean air sanctuary.","

Himalayan salt lamps DO NOT purify indoor air.

These trendy little lamps consist of a light bulb placed inside a chunk of pink Himalayan salt. They’re easily recognized by their hand-carved, often stylized shapes and dim, pinkish glow they emit when light shines through them.

They’ve been gaining popularity for years, mostly because their distinct color and unique appearance make them attractive objects for interior decoration, and their glow can add a pleasing atmosphere to a room.

But their recent rise in popularity as “natural” air purifiers should trouble you.

A host of (often misleading) studies supporting the use of salt in treating respiratory conditions have escalated demand for these little pink things, especially within the well-primed alternative medicine market, full of people who may already be seeking home remedies for all sorts of health conditions and indoor environmental issues when modern medicine hasn’t seemed to help.

And you shouldn’t buy a Himalayan salt lamp to purify your air for one major reason: they’re negative ionizers, and negative ionization is one of the most absurd air purification myths ever devised.

Why are Himalayan salt lamps bad for air quality?

Again, two words: negative ionization.

If you ever hear the words “ionization” (in one form or another) and “air purification” in the same sentence, you should run in the opposite direction.

In the context of air purification, negative ionization happens when negatively charged particles attach themselves, or “charge,” pollutant particles in the air, effectively removing them from ambient air by causing them to stick to nearby surfaces.

This phenomenon also occurs in nature – know that distinct smell in the air after a thunderstorm? That’s the result of “atmospheric space charge” as air ions are generated by the electric fields of storms.¹ Many air purifiers and purification devices sold in stores, including Himalayan salt lamps and a variety of “air ionizers,” artificially produce high voltage to achieve this same effect.

The problem with negative ionization, though, is that it doesn’t actually remove pollutants from your indoor air – it just causes the particles to adhere themselves to nearby surfaces, where they’re easily stirred up by indoor activities like dusting, vacuuming, and ventilation.

Charged particles can also stick to your respiratory tract, where charged particles can settle in your windpipe and lungs and cause even more harm that if they’d just remained in the air. Studies show that these particles can penetrate deep into your respiratory system and cause both heart and lung conditions.²

The average, nightstand-sized Himalayan salt lamp generates only a small number of negative ions into the air, so you may not notice any tangible change in your air quality or health, at least immediately. But these lamps can be huge: you can buy salt lamps that weight up to 300 pounds for thousands of dollars, and their ionization effects may have a more noticeable effect on your air, especially if you live in an airtight, energy-efficient home in which indoor pollutants have a much harder time getting out.

And negative ionizers have another dark secret: they can also create indoor ozone (O₃).

There are two main types of ozone:

\nStratospheric ozone: Alayer of ozone occurs naturally several miles up in the atmosphere, where it protects the surface of the earth (and people’s skin) from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
\nTropospheric ozone: Also called ground-level ozone or smog, ground-level ozone tends to develop when heat from sunlight reacts with chemicals near the ground, many of which are produced by emissions from vehicle exhaust and factory smoke.

Negative ionization can generate tropospheric ozone indoors. While stratospheric ozone has no interaction with us in the lower atmosphere, ground-level ozone is far more harmful when it builds up to high levels. And perhaps one of the starkest examples of ground-level ozone is one that millions of us know very well – the smog that forms in major cities during rush hour.

If you live near a freeway, dense urban center, or even at a high elevation where you can see the area around an urban area. A few hours or less after rush hour begins and the sun begins to rise, you’ll start to notice a visible layer of haze build up. This is ground-level ozone, and even though it’s a typical feature of modern life, extensive research shows that it causes a plethora of immediate symptoms, including:

Coughing
Wheezing
Trouble breathing
Stuffy nose
Dizziness
Tingling in arms and legs
Fever^3,4\n

Further research suggests that ozone is also responsible for long-term health problems, such as asthma, heart disease, and lung disease. Emerging studies on rats also suggest that ozone could cause seizures and blindness.

So even though you may not get rush-hour levels of ozone in your home from a salt lamp, indoor ozone buildup can indeed cause some disruptive health effects if you don’t follow best practices for good Indoor Air Quality.

So what’s so special about Himalayan salt?

So how did someone come up with the idea that Himalayan salt lamps have any health effects at all?

The story stretches back millennia. Truly authentic Himalayan salt comes from the Khewra salt reserves in the Punjab region of Pakistan. Salt mined here is thought to be millions of years old and contain numerous minerals.

Salt lamps have been proposed for use in treatments for conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) because of their purported therapeutic effects on your respiratory system. This treatment even has a clinical term: halotherapy, based on an ages-old respiratory treatment technique known as speleotherapy. First used in Eastern Europe, speleotherapy consists of spending time in a salt cave, where four environmental conditions are thought to help reduce symptoms of respiratory illness:⁵

Stable air temperature
Moderate to high humidity
Presence of aerosol elements, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium
Lack of airborne pollutants

Halotherapy takes the notion that salt cave environments are good for respiratory health by having people inhale small amounts of salt particles that are released into the ambient air of a controlled room to “reproduce” a salt cave’s microclimate. But there’s no conclusive evidence that either speleotherapy or halotherapy actually relieve respiratory symptoms.⁶

Take the claims with a grain of...well, salt

So here’s the takeaway: We’re not saying you shouldn’t get a Himalayan salt lamp. Their dim glow can be quite soothing at night when you’re trying to fall asleep.

But they don’t purify air. And “air purifiers” that emits ions and ozone may make your indoor air quality worse, introduce new health problems, and exacerbate existing ones.

You can take many precautions to monitorand keep your indoor air clean, but buying a salt lamp isn’t one of them. Try these proven methods instead:

\nBe aware of your indoor air quality. The AirVisual Series consists of portable air quality monitors that use cutting-edge laser technology to give you real-time measurements of key pollutants, including particulate matter. AirVisual Series also provides 72-hour historical and forecast data so that you can know exactly when and why your indoor air quality changes.
\nControl sources of poor indoor air quality. If you’re thinking about buying a salt lamp to purify your air, chances are that you do have air quality issues that you may be able to do something about. The first step to improving your indoor indoor air quality is source control.This means eliminating individual sources of pollution or reducing their emissions.\n\n\t
- Regularly clean your HVAC system ducts. Install a whole-house air purifier into your HVAC system to reduce indoor pollutants by up to 95%.
- Replace water-damaged areas of your home to prevent mold and dust mites.
- Keep paints, solvents, and other chemicals in well-ventilated areas.
\n\n\t
\nVentilate your home. Let in fresh air regularly to lower the concentrations of indoor air pollutants. This is especially important if you live in an airtight, energy-efficient home in which indoor pollutants have nowhere to go and thus build up to dangerous levels.\n\n\t
- Open doors and windows when outdoor air quality is good.
- Use a range hood for your stove to capture gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cooking.
\n\n\t
\nUse an air purifier with HyperHEPA technology. The IQAir HealthPro Plusis the best air purifier for even the smallest pollutant particles, removing up to 99.5% of particulates down to 0.003 microns, like viruses and ultrafine particles from vehicle exhaust. The Atempersonal air purifier can also provide pure, pollutant-free air directly into your personal breathing zone.

Sure, a salt lamp can be a nice accessory and bring some calm into your home. But there’s plenty you can do to actually keep your indoor air clean and bring yourself some peace of mind knowing that your home is a clean air sanctuary.
\n\n

","himalayan-salt-lamp-debunked","gid://shopify/Article/606869356843","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/himalayan-salt-lamp-debunked","2019-06-17T13:49:29Z",[390,653,1499],"Himalayan salt lamps: Worth their salt?",{"_10":1534,"_243":1535,"_246":1536,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406288400758","Why are Himalayan salt lamps bad for air quality?","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/AQL_HimalayanSalt_061419_750_ebdb5244-3cb4-49a7-b887-47de5134ba96.jpg?v=1751543557",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1538,"_1115":1539,"_1131":1540,"_1133":1540,"_1134":1541,"_1136":1542,"_985":1543,"_10":1544,"_1140":1545,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1546,"_577":1547,"_541":1548,"_1147":1549},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"Learn more how scented candles release harmful chemicals into the air — even when unlit — and can harm your health.","Are scented candles bad for you?Burning a scented candle is a popular way to create a pleasant ambiance at home. Scents such aslavender, jasmine, and sandalwood can be relaxing and invigorating. During the holidays, many people find the warm glow and aroma of pine, gingerbread, or cinnamon makes a room feel more festive.Unfortunately, most mass-produced scented candles can have a negative impact on indoor air quality. From the wax to the wick to the fragrance itself, the average scented candle can release harmful chemicals into the air — even when unlit.From the wax to the wick to the fragrance itself, the average scented candle can release harmful chemicals into the air — even when unlit.So while you and your family may enjoy the fragrance of scented candles in your home, they may be harmful to your health. Read on to learn why some candles are bad for you.Paraffin waxAre paraffin wax candles safe? In what way can wax be harmful?According to a 2017 study in the International Journal of Tropical Disease and Health, paraffin candles emit pollutants that can threaten human health and shouldn’t be burned in enclosed areas (1).Most candles are made from paraffin, a petroleum byproduct. To create paraffin wax candles, petroleum waste is chemically bleached, deodorized, and made into wax. When burned, paraffin wax can release toxicvolatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, including known carcinogens like: alkenes acetone benzene toluene These are the same chemicals found in diesel fuel emissions and are known to cause allergies, asthma attacks, and skin problems.A 2005 study published by the University of South Florida showed that candles made of paraffin wax emit low levels of benzene even when they are not lit (2).Is burning candles bad for you?In addition to releasing toxic chemicals, burning paraffin wax produces soot composed of particulate matter such as, PM2.5 and ultrafine particles that can remain suspended in the air for hours. According to the University of South Florida study, ultrafine soot particles are similar to diesel exhaust in both their size and composition. They penetrate deeply into the lungs and are absorbed into the blood stream (3).A 2000 study conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency showed that soot emissions from candles are significantly higher after wax breakthrough occurs and when a candle is smoldering (4).Ultrafine particles are associated with severe health issues, including: allergies asthma COPD (5) respiratory tract infections heart attacks strokes cancer So, are candles bad for your health? Not all candles produce the same amount of air pollutants. A 2002 study published in theJournal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society found that soywax, much like beeswax candles, burned at a significantly lower rate and resulted in less soot than paraffin candles (6).Chemical fragrancesAnother problem with scented candles is that the chemicals they use to create a pleasing aroma are generally far from wholesome.Most scented candles use synthetic fragrances and dyes that give off dangerous VOCs even at room temperature.Most scented candles use synthetic fragrances and dyes that give off dangerous VOCs even at room temperature. Commonly emitted VOCs related to the scent in candles include (7): formaldehyde petroleum distillates limonene alcohol esters These harmful chemicals can cause health problems, such as: headaches dizziness allergy symptoms asthma attacks respiratory tract infections cancer Cored wicksMany candles have cored wicks made from cotton that are wrapped around a metal support. The design helps keep the wick from falling over into the wax. This is especially useful for scented candles because the fragrance oils soften the wax and allow non-cored wicks to go limp.Are candles toxic? If they have lead in them, possibly. Lead was once commonly used in cored candlewicks — especially in candles imported from overseas. However, after determining that these wicks could present a lead poisoning hazard to young children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the manufacture and sale of all candles with lead-core wicks in 2003 (8). Zinc and tin have been used as a substitute since the ban.All metal-core wicks release trace amounts of heavy metals into the air when they are burned.However, all metal-core wicks release trace amounts of heavy metals into the air when they are burned. Wicks with zinc and tin cores can still release small amounts of lead particles (9,10).Safer alternativesTo limit soot stains and poor air quality in your home, you should avoid or restrict the use of candles (11).If you still crave the pleasant ambiance and aroma of scented candles, here are safer ways to scent the air: Use essential oils for fragrance.Essential oils can be placed in a diffuser or in bathwater to create a desired aroma. Simmer spices.Place spices such as cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg in a pot of water and let it simmer on the stove. Create potpourri.Dried items such as flowers, berries, fruit rinds, wood chips, and spices can be placed in bowls or fabric bags and placed around your home. The takeawayLighting scented candles may seem like a relaxing way to enjoy your home. But burning scented candles releases VOC pollutants and worsens your home’s indoor air quality. Although fragrances from safer alternatives like essential oils can be pleasant, trulyclean air smells like nothing at all.","

Are scented candles bad for you?

Burning a scented candle is a popular way to create a pleasant ambiance at home. Scents such aslavender, jasmine, and sandalwood can be relaxing and invigorating. During the holidays, many people find the warm glow and aroma of pine, gingerbread, or cinnamon makes a room feel more festive.

Unfortunately, most mass-produced scented candles can have a negative impact on indoor air quality. From the wax to the wick to the fragrance itself, the average scented candle can release harmful chemicals into the air — even when unlit.

From the wax to the wick to the fragrance itself, the average scented candle can release harmful chemicals into the air — even when unlit.

So while you and your family may enjoy the fragrance of scented candles in your home, they may be harmful to your health. Read on to learn why some candles are bad for you.

Paraffin wax

Are paraffin wax candles safe? In what way can wax be harmful?

According to a 2017 study in the International Journal of Tropical Disease and Health, paraffin candles emit pollutants that can threaten human health and shouldn’t be burned in enclosed areas (1).

Most candles are made from paraffin, a petroleum byproduct. To create paraffin wax candles, petroleum waste is chemically bleached, deodorized, and made into wax. When burned, paraffin wax can release toxicvolatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, including known carcinogens like:

alkenes
acetone
benzene
toluene

These are the same chemicals found in diesel fuel emissions and are known to cause allergies, asthma attacks, and skin problems.

A 2005 study published by the University of South Florida showed that candles made of paraffin wax emit low levels of benzene even when they are not lit (2).

Is burning candles bad for you?

In addition to releasing toxic chemicals, burning paraffin wax produces soot composed of particulate matter such as, PM2.5 and ultrafine particles that can remain suspended in the air for hours. According to the University of South Florida study, ultrafine soot particles are similar to diesel exhaust in both their size and composition. They penetrate deeply into the lungs and are absorbed into the blood stream (3).

A 2000 study conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency showed that soot emissions from candles are significantly higher after wax breakthrough occurs and when a candle is smoldering (4).

Ultrafine particles are associated with severe health issues, including:

allergies
asthma
COPD (5)
respiratory tract infections
heart attacks
strokes
cancer

So, are candles bad for your health? Not all candles produce the same amount of air pollutants. A 2002 study published in theJournal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society found that soywax, much like beeswax candles, burned at a significantly lower rate and resulted in less soot than paraffin candles (6).

Chemical fragrances

Another problem with scented candles is that the chemicals they use to create a pleasing aroma are generally far from wholesome.

Most scented candles use synthetic fragrances and dyes that give off dangerous VOCs even at room temperature.

Most scented candles use synthetic fragrances and dyes that give off dangerous VOCs even at room temperature. Commonly emitted VOCs related to the scent in candles include (7):

formaldehyde
petroleum distillates
limonene
alcohol
esters

These harmful chemicals can cause health problems, such as:

headaches
dizziness
allergy symptoms
asthma attacks
respiratory tract infections
cancer
\n\n\t

Cored wicks

Many candles have cored wicks made from cotton that are wrapped around a metal support. The design helps keep the wick from falling over into the wax. This is especially useful for scented candles because the fragrance oils soften the wax and allow non-cored wicks to go limp.

Are candles toxic? If they have lead in them, possibly. Lead was once commonly used in cored candlewicks — especially in candles imported from overseas. However, after determining that these wicks could present a lead poisoning hazard to young children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the manufacture and sale of all candles with lead-core wicks in 2003 (8). Zinc and tin have been used as a substitute since the ban.

All metal-core wicks release trace amounts of heavy metals into the air when they are burned.

However, all metal-core wicks release trace amounts of heavy metals into the air when they are burned. Wicks with zinc and tin cores can still release small amounts of lead particles (9,10).

Safer alternatives

To limit soot stains and poor air quality in your home, you should avoid or restrict the use of candles (11).

If you still crave the pleasant ambiance and aroma of scented candles, here are safer ways to scent the air:

\nUse essential oils for fragrance.Essential oils can be placed in a diffuser or in bathwater to create a desired aroma.
\nSimmer spices.Place spices such as cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg in a pot of water and let it simmer on the stove.
\nCreate potpourri.Dried items such as flowers, berries, fruit rinds, wood chips, and spices can be placed in bowls or fabric bags and placed around your home.

The takeaway

Lighting scented candles may seem like a relaxing way to enjoy your home. But burning scented candles releases VOC pollutants and worsens your home’s indoor air quality. Although fragrances from safer alternatives like essential oils can be pleasant, trulyclean air smells like nothing at all.

","hidden-dangers-scented-candles","gid://shopify/Article/606869127467","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/hidden-dangers-scented-candles","2016-12-04T22:35:53Z",[653,1499],"The hidden dangers of scented candles",{"_10":1550,"_243":1551,"_246":1552,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/405721284982","Two lit candles","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/49_scented_desktop_RE_3518d342-9492-4308-82e5-ee4111074a17.jpg?v=1749633010","successStories",[1555,1572,1589,1604],{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1556,"_1115":1557,"_1131":1558,"_1133":1559,"_1134":1560,"_1136":1561,"_985":1562,"_10":1563,"_1140":1564,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1565,"_577":1566,"_541":1567,"_1147":1568},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"Discover how Tedy Mwendwa's air quality monitoring project in Nairobi is bridging critical gaps in Africa's air quality data. Learn more.","

Discover how Tedy Mwendwa's air quality monitoring project in Nairobi is bridging critical gaps in Africa's air quality data. Learn more.

","“Every day, I witness the severe impact of poor air quality on my community,” Tedy Mwendwa explained. “Using my expertise in electrical engineering, I felt compelled to create change.” In the heart of Africa, amidst bustling cities and vibrant rural landscapes, Mwendwa is pioneering a movement for cleaner air in Kenya. With a professional foundation in electrical engineering and a passion for environmental stewardship, Mwendwa's deployment of a low-cost air quality sensor in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, marks a pivotal step in revealing and addressing pollution and bridging critical gaps in Africa’s air quality data. Nairobi's leap towards cleaner air In late 2021, Mwendwa established an air quality station. Set up along one of Nairobi’s busy thoroughfares, the station gathers data on pollutants from sources like vehicular exhaust and biomass burning. \"It's about leveraging technology to unveil the hidden dangers of pollution.” “It's about leveraging technology to unveil the hidden dangers of pollution,” Mwendwa said. “Empowering our community with this data is crucial for driving action and advocating for sustainable solutions. Without data, we remain in the dark.” Local expertise, global resources drive innovation Building on the foundation of community-driven air monitoring, the project has taken a step forward. It now hosts East Africa’s first Monster Aerosol System (a platform that houses advanced aerosol analyzers), featuring a Time-of-Flight Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (TOF-ACSM). This technology provides real-time, high-resolution data on airborne particles—including nitrates, ammonium, and chlorides—uncovering the chemical fingerprints of pollution with unprecedented precision. Paired with a black carbon monitor, the system offers a comprehensive view of airborne composition and sources. These reference-grade instruments build on the project’s original IQAir AirVisual Outdoor monitor—pairing community-level, real-time data with laboratory-grade chemical insight. The TOF-ACSM will help identify pollution sources—from mineral dust kicked up by unpaved roads and construction to organic aerosols tied to biomass burning and traffic emissions. It will also track seasonal and daily shifts in air quality, influenced by weather patterns and human activity. The initiative is expanding further with the deployment of GRIMM EDM 180 reference monitors across Nairobi, replacing older equipment to deliver faster, more accurate readings with minimal maintenance. In collaboration with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA), these monitors will be placed along major highways and construction zones, ensuring data reflects the realities of urban life. These advancements are part of the NBO-CHEM Project (Nairobi Aerosol Chemistry and Monitoring Initiative), an effort funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and led by Prof. Daniel M. Westervelt, Dr. Godwin Opinde, and Tedy Mwendwa. By combining local expertise with state-of-the-art scientific resources, the project aims to transform how we understand air pollution in East Africa. The challenge of air quality monitoring in Africa The new additions to the project are heartening developments towards advancing air quality understanding in East Africa. Yet, despite the increasing efforts to monitor air quality globally, Africa remains one of the most underrepresented continents in terms of air quality data. According to the 2024 World Air Quality Report, there is only one monitoring station for every 3.7 million people. While coverage has expanded to include more African countries in recent years, there are still vast areas without sufficient data. For example, countries like Niger and Sudan remain without publicly available monitoring data.Air pollution is a major health threat, causing an estimated seven million premature deaths worldwide each year. Without accurate data, it is challenging to address the sources and impacts of air pollution effectively. Grassroots efforts like Mwendwa's are crucial in filling these data gaps, providing models for further projects and inspiring broader initiatives. Harnessing technology for a healthier tomorrow Utilizing an AirVisual Outdoor air quality monitor, Mwendwa’s station gathers critical real-time data. “The AirVisual sensor was easy to deploy and requires little maintenance, even in our somewhat extreme conditions with limited resources,” he said.The project, though small, is already making a difference in the community. “By sharing a link to the AirVisual Platform and using the app, we can easily get our data to students nationwide, enabling them to conduct their own research on pollution,” he said. The data has also been used to inform parents with small children of the effects of poor air quality. \"They need to understand that this data can help give them a better life,\" Mwendwa said. Cultivating environmental consciousness Mwendwa envisions a future where air quality stations span Africa, fostering a culture of environmental awareness and proactive health management. “The data my station is gathering empowers students to conduct community research, highlighting pollution's impact and fostering greater understanding,” he said. “This awareness can significantly influence the general population.\"Mwendwa plans further collaborations with local governments, communities, and international bodies, with this initial project laying a foundation for sustainable environmental policies and practices. “Our goal is to illuminate the unseen threats of pollution through technology,” he said. “Providing our community, and beyond, with this data, equips them to advocate for sustainable solutions essential for a healthier future. Without data, we are navigating blindly.” “Providing our community with this data equips them to advocate for sustainable solutions essential for a healthier future.” Conclusion From a low-cost sensor to a full NBO-CHEM reference hybrid network, Mwendwa’s project shows how local leadership and modern tools can accelerate Kenya’s clean-air progress. The project is an invitation to communities and policymakers to engage in a similar quest for healthier environments.Mwendwa's efforts symbolize more than geographic growth—they embody the momentum of a global movement dedicated to clean air. His work exemplifies uniting technology, data, and collective engagement to tackle one of our era's most pressing challenges.Achieving cleaner air is a communal endeavor, demanding innovation and cooperation. Mwendwa's project is a rallying cry to all, inviting participation in crafting a healthier, sustainable future for generations to come.","

“Every day, I witness the severe impact of poor air quality on my community,” Tedy Mwendwa explained. “Using my expertise in electrical engineering, I felt compelled to create change.”

In the heart of Africa, amidst bustling cities and vibrant rural landscapes, Mwendwa is pioneering a movement for cleaner air in Kenya. With a professional foundation in electrical engineering and a passion for environmental stewardship, Mwendwa's deployment of a low-cost air quality sensor in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, marks a pivotal step in revealing and addressing pollution and bridging critical gaps in Africa’s air quality data.

Nairobi's leap towards cleaner air

In late 2021, Mwendwa established an air quality station. Set up along one of Nairobi’s busy thoroughfares, the station gathers data on pollutants from sources like vehicular exhaust and biomass burning.

\"It's about leveraging technology to unveil the hidden dangers of pollution.”

“It's about leveraging technology to unveil the hidden dangers of pollution,” Mwendwa said. “Empowering our community with this data is crucial for driving action and advocating for sustainable solutions. Without data, we remain in the dark.”

Local expertise, global resources drive innovation

Building on the foundation of community-driven air monitoring, the project has taken a step forward. It now hosts East Africa’s first Monster Aerosol System (a platform that houses advanced aerosol analyzers), featuring a Time-of-Flight Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (TOF-ACSM). This technology provides real-time, high-resolution data on airborne particles—including nitrates, ammonium, and chlorides—uncovering the chemical fingerprints of pollution with unprecedented precision. Paired with a black carbon monitor, the system offers a comprehensive view of airborne composition and sources. These reference-grade instruments build on the project’s original IQAir AirVisual Outdoor monitor—pairing community-level, real-time data with laboratory-grade chemical insight.

The TOF-ACSM will help identify pollution sources—from mineral dust kicked up by unpaved roads and construction to organic aerosols tied to biomass burning and traffic emissions. It will also track seasonal and daily shifts in air quality, influenced by weather patterns and human activity.

The initiative is expanding further with the deployment of GRIMM EDM 180 reference monitors across Nairobi, replacing older equipment to deliver faster, more accurate readings with minimal maintenance. In collaboration with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA), these monitors will be placed along major highways and construction zones, ensuring data reflects the realities of urban life.

These advancements are part of the NBO-CHEM Project (Nairobi Aerosol Chemistry and Monitoring Initiative), an effort funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and led by Prof. Daniel M. Westervelt, Dr. Godwin Opinde, and Tedy Mwendwa.

By combining local expertise with state-of-the-art scientific resources, the project aims to transform how we understand air pollution in East Africa.

The challenge of air quality monitoring in Africa

The new additions to the project are heartening developments towards advancing air quality understanding in East Africa. Yet, despite the increasing efforts to monitor air quality globally, Africa remains one of the most underrepresented continents in terms of air quality data. According to the 2024 World Air Quality Report , there is only one monitoring station for every 3.7 million people.

While coverage has expanded to include more African countries in recent years, there are still vast areas without sufficient data. For example, countries like Niger and Sudan remain without publicly available monitoring data.

Air pollution is a major health threat, causing an estimated seven million premature deaths worldwide each year. Without accurate data, it is challenging to address the sources and impacts of air pollution effectively. Grassroots efforts like Mwendwa's are crucial in filling these data gaps, providing models for further projects and inspiring broader initiatives.

Harnessing technology for a healthier tomorrow

Utilizing an AirVisual Outdoor air quality monitor, Mwendwa’s station gathers critical real-time data. “The AirVisual sensor was easy to deploy and requires little maintenance, even in our somewhat extreme conditions with limited resources,” he said.

The project, though small, is already making a difference in the community. “By sharing a link to the AirVisual Platform and using the app, we can easily get our data to students nationwide, enabling them to conduct their own research on pollution,” he said. The data has also been used to inform parents with small children of the effects of poor air quality. \"They need to understand that this data can help give them a better life,\" Mwendwa said.

Cultivating environmental consciousness

Mwendwa envisions a future where air quality stations span Africa, fostering a culture of environmental awareness and proactive health management. “The data my station is gathering empowers students to conduct community research, highlighting pollution's impact and fostering greater understanding,” he said. “This awareness can significantly influence the general population.\"

Mwendwa plans further collaborations with local governments, communities, and international bodies, with this initial project laying a foundation for sustainable environmental policies and practices. “Our goal is to illuminate the unseen threats of pollution through technology,” he said. “Providing our community, and beyond, with this data, equips them to advocate for sustainable solutions essential for a healthier future. Without data, we are navigating blindly.”

“Providing our community with this data equips them to advocate for sustainable solutions essential for a healthier future.”

Conclusion

From a low-cost sensor to a full NBO-CHEM reference hybrid network, Mwendwa’s project shows how local leadership and modern tools can accelerate Kenya’s clean-air progress. The project is an invitation to communities and policymakers to engage in a similar quest for healthier environments.

Mwendwa's efforts symbolize more than geographic growth—they embody the momentum of a global movement dedicated to clean air. His work exemplifies uniting technology, data, and collective engagement to tackle one of our era's most pressing challenges.

Achieving cleaner air is a communal endeavor, demanding innovation and cooperation. Mwendwa's project is a rallying cry to all, inviting participation in crafting a healthier, sustainable future for generations to come.

","revealing-the-invisible-kenya","gid://shopify/Article/607976751403","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/revealing-the-invisible-kenya","2025-12-01T04:00:00Z",[648,838],"Revealing the Invisible: Boosting air quality awareness in Kenya",{"_10":1569,"_243":1570,"_246":1571,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/411421278582","Nairobi-city-smog","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/AQL_Revamp_Kenya_Clean_Air_Desktop_4f1dd00b-baa3-4e27-9eed-3acd42f2faae.jpg?v=1767630558",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1573,"_1115":1574,"_1131":1575,"_1133":1576,"_1134":1577,"_1136":1578,"_985":1579,"_10":1580,"_1140":1581,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1582,"_577":1583,"_541":1584,"_1147":1585},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"WWF Pakistan is tackling air pollution with IQAir. Learn how real-time data is driving change across the country.","

WWF Pakistan is tackling air pollution with IQAir. Learn how real-time data is driving change across the country.

","In Pakistan, severe air pollution silently impacts public health and well-being nationwide. Yet, due to a dire lack of air quality data, air quality monitors, and public awareness, the scale of the threat remains largely unseen. In 2024, Pakistan was the third most polluted country in the world, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 73.7 μg/m3 and exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended annual guideline of 5 μg/m3 by 14.7 times. Numerous cities experienced poor air quality, with high average PM2.5 concentrations measured for Islamabad (52.4 μg/m3), Rawalpindi (65.8 μg/m3), Faisalabad (88.8 μg/m3), Peshawar (91.0 μg/m3), and Lahore (102.1 μg/m3) – all exceeding the WHO recommended guideline by ten times or more. Recognizing the urgency of this crisis, WWF-Pakistan has taken significant steps to address air pollution using IQAir’s air quality monitoring technology. WWF-Pakistan has successfully deployed stations across Pakistan and published data to IQAir’s AirVisual platform, establishing the country’s largest air quality monitoring network. With this initiative, WWF-Pakistan is transforming how the country understands and confronts this invisible threat. \"We have successfully reached the goal of installing AirVisual Outdoor sensors in 15 of our offices across Pakistan,\" said WWF-Pakistan’s Research Officer, Muhammad Huzaifa who led this initiative in Pakistan. As of now, WWF-Pakistan has air monitoring stations located in key regions like Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Multan, and Peshawar. They provide real-time data that is accessible to both policymakers and the public. \"We are excited to say that we’ve published the data from these stations to IQAir’s platform, where communities can see their local air quality in real-time.” Why Pakistan Needs Reliable Air Quality Data Pakistan's urban centers, such as Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi, frequently grapple with thick layers of smog. While this is a visible reminder of air pollution, the more dangerous pollutants often remain unseen and unmonitored. One of the greatest challenges in Pakistan has been the need for more reliable, public air quality data. \"Our air quality network provides crucial air quality data in some of Pakistan’s most polluted regions and are often ranked among the top 10 most polluted cities in the world\" Huzaifa explained. WWF-Pakistan, the nation’s largest environmental organization, has been addressing critical environmental issues since 1970. Originally focused on protecting wildlife and ecosystems, the organization’s scope has broadened to include tackling climate change, protecting vulnerable habitats, and securing vital resources like freshwater. Now, through their air quality monitoring initiative, they are addressing one of the most pressing health and environmental crises facing Pakistan. “Unfortunately, there is little public air quality data available,” Huzaifa noted. “This information vacuum has left policymakers and citizens unprepared to tackle the pollution crisis.” WWF-Pakistan’s initiative helps fill this gap, ensuring the public has access to real-time, localized air quality data. With real-time data now available, citizens, governments, and policymakers can work together to implement solutions, reduce pollution and improve health outcomes across the country. Building Pakistan's National Air Quality Network WWF-Pakistan’s initiative, which involves installing air quality sensors in key cities across the country, marks a critical step in Pakistan’s battle against air pollution. By coordinating 15 monitoring stations under one national initiative, WWF-Pakistan now operates the country’s largest organized air quality monitoring network, making real-time data accessible to both citizens and policymakers. Partnering with IQAir adds both credibility and precision to the project. \"IQAir's AirVisual air quality monitors are globally recognized for their accuracy and ability to track even the smallest fluctuations in air quality,\" said Huzaifa. \"IQAir's technology is built to withstand all sorts of weather and having it in place ensures that people will trust the data.\" This transparency is essential for mobilizing both community efforts and policy interventions, as reliable information is crucial to driving meaningful change. Using Air Quality Data to Combat Pollution in Pakistan With the sensors online and data flowing into the IQAir platform, WWF-Pakistan's live contributor profile showcases the impact of their work, allowing anyone to monitor air quality in real-time. This transparency empowers citizens and policymakers alike to take informed action, using reliable data to drive meaningful change across the country. Explore WWF-Pakistan’s profile to see the live data from their monitoring stations across Pakistan. \"Data isn’t just a tool for awareness—it’s the foundation for meaningful action,\" Nazifa Butt, Director Climate Action and Sustainability WWF-Pakistan emphasized. “Now that we have the data, we have something to report and base our decisions on.” Nazifa emphasized the importance of storytelling. “We’re going to have to tell two parts of the story,” she explained, pointing out how data can not only expose alarming trends but also inspire communities to push for change—through policies, advocacy, and local initiatives. With 18,800 followers across its national network, WWF-Pakistan is sharing that data every day with citizens who urgently need real-time air quality information to help protect themselves from pollution. Pakistan's Long-Term Pollution Solutions WWF-Pakistan envisions a future where every region of the country has access to real-time, accurate air quality data. \"Each sensor we deploy is a step closer to a healthier, more sustainable Pakistan,\" Nazifa explained. By providing access to this data, WWF-Pakistan aims to foster a culture of proactive health management, where individuals and communities can take the steps necessary to protect themselves from pollution. The air quality data being gathered is more than just numbers—it’s a lifeline for communities struggling with the dangers of polluted air. “Our initiative is laying the foundation for a National Clean Air Research Centre,\" Huzaifa said. \"This will be a hub for research and data-driven policies, enabling us to tackle pollution with innovative strategies.\" “Each sensor we deploy is a step closer to a healthier, more sustainable Pakistan.” In October 2024, WWF-Pakistan warned that Lahore’s air quality posed a terrible threat to public health, recommending a number of changes to government policy including helping farmers manage crop waste, expanding mass transit, and improving zoning laws to reduce industrial pollution away from residents. It also noted that low-cost air quality monitoring systems could be used to uncover air pollution hotspots along traffic routes. Armed with that information, governments could restrict heavy transport vehicles or develop alternate routes to avoid congestion (1). Beyond their air quality monitoring project, the WWF-Pakistan team oversees more than 60 active environmental protection initiatives in FY 2025 across the country, ranging from clean water access and forest preservation to sustainable infrastructure development. These efforts, working in tandem with the air quality monitoring network, are all part of WWF's broader mission to protect the planet's natural environment and create a future where both people and nature can thrive in harmony. Conclusion WWF-Pakistan's initiative is a testament to the transformative power of air quality data, technology, and collective will in addressing one of today’s most pressing challenges. And by increasing the footprint of air quality monitors across the country, innovative solutions to persistent pollution problems can be put into play. As this vital work advances, it invites everyone to contribute to the cause—because in the fight for clean air, every voice and every action matters. “This initiative,” Nazifa said, “lays the foundation for what we envision as Pakistan’s future air quality innovation hub. It will serve as a hub for developing strategies and methods to tackle air pollution, aligning efforts across governmental and non-governmental sectors, both locally and internationally, in the fight against climate change.”","

In Pakistan, severe air pollution silently impacts public health and well-being nationwide. Yet, due to a dire lack of air quality data, air quality monitors, and public awareness, the scale of the threat remains largely unseen.

In 2024, Pakistan was the third most polluted country in the world, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 73.7 μg/m3 and exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended annual guideline of 5 μg/m3 by 14.7 times. Numerous cities experienced poor air quality, with high average PM2.5 concentrations measured for Islamabad (52.4 μg/m3), Rawalpindi (65.8 μg/m3), Faisalabad (88.8 μg/m3), Peshawar (91.0 μg/m3), and Lahore (102.1 μg/m3) – all exceeding the WHO recommended guideline by ten times or more.

Recognizing the urgency of this crisis, WWF-Pakistan has taken significant steps to address air pollution using IQAir’s air quality monitoring technology. WWF-Pakistan has successfully deployed stations across Pakistan and published data to IQAir’s AirVisual platform, establishing the country’s largest air quality monitoring network. With this initiative, WWF-Pakistan is transforming how the country understands and confronts this invisible threat.

\"We have successfully reached the goal of installing AirVisual Outdoor sensors in 15 of our offices across Pakistan,\" said WWF-Pakistan’s Research Officer, Muhammad Huzaifa who led this initiative in Pakistan.

As of now, WWF-Pakistan has air monitoring stations located in key regions like Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Multan, and Peshawar. They provide real-time data that is accessible to both policymakers and the public. \"We are excited to say that we’ve published the data from these stations to IQAir’s platform, where communities can see their local air quality in real-time.”

Why Pakistan Needs Reliable Air Quality Data

Pakistan's urban centers, such as Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi, frequently grapple with thick layers of smog. While this is a visible reminder of air pollution, the more dangerous pollutants often remain unseen and unmonitored. One of the greatest challenges in Pakistan has been the need for more reliable, public air quality data.

\"Our air quality network provides crucial air quality data in some of Pakistan’s most polluted regions and are often ranked among the top 10 most polluted cities in the world\" Huzaifa explained.

WWF-Pakistan, the nation’s largest environmental organization, has been addressing critical environmental issues since 1970. Originally focused on protecting wildlife and ecosystems, the organization’s scope has broadened to include tackling climate change, protecting vulnerable habitats, and securing vital resources like freshwater. Now, through their air quality monitoring initiative, they are addressing one of the most pressing health and environmental crises facing Pakistan.

“Unfortunately, there is little public air quality data available,” Huzaifa noted. “This information vacuum has left policymakers and citizens unprepared to tackle the pollution crisis.” WWF-Pakistan’s initiative helps fill this gap, ensuring the public has access to real-time, localized air quality data.

With real-time data now available, citizens, governments, and policymakers can work together to implement solutions, reduce pollution and improve health outcomes across the country.

Building Pakistan's National Air Quality Network

WWF-Pakistan’s initiative, which involves installing air quality sensors in key cities across the country, marks a critical step in Pakistan’s battle against air pollution. By coordinating 15 monitoring stations under one national initiative, WWF-Pakistan now operates the country’s largest organized air quality monitoring network, making real-time data accessible to both citizens and policymakers.

Partnering with IQAir adds both credibility and precision to the project. \"IQAir's AirVisual air quality monitors are globally recognized for their accuracy and ability to track even the smallest fluctuations in air quality,\" said Huzaifa. \"IQAir's technology is built to withstand all sorts of weather and having it in place ensures that people will trust the data.\" This transparency is essential for mobilizing both community efforts and policy interventions, as reliable information is crucial to driving meaningful change.

Using Air Quality Data to Combat Pollution in Pakistan

With the sensors online and data flowing into the IQAir platform, WWF-Pakistan's live contributor profile showcases the impact of their work, allowing anyone to monitor air quality in real-time. This transparency empowers citizens and policymakers alike to take informed action, using reliable data to drive meaningful change across the country. Explore WWF-Pakistan’s profile to see the live data from their monitoring stations across Pakistan.

\"Data isn’t just a tool for awareness—it’s the foundation for meaningful action,\" Nazifa Butt, Director Climate Action and Sustainability WWF-Pakistan emphasized. “Now that we have the data, we have something to report and base our decisions on.”

Nazifa emphasized the importance of storytelling. “We’re going to have to tell two parts of the story,” she explained, pointing out how data can not only expose alarming trends but also inspire communities to push for change—through policies, advocacy, and local initiatives.

With 18,800 followers across its national network, WWF-Pakistan is sharing that data every day with citizens who urgently need real-time air quality information to help protect themselves from pollution.

Pakistan's Long-Term Pollution Solutions

WWF-Pakistan envisions a future where every region of the country has access to real-time, accurate air quality data.

\"Each sensor we deploy is a step closer to a healthier, more sustainable Pakistan,\" Nazifa explained. By providing access to this data, WWF-Pakistan aims to foster a culture of proactive health management, where individuals and communities can take the steps necessary to protect themselves from pollution.

The air quality data being gathered is more than just numbers—it’s a lifeline for communities struggling with the dangers of polluted air. “Our initiative is laying the foundation for a National Clean Air Research Centre,\" Huzaifa said. \"This will be a hub for research and data-driven policies, enabling us to tackle pollution with innovative strategies.\"

“Each sensor we deploy is a step closer to a healthier, more sustainable Pakistan.”

In October 2024, WWF-Pakistan warned that Lahore’s air quality posed a terrible threat to public health, recommending a number of changes to government policy including helping farmers manage crop waste, expanding mass transit, and improving zoning laws to reduce industrial pollution away from residents.

It also noted that low-cost air quality monitoring systems could be used to uncover air pollution hotspots along traffic routes. Armed with that information, governments could restrict heavy transport vehicles or develop alternate routes to avoid congestion (1).

Beyond their air quality monitoring project, the WWF-Pakistan team oversees more than 60 active environmental protection initiatives in FY 2025 across the country, ranging from clean water access and forest preservation to sustainable infrastructure development. These efforts, working in tandem with the air quality monitoring network, are all part of WWF's broader mission to protect the planet's natural environment and create a future where both people and nature can thrive in harmony.

Conclusion

WWF-Pakistan's initiative is a testament to the transformative power of air quality data, technology, and collective will in addressing one of today’s most pressing challenges. And by increasing the footprint of air quality monitors across the country, innovative solutions to persistent pollution problems can be put into play.

As this vital work advances, it invites everyone to contribute to the cause—because in the fight for clean air, every voice and every action matters.

“This initiative,” Nazifa said, “lays the foundation for what we envision as Pakistan’s future air quality innovation hub. It will serve as a hub for developing strategies and methods to tackle air pollution, aligning efforts across governmental and non-governmental sectors, both locally and internationally, in the fight against climate change.”

","revealing-the-invisible-wwf-pakistan","gid://shopify/Article/997495079286","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/revealing-the-invisible-wwf-pakistan","2025-11-12T17:43:03Z",[643,648,838],"Revealing the Invisible: WWF-Pakistan’s mission for clean air",{"_10":1586,"_243":1587,"_246":1588,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/410126352758","WWF Team standing Next to Solar Panel","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/AQL_PakistanContributor_Desk_A_a18d7b5d-29f7-4e70-ad5d-e0c4f15aebc6.jpg?v=1762969386",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1590,"_1115":1591,"_1131":43,"_1133":43,"_1134":1592,"_1136":1593,"_985":1594,"_10":1595,"_1140":1596,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1597,"_577":1598,"_541":1599,"_1147":1600},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"In the slender West African nation of Gambia, Dr. Sunkaru Touray of Permian Health Lung Institute is leading an unprecedented initiative to illuminate the invisible dangers of air pollution through the strategic deployment of low-cost air quality monitors. A vision born from necessity Dr. Touray, a pulmonologist and critical care physician originally from Kartong, The Gambia, was profoundly affected by the respiratory issues he encountered while practicing in New Mexico. These issues, often linked to hydrocarbon exposure and environmental pollutants, spurred him to address similar problems in Gambia, where air quality data is scarce. \"There's a significant data gap in Africa when it comes to understanding our air,\" Dr. Touray noted. Recognizing the parallels between New Mexico and Gambia, Dr. Touray envisioned the Permian Health Clean Air Initiative. This initiative aims not only to collect data but to empower Gambians with knowledge, enabling them to make informed decisions about their health and advocate for cleaner air. “There’s a significant data gap in Africa when it comes to understanding our air.” –Dr. Sunkaru Touray, Founder, Permian Health The journey of Permian Health Permian Health's mission is clear: to democratize access to air quality data in Gambia by installing low-cost air quality monitors throughout the country. The team selected IQAir’s AirVisual outdoor monitors for this critical work. “These devices are proven to be reliable, user-friendly, and can operate on solar power,” Dr. Touray said. “They also have 4G LTE connectivity,” which make the monitors ideally suited for Gambia's diverse environments—from the bustling streets of Banjul to the rural countryside. \"The goal,\" Dr. Touray explained, \"is not just to collect data but to empower our communities with knowledge so they can make informed decisions about their health and advocate for cleaner air.\" Highlighting areas of concern: Brikama’s air quality Brikama stands as a poignant example of the challenges faced across Gambia. Known for its bustling markets and as a hub for both commerce and community life, the town also grapples with air quality issues that pose risks to its residents. By placing monitors in strategic locations, including the busy highway through Brikama, Permian Health is mapping pollution levels and raising awareness among the local population about the air they breathe daily—while simultaneously acting as a testament to the potential of grassroots air monitoring networks in challenging regions. Dr. Touray said, \"As we look to the future, the lessons learned from Brikama will inform our expansion strategies to other regions facing similar challenges. Our success in achieving nationwide coverage, with Brikama as a keystone in our network, exemplifies the scalable model of Permian Health Clean Air Initiative.” “The goal is not to just collect the data but to empower our communities with knowledge so they can make informed decisions about their health.” Local feedback has been largely positive. According to Dr. Touray, real-time access to air quality monitor information has improved local understanding of the dangers of poor air quality, especially during the dry, dusty Harmattan season typically experienced from November to March. Permian Health has collaborated with local groups such as the Brikama Nema Diaspora Group (BRIND) and Karamie’s Health clinic to install sensors in key areas, allowing residents and medical professionals to access real-time air quality data. Pioneering work on the ground To date, the Permian Health air quality network has grown to 14 sensors, achieving nationwide coverage with an air quality sensor in all regions of The Gambia—proof of the project's rapid scalability and success. The project has successfully installed air quality monitors in various locations, including urban areas and industrial sites. These monitors provide real-time data on pollutants like PM2.5, which pose the greatest threat to human health, offering invaluable insights into the air pollution across different regions of Gambia. \"We have sensors in the most densely populated areas,” Dr. Touray said. \"Through the process of collecting PM 2.5 data in Gambia and identifying pollution hotspots, we educate the public about air quality and its impact on public health—and also communicate the importance of installing air quality sensors as a means to make a change.\" This foundational work sets the stage for enhanced accuracy and credibility in air quality monitoring, as underscored by a pivotal development in the project's journey. “The recent addition of a reference-grade monitor donated by MetOne marks a significant leap in our capacity for precision and validation of the data collected by our existing sensor network,” Dr. Touray said. However, maintaining and expanding the network can be impeded by dust accumulation on solar panels during the Harmattan season, unreliable power supplies, and other issues. ‘While we have made significant progress in addressing some of these challenges, connectivity and maintenance in remote areas remain ongoing hurdles in our efforts to maintain and expand the sensor network efficiently,’ Dr. Touray explained. Uniting minds and garnering accolades To raise awareness about their work, Permian Health has created a promotional video which serves as a powerful tool to inform and engage the public about their project. A key milestone for the project was the establishment of the first air quality conference in Gambia, bringing together stakeholders from the government, academia, and civil society to discuss the findings and implications of the collected data. \"This conference was a pivotal moment for us, marking the beginning of a national conversation on air quality,\" reflects Dr. Touray. This national conversation is already making a policy impact. The Ministry of Health has issued public health advisories several times since the air quality sensors were deployed, raising air quality awareness in communities around the country. Dr. Touray emphasizes the importance of partnering with the Gambian government to leverage their data for national air quality standards and planning. \"Working closely with governmental bodies is crucial for our success,\" Dr. Touray notes, highlighting his strong connections within the National Environment Agency, which have been supportive of their endeavors. With the NEA, Permian Health was able to release their first air quality report based on initial installations. This sets the table for future updates from newly installed sensors. Additionally, the project's recent recognition by the Energy Policy Institute of the University of Chicago with an Air Quality Award underscores the global acknowledgment of their impactful work. This prestigious award will enable Permian Health to scale their network further. Currently, there are 22 low-cost sensors deployed, and Gambia will, for the first time ever, have a reference monitor to assist in enhancing air quality monitoring and assessment. Hopes for the Future Thanks to their recent Air Quality award, Permian Health acquired an additional 10 sensors, bringing the total to 26 sensors across The Gambia. Six new sensors have been deployed to NEA headquarters, two major health centers with support from the Ministry of Health, and in housing developments in partnership with Gambia’s largest real estate company, TAF Africa Global. The remaining sensors will be deployed to the National Stadium, Gambia International Airport, the Seaport in Banjul, and a major intersection as soon as final government approvals are processed. Dr. Touray envisions a future where every Gambian has access to air quality information, enabling them to protect themselves and their families from air pollution. Furthermore, he hopes to leverage the data collected to advocate for stronger environmental policies and regulations in Gambia. “We’re not just collecting data for the sake of it. We want to drive change.” \"We're not just collecting data for the sake of it. We want to drive change,\" says Dr. Touray. \"Our ultimate goal is for Gambia to set national air quality standards, informed by the comprehensive data we've gathered.\" A key step toward this goal is the second Clean Air Conference, which Permian Health is organizing in partnership with the NEA. The event will bring together stakeholders, including officials from the ministries of Health, Environment, Transport, and Education, to develop a national air quality work plan. According to Dr. Touray, Permian Health is conducting an inventory assessment to determine the key sources of pollution, such as waste burning, reliance on charcoal and firewood for cooking, and transport-related emissions. \"Looking ahead, we aim to strengthen our collaboration with the NEA and the Ministry of Health, to expand and maintain our sensor network.\" \"We plan to enhance public awareness campaigns, especially during high-risk periods, to better inform the community about air quality concerns. We would also like to engage more with local TV stations for them to display air quality and weather information from our network. Conclusion Dr. Sunkaru Touray's work with Permian Health exemplifies innovative activism. The project not only addresses air quality data gaps but also empowers communities to tackle air pollution—an issue that transcends borders. Dr. Touray's mission goes beyond air quality monitoring; it's about transforming the quality of public health around the world.","

In the slender West African nation of Gambia, Dr. Sunkaru Touray of Permian Health Lung Institute is leading an unprecedented initiative to illuminate the invisible dangers of air pollution through the strategic deployment of low-cost air quality monitors.

A vision born from necessity

Dr. Touray, a pulmonologist and critical care physician originally from Kartong, The Gambia, was profoundly affected by the respiratory issues he encountered while practicing in New Mexico. These issues, often linked to hydrocarbon exposure and environmental pollutants, spurred him to address similar problems in Gambia, where air quality data is scarce. \"There's a significant data gap in Africa when it comes to understanding our air,\" Dr. Touray noted.

Recognizing the parallels between New Mexico and Gambia, Dr. Touray envisioned the Permian Health Clean Air Initiative. This initiative aims not only to collect data but to empower Gambians with knowledge, enabling them to make informed decisions about their health and advocate for cleaner air.

\n
“There’s a significant data gap in Africa when it comes to understanding our air.”
\n
–Dr. Sunkaru Touray, Founder, Permian Health
\n

The journey of Permian Health

Permian Health's mission is clear: to democratize access to air quality data in Gambia by installing low-cost air quality monitors throughout the country. The team selected IQAir’s AirVisual outdoor monitors for this critical work. “These devices are proven to be reliable, user-friendly, and can operate on solar power,” Dr. Touray said. “They also have 4G LTE connectivity,” which make the monitors ideally suited for Gambia's diverse environments—from the bustling streets of Banjul to the rural countryside.

\"The goal,\" Dr. Touray explained, \"is not just to collect data but to empower our communities with knowledge so they can make informed decisions about their health and advocate for cleaner air.\"

Highlighting areas of concern: Brikama’s air quality

Brikama stands as a poignant example of the challenges faced across Gambia. Known for its bustling markets and as a hub for both commerce and community life, the town also grapples with air quality issues that pose risks to its residents. By placing monitors in strategic locations, including the busy highway through Brikama, Permian Health is mapping pollution levels and raising awareness among the local population about the air they breathe daily—while simultaneously acting as a testament to the potential of grassroots air monitoring networks in challenging regions.

$\"\"$

Dr. Touray said, \"As we look to the future, the lessons learned from Brikama will inform our expansion strategies to other regions facing similar challenges. Our success in achieving nationwide coverage, with Brikama as a keystone in our network, exemplifies the scalable model of Permian Health Clean Air Initiative.”

\n
“The goal is not to just collect the data but to empower our communities with knowledge so they can make informed decisions about their health.”
\n

Local feedback has been largely positive. According to Dr. Touray, real-time access to air quality monitor information has improved local understanding of the dangers of poor air quality, especially during the dry, dusty Harmattan season typically experienced from November to March.

Permian Health has collaborated with local groups such as the Brikama Nema Diaspora Group (BRIND) and Karamie’s Health clinic to install sensors in key areas, allowing residents and medical professionals to access real-time air quality data.

Pioneering work on the ground

To date, the Permian Health air quality network has grown to 14 sensors, achieving nationwide coverage with an air quality sensor in all regions of The Gambia—proof of the project's rapid scalability and success. The project has successfully installed air quality monitors in various locations, including urban areas and industrial sites. These monitors provide real-time data on pollutants like PM2.5, which pose the greatest threat to human health, offering invaluable insights into the air pollution across different regions of Gambia. \"We have sensors in the most densely populated areas,” Dr. Touray said. \"Through the process of collecting PM 2.5 data in Gambia and identifying pollution hotspots, we educate the public about air quality and its impact on public health—and also communicate the importance of installing air quality sensors as a means to make a change.\"

This foundational work sets the stage for enhanced accuracy and credibility in air quality monitoring, as underscored by a pivotal development in the project's journey. “The recent addition of a reference-grade monitor donated by MetOne marks a significant leap in our capacity for precision and validation of the data collected by our existing sensor network,” Dr. Touray said.

However, maintaining and expanding the network can be impeded by dust accumulation on solar panels during the Harmattan season, unreliable power supplies, and other issues.

‘While we have made significant progress in addressing some of these challenges, connectivity and maintenance in remote areas remain ongoing hurdles in our efforts to maintain and expand the sensor network efficiently,’ Dr. Touray explained.

Uniting minds and garnering accolades

To raise awareness about their work, Permian Health has created a promotional video which serves as a powerful tool to inform and engage the public about their project.

A key milestone for the project was the establishment of the first air quality conference in Gambia, bringing together stakeholders from the government, academia, and civil society to discuss the findings and implications of the collected data.

\"This conference was a pivotal moment for us, marking the beginning of a national conversation on air quality,\" reflects Dr. Touray.

This national conversation is already making a policy impact. The Ministry of Health has issued public health advisories several times since the air quality sensors were deployed, raising air quality awareness in communities around the country.

Dr. Touray emphasizes the importance of partnering with the Gambian government to leverage their data for national air quality standards and planning. \"Working closely with governmental bodies is crucial for our success,\" Dr. Touray notes, highlighting his strong connections within the National Environment Agency, which have been supportive of their endeavors.

With the NEA, Permian Health was able to release their first air quality report based on initial installations. This sets the table for future updates from newly installed sensors.

Additionally, the project's recent recognition by the Energy Policy Institute of the University of Chicago with an Air Quality Award underscores the global acknowledgment of their impactful work. This prestigious award will enable Permian Health to scale their network further.

Currently, there are 22 low-cost sensors deployed, and Gambia will, for the first time ever, have a reference monitor to assist in enhancing air quality monitoring and assessment.

Hopes for the Future

Thanks to their recent Air Quality award, Permian Health acquired an additional 10 sensors, bringing the total to 26 sensors across The Gambia.

$\"\"$

Six new sensors have been deployed to NEA headquarters, two major health centers with support from the Ministry of Health, and in housing developments in partnership with Gambia’s largest real estate company, TAF Africa Global. The remaining sensors will be deployed to the National Stadium, Gambia International Airport, the Seaport in Banjul, and a major intersection as soon as final government approvals are processed.

Dr. Touray envisions a future where every Gambian has access to air quality information, enabling them to protect themselves and their families from air pollution. Furthermore, he hopes to leverage the data collected to advocate for stronger environmental policies and regulations in Gambia.

\n
“We’re not just collecting data for the sake of it. We want to drive change.”
\n

\"We're not just collecting data for the sake of it. We want to drive change,\" says Dr. Touray. \"Our ultimate goal is for Gambia to set national air quality standards, informed by the comprehensive data we've gathered.\"

A key step toward this goal is the second Clean Air Conference, which Permian Health is organizing in partnership with the NEA. The event will bring together stakeholders, including officials from the ministries of Health, Environment, Transport, and Education, to develop a national air quality work plan.

According to Dr. Touray, Permian Health is conducting an inventory assessment to determine the key sources of pollution, such as waste burning, reliance on charcoal and firewood for cooking, and transport-related emissions. \"Looking ahead, we aim to strengthen our collaboration with the NEA and the Ministry of Health, to expand and maintain our sensor network.\"

\"We plan to enhance public awareness campaigns, especially during high-risk periods, to better inform the community about air quality concerns. We would also like to engage more with local TV stations for them to display air quality and weather information from our network.

Conclusion

Dr. Sunkaru Touray's work with Permian Health exemplifies innovative activism. The project not only addresses air quality data gaps but also empowers communities to tackle air pollution—an issue that transcends borders.

Dr. Touray's mission goes beyond air quality monitoring; it's about transforming the quality of public health around the world.

","permian-health-air-quality-crusade-in-gambia","gid://shopify/Article/998083264886","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/permian-health-air-quality-crusade-in-gambia","2025-03-24T10:03:00Z",[643,648,838],"Revealing the Invisible: Permian Health’s air quality crusade in Gambia",{"_10":1601,"_243":1602,"_246":1603,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/407094034806","Man working on pole","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/PermianHealth_Desk_A_82dc4964-aaa3-4053-96ec-1d5218eb3bd9.jpg?v=1754470616",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1605,"_1115":1606,"_1131":1607,"_1133":1608,"_1134":1609,"_1136":1610,"_985":1611,"_10":1612,"_1140":1613,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1614,"_577":1615,"_541":1617,"_1147":1618},{"_12":1156},{"_985":1130},"A kitten rescue in Ontario needed a powerful clean air solution fast – and found it. Learn more about the essential role of clean air in shelters.","

A kitten rescue in Ontario needed a powerful clean air solution fast – and found it. Learn more about the essential role of clean air in shelters.

","Nestled in a small town near Cornwall, Canada, Tiny but Mighty Kitten Rescue serves as a lifeline for abandoned and vulnerable kittens (1). For nearly eight years, rescue founder Mellissa has worked tirelessly to save and nurture the most fragile feline lives in the region. Yet despite Mellissa’s dedication to maintaining a clean environment for those in her care, animal rescues must always contend with a formidable health challenge. Poor air quality impacts both kittens and the humans who care for them. Thanks to advanced air purification technology, the rescue now breathes easier—literally and figuratively. Mission built on compassion Mellissa’s journey to creating Tiny but Mighty began with heartbreak. As a volunteer at her local animal shelter, she learned of the euthanasia of kittens deemed too young to care for. Unwilling to accept this outcome, she founded her own kitten-focused rescue in 2017. “I had so many dreams about saving these kittens. Something told me to just do it myself—start my own rescue.” “I had so many dreams about saving these kittens. They wouldn’t let up,” Mellissa shared. “Something told me to just do it myself—start my own rescue.” Mellissa provides a safe space for kittens to grow and thrive until they find their carefully screened forever homes. Today, the rescue operates solely on donations and community support. “It’s such an incredible community. People do come through to support what I’m doing, so it’s incredible.” But running a rescue isn’t without its challenges, and one significant one she uncovered was air quality. Nova the kitten enjoying toys at the Tiny but Mighty Kitten Rescue. Good air quality: Essential in animal rescues Caring for kittens in any enclosed environment presents unique challenges. Despite her meticulous cleaning habits, Mellissa found air quality to be a problem. “The dust is crazy. The kittens will go in their litter box and sneeze.” There would still be dust, odors, and allergens in the space “even though I use 99% dust-free litter.” Mellissa explained. “It’s great compared to some I’ve tried, but the dust is crazy. The kittens will go in their litter box and make little sneezes.” This poor air quality not only affected visitors but also had potential health implications for the kittens and Mellissa herself. Dust mites, microscopic creatures that feed on animal’s dead skin, can cause year-round allergic reactions in both cats and humans, including sneezing, runny and itchy noses, watery eyes, and even rashes. Components of pet dander can also act as an allergen, triggering similar reactions. Determined to find a solution to her dust problem, she began her search for an air purifier that could meet the rescue’s unique needs. Life changing air cleaning solution Determined to tackle the persistent dust and allergens, Mellissa sought an air purifier that could truly meet the unique demands of her rescue. After years of frustration with a previous model, she knew she needed a solution that could handle constant activity, fine dust particles, and odors effectively. Mellissa recalled, “The dust was still spreading throughout the house, and I thought, ‘this is just not enough.’” That’s when Mellissa’s father suggested looking into IQAir’s HealthPro Plus XE. Intrigued by its reputation for advanced filtration capabilities, Mellissa decided to give it a try—and the results were immediate and noticeable. The HealthPro Plus XE is equipped with HyperHEPA filtration, capable of capturing particles as small as 0.003 microns—100 times smaller than most air purifiers can filter. This efficiency, proven to remove particles far smaller than bacteria or viruses, combined with gas-phase filtration to eliminate odors, made it an ideal solution for the rescue’s air quality challenges. “The kittens aren’t sneezing anymore. The air purifier has had a huge impact,” Mellissa shared. The HealthPro Plus XE at work next to Leia the cat. Not only did she see a dramatic improvement in the air quality for the kittens, but visitors also noticed the difference. The previously lingering food and litter odors were gone. “I definitely don’t smell that anymore,” Mellissa said. “I’m really impressed.” “The kittens aren’t sneezing anymore. The air purifier has had a huge impact.” When it comes to daily use, Mellissa has found a setup that works perfectly for the rescue’s needs. During cleaning, she runs the fan at its highest setting, ensuring dust and particles are quickly filtered out. For everyday operation, she adjusts the fan to levels 2 or 3, which run quietly enough not to disturb the kittens at night. Looking ahead For Mellissa, clean air ensures a brighter future for Tiny but Mighty Kitten Rescue. She intends to continue providing even more kittens with a safe haven before transitioning to loving homes. The cleaner air and lack of odor in the rescue has already improved adoption visits, a critical step in finding forever homes for the kittens. Mellissa emphasizes her desire to address the root cause of ownerless kittens—unspayed and neutered animals in the population. She hopes to get the word out to more pet owners about the crucial role of spaying and neutering their animals. As she warns, “the cat overpopulation is so crazy here. Spay and neuter your cats, spay and neuter your dogs to help lower those populations.” Conclusion Tiny but Mighty Kitten Rescue’s story underscores the profound difference clean air technology can make in transforming lives—both human and animal. For Mellissa, investing in air purification wasn’t just about solving a nuisance; it was about creating a healthier, more inviting space where kittens could thrive and visitors could feel comfortable. By addressing the often-overlooked issue of air quality, she has set a powerful example for other rescues, shelters, and even individual pet owners facing similar challenges.","

Nestled in a small town near Cornwall, Canada, Tiny but Mighty Kitten Rescue serves as a lifeline for abandoned and vulnerable kittens (1). For nearly eight years, rescue founder Mellissa has worked tirelessly to save and nurture the most fragile feline lives in the region.

Yet despite Mellissa’s dedication to maintaining a clean environment for those in her care, animal rescues must always contend with a formidable health challenge. Poor air quality impacts both kittens and the humans who care for them.

Thanks to advanced air purification technology, the rescue now breathes easier—literally and figuratively.

Mission built on compassion

Mellissa’s journey to creating Tiny but Mighty began with heartbreak. As a volunteer at her local animal shelter, she learned of the euthanasia of kittens deemed too young to care for. Unwilling to accept this outcome, she founded her own kitten-focused rescue in 2017.

“I had so many dreams about saving these kittens. Something told me to just do it myself—start my own rescue.”

“I had so many dreams about saving these kittens. They wouldn’t let up,” Mellissa shared. “Something told me to just do it myself—start my own rescue.”

Mellissa provides a safe space for kittens to grow and thrive until they find their carefully screened forever homes. Today, the rescue operates solely on donations and community support. “It’s such an incredible community. People do come through to support what I’m doing, so it’s incredible.”

But running a rescue isn’t without its challenges, and one significant one she uncovered was air quality.

Nova the kitten enjoying toys at the Tiny but Mighty Kitten Rescue.

Good air quality: Essential in animal rescues

Caring for kittens in any enclosed environment presents unique challenges. Despite her meticulous cleaning habits, Mellissa found air quality to be a problem.

“The dust is crazy. The kittens will go in their litter box and sneeze.”

There would still be dust, odors, and allergens in the space “even though I use 99% dust-free litter.” Mellissa explained. “It’s great compared to some I’ve tried, but the dust is crazy. The kittens will go in their litter box and make little sneezes.”

This poor air quality not only affected visitors but also had potential health implications for the kittens and Mellissa herself. Dust mites, microscopic creatures that feed on animal’s dead skin, can cause year-round allergic reactions in both cats and humans, including sneezing, runny and itchy noses, watery eyes, and even rashes.

Components of pet dander can also act as an allergen, triggering similar reactions.

Determined to find a solution to her dust problem, she began her search for an air purifier that could meet the rescue’s unique needs.

Life changing air cleaning solution

Determined to tackle the persistent dust and allergens, Mellissa sought an air purifier that could truly meet the unique demands of her rescue. After years of frustration with a previous model, she knew she needed a solution that could handle constant activity, fine dust particles, and odors effectively.

Mellissa recalled, “The dust was still spreading throughout the house, and I thought, ‘this is just not enough.’”

That’s when Mellissa’s father suggested looking into IQAir’s HealthPro Plus XE. Intrigued by its reputation for advanced filtration capabilities, Mellissa decided to give it a try—and the results were immediate and noticeable.

The HealthPro Plus XE is equipped with HyperHEPA filtration, capable of capturing particles as small as 0.003 microns—100 times smaller than most air purifiers can filter. This efficiency, proven to remove particles far smaller than bacteria or viruses, combined with gas-phase filtration to eliminate odors, made it an ideal solution for the rescue’s air quality challenges.

“The kittens aren’t sneezing anymore. The air purifier has had a huge impact,” Mellissa shared.

$\"\"$

The HealthPro Plus XE at work next to Leia the cat.

Not only did she see a dramatic improvement in the air quality for the kittens, but visitors also noticed the difference. The previously lingering food and litter odors were gone. “I definitely don’t smell that anymore,” Mellissa said. “I’m really impressed.”

“The kittens aren’t sneezing anymore. The air purifier has had a huge impact.”

When it comes to daily use, Mellissa has found a setup that works perfectly for the rescue’s needs. During cleaning, she runs the fan at its highest setting, ensuring dust and particles are quickly filtered out. For everyday operation, she adjusts the fan to levels 2 or 3, which run quietly enough not to disturb the kittens at night.

Looking ahead

For Mellissa, clean air ensures a brighter future for Tiny but Mighty Kitten Rescue. She intends to continue providing even more kittens with a safe haven before transitioning to loving homes.

The cleaner air and lack of odor in the rescue has already improved adoption visits, a critical step in finding forever homes for the kittens.

Mellissa emphasizes her desire to address the root cause of ownerless kittens—unspayed and neutered animals in the population. She hopes to get the word out to more pet owners about the crucial role of spaying and neutering their animals. As she warns, “the cat overpopulation is so crazy here. Spay and neuter your cats, spay and neuter your dogs to help lower those populations.”

Conclusion

Tiny but Mighty Kitten Rescue’s story underscores the profound difference clean air technology can make in transforming lives—both human and animal.

For Mellissa, investing in air purification wasn’t just about solving a nuisance; it was about creating a healthier, more inviting space where kittens could thrive and visitors could feel comfortable. By addressing the often-overlooked issue of air quality, she has set a powerful example for other rescues, shelters, and even individual pet owners facing similar challenges.

","cleaner-air-healthier-kittens-iqair-supports-tiny-but-mighty-rescue","gid://shopify/Article/997882986870","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/cleaner-air-healthier-kittens-iqair-supports-tiny-but-mighty-rescue","2025-01-27T04:00:00Z",[1616,838],"Pets","Cleaner air, healthier kittens: Tiny but Mighty Kitten Rescue",{"_10":1619,"_243":1620,"_246":1621,"_248":1622,"_244":1623},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/396322505078","Cat resting next to air purifier.","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/KittenRescue_Desk_520x500_b51e6557-89fd-41e0-a21b-816616233043.jpg?v=1739826680",520,271,"geoSpotlight",{"_1626":1627,"_2123":2124},"spotlightItems",[1628,1985,2114],{"_12":1629,"_1630":1631,"_1632":1633,"_29":1634,"_1635":1636,"_1639":1640,"_1130":1641,"_10":1646,"_985":1647,"_1648":1649},"Ben Avon AQI Alert","range",75,"markerIconUrl","https://cdn.airvisual.net/assets/marker-images/generic.png","autoGenCustomMarker","location",[1637,1638],-80.0821377,40.5051586,"timestamp","2026-03-23T06:04:25.107Z",{"_246":1642,"_541":1643,"_1644":1645},"https://www.iqair.com/us/newsroom/unhealthy-for-sensitive-groups","Ben Avon has \"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups\" air quality. See the map and health recommendations.","thumbnail","https://www.iqair.com/dl/app/notifications/Notification_Daily_AQI_Face_03_Orange@3x.png","autoGenCustomMarker:city-5bc822e841fdcdf1939e7d23","unhealthy-for-sensitive-groups","article",{"_541":1650,"_985":1647,"_1131":1651,"_1134":1652,"_1136":1653,"_1143":1654,"_577":1655,"_1126":1656,"_1147":1657,"_980":1661,"_1664":-5,"_1665":-5,"_1666":1667,"_1670":-5,"_1671":-5,"_1672":1673},"When air quality is \"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups\"","Learn about the risks of this AQI range and protect the vulnerable from potential hazards.","Understanding the \"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups\" AQI Range An Air Quality Index (AQI) between 101-150 is deemed \"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.\" Sensitive groups include: Children The Elderly Pregnant People People with cardiac and pulmonary diseases .recommendations-container { border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; border-radius: 12px; background-color: #f9fafb; padding: 24px; color: #111827; font-family: sans-serif; } .recommendations-table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center; } .recommendations-table th, .recommendations-table td { border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 16px; vertical-align: middle; } .recommendations-title { color: #499fbc; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.5em; } .recommendation-subheading { font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; margin: 10px 0; } .recommendation-block { display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; gap: 8px; justify-content: center; padding: 16px 0; } .recommendation-block img { max-width: 50px; height: auto; } .recommendation-text { font-size: 18px; text-align: center; } /* Responsive styling */ @media (max-width: 768px) { .recommendations-table, .recommendations-table thead, .recommendations-table tbody, .recommendations-table tr, .recommendations-table td, .recommendations-table th { display: block; width: 100%; } .recommendations-table tr { margin-bottom: 20px; } .recommendations-table td, .recommendations-table th { text-align: center; border: none; border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; } .recommendation-block { flex-direction: column; align-items: center; } .recommendation-text { font-size: 16px; } .recommendation-block img { max-width: 40px; } } HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS How to protect from Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups pollution Wear a mask outdoors and indoorsGET A MASK Run an air purifierGET AN AIR PURIFIER Close your windows to avoid dirty outdoor airGET A MONITOR Reduce outdoor exercise Protective Measures for Sensitive Groups When air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, everyone is at risk for eye, skin, and throat irritation, as well as respiratory problems. The public should greatly reduce outdoor exertion. While the broader population might still be largely unaffected, sensitive groups are at much greater health risk and should be very cautious. They should avoid all outdoor activity. How can I protect myself when air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups? Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts and consistently monitor your air quality. Help increase the amount of ground-level monitors by becoming an air quality contributor. Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data. Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode. Sensitive groups should stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask. Run a high-performance air purifier to filter pollutants, particles, gases, and other contaminants","

Understanding the \"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups\" AQI Range

An Air Quality Index (AQI) between 101-150 is deemed \"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.\" Sensitive groups include:

Children
The Elderly
Pregnant People
People with cardiac and pulmonary diseases

\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS
How to protect from Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups pollution
\n \n $\"Mask$ \n Wear a mask outdoors and indoors GET A MASK\n \n \n	\n \n $\"Air$ \n Run an air purifier GET AN AIR PURIFIER\n \n \n
\n \n $\"Monitor$ \n Close your windows to avoid dirty outdoor air GET A MONITOR\n \n \n	\n \n $\"Exercise$ \n Reduce outdoor exercise \n \n

Protective Measures for Sensitive Groups

When air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, everyone is at risk for eye, skin, and throat irritation, as well as respiratory problems. The public should greatly reduce outdoor exertion.

While the broader population might still be largely unaffected, sensitive groups are at much greater health risk and should be very cautious. They should avoid all outdoor activity.

How can I protect myself when air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups?

Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts and consistently monitor your air quality.
Help increase the amount of ground-level monitors by becoming an air quality contributor. Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
Sensitive groups should stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
Run a high-performance air purifier to filter pollutants, particles, gases, and other contaminants

","2026-01-07T16:17:33Z",[390,1398],{"_12":1156},{"_10":1658,"_243":1659,"_246":1660,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/411473314166","Unhealthy Sensitive Group (US AQI)","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/AQI_Sensitive_Desk_dfa4750d-35bf-4001-b3e6-f4c7c735671c.jpg?v=1767802843",{"_983":1662,"_541":1663},"How to protect yourself against \"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups\" air quality levels.","When air quality is \"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | IQAir","articleResources","aboutIQAir","relatedArticles",{"_1668":1669},"value","[\"what-pollution-measures-should-i-watch-out-for\",\"how-to-protect-yourself-from-wildfire-smoke\",\"which-molds-are-most-dangerous-to-my-health\"]","mobileImage","voiceifyAudio","relatedProducts",{"_1668":1674},{"_1121":1675},[1676,1861],{"_1124":1677,"_10":1678,"_985":1679,"_541":1680,"_983":1681,"_1682":1683,"_1684":211,"_1685":1686,"_1142":-5,"_1687":53,"_1688":1689,"_1693":1694,"_1701":1702,"_1706":1707,"_1131":1751,"_1753":-5,"_1754":1755,"_1757":1758,"_1760":1761,"_1763":1764,"_1766":-5,"_1767":1768,"_1774":1775,"_1778":1779,"_1815":1816,"_1851":1852,"_1855":1856},"Product","gid://shopify/Product/8927570526507","healthpro-plus","HealthPro 250 Air Purifier","Award-winning, medical-grade & gas/odor filtration for medium to large rooms. IQAir's top-selling room air purifier, featuring advanced HyperHEPA filtration for particles of all sizes and V5-Cell filtration for gases and odors. Excellent for allergens, bacteria¹, dust, viruses² and VOCs. The HealthPro 250 model includes smart air monitoring, WiFi app integration, energy-efficient fan, and real-time PM2.5 measurement. Covers up to 990 sq. ft.","descriptionHtml","

Award-winning, medical-grade & gas/odor filtration for medium to large rooms.

IQAir's top-selling room air purifier, featuring advanced HyperHEPA filtration for particles of all sizes and V5-Cell filtration for gases and odors. Excellent for allergens, bacteria¹, dust, viruses² and VOCs. The HealthPro 250 model includes smart air monitoring, WiFi app integration, energy-efficient fan, and real-time PM2.5 measurement. Covers up to 990 sq. ft.

","productType","vendor","IQAir AG","availableForSale","featuredImage",{"_243":-5,"_244":1690,"_10":1691,"_246":1692,"_248":1690},1300,"gid://shopify/ProductImage/83273836265846","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/files/HP250_Product_1.png?v=1776979073","priceRange",{"_1695":1696,"_1699":1700},"minVariantPrice",{"_1697":1698,"_16":17},"amount","1399.0","maxVariantPrice",{"_1697":1698,"_16":17},"compareAtPriceRange",{"_1695":1703,"_1699":1705},{"_1697":1704,"_16":17},"0.0",{"_1697":1704,"_16":17},"selectedOrFirstAvailableVariant",{"_1687":53,"_1708":1709,"_1710":43,"_1711":1712,"_1717":1718,"_1724":-5,"_10":1725,"_1147":1726,"_1728":1729,"_1730":1731,"_1732":1733,"_1737":1738,"_541":1736,"_1739":-5,"_1740":1741,"_1743":1744,"_1746":-5,"_1747":-5,"_1748":1749},"quantityAvailable",24,"barcode","quantityRule",{"_1713":1714,"_1715":-5,"_1716":1714},"increment",1,"maximum","minimum","unitPriceMeasurement",{"_1719":-5,"_1720":-5,"_1721":119,"_1722":-5,"_1723":119},"measuredType","quantityUnit","quantityValue","referenceUnit","referenceValue","compareAtPrice","gid://shopify/ProductVariant/55480279204214",{"_1124":1727,"_10":1691,"_246":1692,"_243":-5,"_248":1690,"_244":1690},"Image","price",{"_1697":1698,"_16":17},"product",{"_541":1680,"_985":1679,"_10":1678},"selectedOptions",[1734],{"_12":1735,"_1668":1736},"Style","UK Plug Type G","sku","1BC.EA0.EDG","unitPrice","quantityPriceBreaks",{"_1121":1742},[],"defaultMarkets",{"_1668":1745},"[\"Qatar - QA\",\"United Arab Emirates - AE\",\"Saudi Arabia - SA\"]","hideForMarkets","gangMedia","sellingPlanAllocations",{"_1121":1750},[],{"_1668":1752},"Height: 71 x Width: 38 x Depth: 41 cm, Room size: Medium to large, up to 92 m²","countdown","unavailableForSaleMiddleEast",{"_1668":1756},"[\"Palestine - PS\",\"Sudan - SD\",\"Syria - SY\",\"Tunisia - TN\"]","unavailableForSaleAsiaPacific",{"_1668":1759},"[\"Australia - AU\",\"Bangladesh - BD\",\"Bhutan - BT\",\"Brunei - BN\",\"Cambodia - KH\",\"India - IN\",\"Indonesia - ID\",\"Japan - JP\",\"Laos - LA\",\"Malaysia - MY\",\"Mongolia - MN\",\"Nepal - NP\",\"New Zealand - NZ\",\"Pakistan - PK\",\"Philippines - PH\",\"Singapore - SG\",\"South Korea - KR\",\"Sri Lanka - LK\",\"Taiwan - TW\",\"Thailand - TH\",\"Vietnam - VN\",\"China - CN\",\"Hong Kong SAR - HK\"]","unavailableForSaleEurope",{"_1668":1762},"[\"Azerbaijan - AZ\",\"Belarus - BY\",\"Kyrgyzstan - KG\",\"Türkiye - TR\",\"Ukraine - UA\",\"United Kingdom - GB\",\"Uzbekistan - UZ\",\"Russia - RU\",\"Armenia - AM\"]","unavailableForSaleAmericas",{"_1668":1765},"[\"Argentina - AR\",\"Bolivia - BO\",\"Brazil - BR\",\"Chile - CL\",\"Colombia - CO\",\"Costa Rica - CR\",\"Ecuador - EC\",\"El Salvador - SV\",\"Grenada - GD\",\"Peru - PE\",\"Canada - CA\",\"United States - US\",\"Mexico - MX\",\"Curacao - CW\",\"Dominican Republic - DO\",\"Guatemala - GT\",\"Honduras - HN\",\"Nicaragua - NI\",\"Panama - PA\",\"Paraguay - PY\",\"Uruguay - UY\",\"Venezuela - VE\",\"Anguilla - AI\",\"Antigua and Barbuda - AG\",\"Bahamas - BS\",\"Belize - BZ\",\"Bermuda - BM\",\"British Virgin Islands - VG\",\"Cayman Islands - KY\",\"Dominica - DM\",\"Guyana - GY\",\"Jamaica - JM\",\"Montserrat - MS\",\"Saint Kitts and Nevis - KN\",\"Suriname - SR\",\"Saint Lucia - LC\",\"Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - VC\",\"Trinidad and Tobago - TT\",\"Turks and Caicos Islands - TC\",\"Barbados - BB\"]","unavailableForSaleAfrica","ctaButton",{"_1769":1770},"reference",{"_1096":1771,"_246":1773},{"_1668":1772},"CONTACT A DEALER",{"_1668":723},"images",{"_1121":1776},[1777],{"_10":1691,"_243":-5,"_244":1690,"_248":1690,"_246":1692},"variants",{"_1121":1780},[1781,1794],{"_1687":53,"_1708":1709,"_1710":43,"_1711":1782,"_1717":1783,"_1724":-5,"_10":1725,"_1147":1784,"_1728":1785,"_1730":1786,"_1732":1787,"_1737":1738,"_541":1736,"_1739":-5,"_1740":1789,"_1743":1791,"_1746":-5,"_1747":-5,"_1748":1792},{"_1713":1714,"_1715":-5,"_1716":1714},{"_1719":-5,"_1720":-5,"_1721":119,"_1722":-5,"_1723":119},{"_1124":1727,"_10":1691,"_246":1692,"_243":-5,"_248":1690,"_244":1690},{"_1697":1698,"_16":17},{"_541":1680,"_985":1679,"_10":1678},[1788],{"_12":1735,"_1668":1736},{"_1121":1790},[],{"_1668":1745},{"_1121":1793},[],{"_1687":53,"_1708":1795,"_1710":1796,"_1711":1797,"_1717":1798,"_1724":-5,"_10":1799,"_1147":1800,"_1728":1801,"_1730":1802,"_1732":1803,"_1737":1806,"_541":1805,"_1739":-5,"_1740":1807,"_1743":1809,"_1746":1811,"_1747":-5,"_1748":1813},31,"7640145092114",{"_1713":1714,"_1715":-5,"_1716":1714},{"_1719":-5,"_1720":-5,"_1721":119,"_1722":-5,"_1723":119},"gid://shopify/ProductVariant/55893897838966",{"_1124":1727,"_10":1691,"_246":1692,"_243":-5,"_248":1690,"_244":1690},{"_1697":1698,"_16":17},{"_541":1680,"_985":1679,"_10":1678},[1804],{"_12":1735,"_1668":1805},"EU Plug Type C","1BC.EA0.EAG",{"_1121":1808},[],{"_1668":1810},"[\"France - FR\",\"Austria - AT\",\"Belgium - BE\",\"Croatia - HR\",\"Czechia - CZ\",\"Denmark - DK\",\"Estonia - EE\",\"Finland - FI\",\"Germany - DE\",\"Greece - GR\",\"Hungary - HU\",\"Ireland - IE\",\"Italy - IT\",\"Latvia - LV\",\"Liechtenstein - LI\",\"Lithuania - LT\",\"Luxembourg - LU\",\"Monaco - MC\",\"Netherlands - NL\",\"Norway - NO\",\"Poland - PL\",\"Portugal - PT\",\"Romania - RO\",\"Slovakia - SK\",\"Slovenia - SI\",\"Spain - ES\",\"Sweden - SE\",\"Switzerland - CH\"]",{"_1668":1812},"[\"United Arab Emirates - AE\",\"Saudi Arabia - SA\",\"Qatar - QA\"]",{"_1121":1814},[],"options",[1817],{"_12":1735,"_1818":1819},"optionValues",[1820,1836],{"_12":1736,"_1821":1822,"_1835":-5},"firstSelectableVariant",{"_1687":53,"_1708":1709,"_1710":43,"_1711":1823,"_1717":1824,"_1724":-5,"_10":1725,"_1147":1825,"_1728":1826,"_1730":1827,"_1732":1828,"_1737":1738,"_541":1736,"_1739":-5,"_1740":1830,"_1743":1832,"_1746":-5,"_1747":-5,"_1748":1833},{"_1713":1714,"_1715":-5,"_1716":1714},{"_1719":-5,"_1720":-5,"_1721":119,"_1722":-5,"_1723":119},{"_1124":1727,"_10":1691,"_246":1692,"_243":-5,"_248":1690,"_244":1690},{"_1697":1698,"_16":17},{"_541":1680,"_985":1679,"_10":1678},[1829],{"_12":1735,"_1668":1736},{"_1121":1831},[],{"_1668":1745},{"_1121":1834},[],"swatch",{"_12":1805,"_1821":1837,"_1835":-5},{"_1687":53,"_1708":1795,"_1710":1796,"_1711":1838,"_1717":1839,"_1724":-5,"_10":1799,"_1147":1840,"_1728":1841,"_1730":1842,"_1732":1843,"_1737":1806,"_541":1805,"_1739":-5,"_1740":1845,"_1743":1847,"_1746":1848,"_1747":-5,"_1748":1849},{"_1713":1714,"_1715":-5,"_1716":1714},{"_1719":-5,"_1720":-5,"_1721":119,"_1722":-5,"_1723":119},{"_1124":1727,"_10":1691,"_246":1692,"_243":-5,"_248":1690,"_244":1690},{"_1697":1698,"_16":17},{"_541":1680,"_985":1679,"_10":1678},[1844],{"_12":1735,"_1668":1805},{"_1121":1846},[],{"_1668":1810},{"_1668":1812},{"_1121":1850},[],"primaryCollection",{"_1769":1853},{"_985":1854},"air-purifiers","collections",{"_1121":1857},[1858],{"_10":1859,"_985":1860,"_541":311},"gid://shopify/Collection/462285635883","business-solutions",{"_1124":1677,"_10":1862,"_985":282,"_541":1863,"_983":1864,"_1682":1865,"_1684":1866,"_1685":1867,"_1142":-5,"_1687":53,"_1688":1868,"_1693":1872,"_1701":1877,"_1706":1880,"_1131":1903,"_1753":-5,"_1754":1905,"_1757":-5,"_1760":1907,"_1763":1909,"_1766":1911,"_1767":1913,"_1774":1917,"_1778":1920,"_1815":1951,"_1851":1980,"_1855":1982},"gid://shopify/Product/8917546565931","KN95/FFP2 Face Mask","High-performance, comfortable mask with tight seal for better protection. IQAir Mask redefines what wearing a protective KN95/FFP2 mask should feel like. Engineered to not only provide superior reduction for a wide range of airborne pollutants, but also designed to provide the most comfortable wearing experience ever. Valveless, medical-grade, all-day protection KN95-certified air pollution mask filters 95% of particles down to 0.3 microns, PM2.5, PM1, PM10, and other common particulates.","

High-performance, comfortable mask with tight seal for better protection.

IQAir Mask redefines what wearing a protective KN95/FFP2 mask should feel like. Engineered to not only provide superior reduction for a wide range of airborne pollutants, but also designed to provide the most comfortable wearing experience ever. Valveless, medical-grade, all-day protection KN95-certified air pollution mask filters 95% of particles down to 0.3 microns, PM2.5, PM1, PM10, and other common particulates.

","Mask","IQAir Global USD",{"_243":-5,"_244":1869,"_10":1870,"_246":1871,"_248":1869},1080,"gid://shopify/ProductImage/82996784038262","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/files/IQAirFFP2FaceMask_4b89063b-7c04-4d7f-ba8c-5bf744bfe874.png?v=1775755908",{"_1695":1873,"_1699":1875},{"_1697":1874,"_16":17},"69.0",{"_1697":1876,"_16":17},"299.0",{"_1695":1878,"_1699":1879},{"_1697":1704,"_16":17},{"_1697":1704,"_16":17},{"_1687":53,"_1708":1881,"_1710":1882,"_1711":1883,"_1717":1884,"_1724":-5,"_10":1885,"_1147":1886,"_1728":1892,"_1730":1893,"_1732":1894,"_1737":1898,"_541":1897,"_1739":-5,"_1740":1899,"_1743":-5,"_1746":-5,"_1747":-5,"_1748":1901},712,"7640145097843",{"_1713":1714,"_1715":-5,"_1716":1714},{"_1719":-5,"_1720":-5,"_1721":119,"_1722":-5,"_1723":119},"gid://shopify/ProductVariant/47574937501995",{"_1124":1727,"_10":1887,"_246":1888,"_243":1889,"_248":1890,"_244":1891},"gid://shopify/ProductImage/83207755792758","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/files/KN95-100pack2.jpg?v=1776719813","IQAir Mask Adult",679,560,{"_1697":1874,"_16":17},{"_541":1863,"_985":282,"_10":1862},[1895],{"_12":1896,"_1668":1897},"Quantity","12 Pack","299.F0.0L.15",{"_1121":1900},[],{"_1121":1902},[],{"_1668":1904},"High-performance, comfortable mask with tight seal for better protection.",{"_1668":1906},"[\"Palestine - PS\"]",{"_1668":1908},"[\"Russia - RU\"]",{"_1668":1910},"[\"United States - US\",\"Canada - CA\",\"Mexico - MX\"]",{"_1668":1912},"[\"Mali - ML\"]",{"_1769":1914},{"_1096":1915,"_246":1916},{"_1668":1772},{"_1668":723},{"_1121":1918},[1919],{"_10":1870,"_243":-5,"_244":1869,"_248":1869,"_246":1871},{"_1121":1921},[1922,1934],{"_1687":53,"_1708":1881,"_1710":1882,"_1711":1923,"_1717":1924,"_1724":-5,"_10":1885,"_1147":1925,"_1728":1926,"_1730":1927,"_1732":1928,"_1737":1898,"_541":1897,"_1739":-5,"_1740":1930,"_1743":-5,"_1746":-5,"_1747":-5,"_1748":1932},{"_1713":1714,"_1715":-5,"_1716":1714},{"_1719":-5,"_1720":-5,"_1721":119,"_1722":-5,"_1723":119},{"_1124":1727,"_10":1887,"_246":1888,"_243":1889,"_248":1890,"_244":1891},{"_1697":1874,"_16":17},{"_541":1863,"_985":282,"_10":1862},[1929],{"_12":1896,"_1668":1897},{"_1121":1931},[],{"_1121":1933},[],{"_1687":53,"_1708":1935,"_1710":1936,"_1711":1937,"_1717":1938,"_1724":-5,"_10":1939,"_1147":1940,"_1728":1941,"_1730":1942,"_1732":1943,"_1737":1946,"_541":1945,"_1739":-5,"_1740":1947,"_1743":-5,"_1746":-5,"_1747":-5,"_1748":1949},10,"7640145097515",{"_1713":1714,"_1715":-5,"_1716":1714},{"_1719":-5,"_1720":-5,"_1721":119,"_1722":-5,"_1723":119},"gid://shopify/ProductVariant/47963561689387",{"_1124":1727,"_10":1887,"_246":1888,"_243":1889,"_248":1890,"_244":1891},{"_1697":1876,"_16":17},{"_541":1863,"_985":282,"_10":1862},[1944],{"_12":1896,"_1668":1945},"60 Pack","298.FL.0A.25",{"_1121":1948},[],{"_1121":1950},[],[1952],{"_12":1896,"_1818":1953},[1954,1967],{"_12":1897,"_1821":1955,"_1835":-5},{"_1687":53,"_1708":1881,"_1710":1882,"_1711":1956,"_1717":1957,"_1724":-5,"_10":1885,"_1147":1958,"_1728":1959,"_1730":1960,"_1732":1961,"_1737":1898,"_541":1897,"_1739":-5,"_1740":1963,"_1743":-5,"_1746":-5,"_1747":-5,"_1748":1965},{"_1713":1714,"_1715":-5,"_1716":1714},{"_1719":-5,"_1720":-5,"_1721":119,"_1722":-5,"_1723":119},{"_1124":1727,"_10":1887,"_246":1888,"_243":1889,"_248":1890,"_244":1891},{"_1697":1874,"_16":17},{"_541":1863,"_985":282,"_10":1862},[1962],{"_12":1896,"_1668":1897},{"_1121":1964},[],{"_1121":1966},[],{"_12":1945,"_1821":1968,"_1835":-5},{"_1687":53,"_1708":1935,"_1710":1936,"_1711":1969,"_1717":1970,"_1724":-5,"_10":1939,"_1147":1971,"_1728":1972,"_1730":1973,"_1732":1974,"_1737":1946,"_541":1945,"_1739":-5,"_1740":1976,"_1743":-5,"_1746":-5,"_1747":-5,"_1748":1978},{"_1713":1714,"_1715":-5,"_1716":1714},{"_1719":-5,"_1720":-5,"_1721":119,"_1722":-5,"_1723":119},{"_1124":1727,"_10":1887,"_246":1888,"_243":1889,"_248":1890,"_244":1891},{"_1697":1876,"_16":17},{"_541":1863,"_985":282,"_10":1862},[1975],{"_12":1896,"_1668":1945},{"_1121":1977},[],{"_1121":1979},[],{"_1769":1981},{"_985":1854},{"_1121":1983},[1984],{"_10":1859,"_985":1860,"_541":311},{"_12":1986,"_1630":1631,"_1632":1633,"_29":1634,"_1635":1987,"_1639":1990,"_1130":1991,"_10":1995,"_985":1996,"_1648":1997},"Green Hills AQI Alert",[1988,1989],-80.3053539,40.1154183,"2025-11-19T00:14:37.485Z",{"_246":1992,"_541":1993,"_1644":1994},"https://www.iqair.com/us/newsroom/hazardous-air-quality","Green Hills has \"hazardous\" air quality. See the map and health recommendations.","https://www.iqair.com/dl/app/notifications/Notification_Daily_AQI_Face_06_Maroon@3x.png","autoGenCustomMarker:city-656d711bb9a8cf89b45f3946","hazardous-air-quality",{"_541":1998,"_985":1996,"_1131":1999,"_1134":2000,"_1136":2001,"_1143":2002,"_577":2003,"_1126":2004,"_1147":2005,"_980":2009,"_1664":-5,"_1665":-5,"_1666":2011,"_1670":-5,"_1671":-5,"_1672":2012},"When air quality is \"Hazardous\"","When the AQI enters the hazardous range, it's time to take serious precautions.","Grasping the Severity of Hazardous AQI An Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 300 is termed \"Hazardous.\" At this extreme, there's a health warning of emergency conditions. The entire population is likely to be severely affected. .recommendations-container { border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; border-radius: 12px; background-color: #f9fafb; padding: 24px; color: #111827; font-family: sans-serif; } .recommendations-table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center; } .recommendations-table th, .recommendations-table td { border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 16px; vertical-align: middle; } .recommendations-title { color: #499fbc; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.5em; } .recommendation-subheading { font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; margin: 10px 0; } .recommendation-block { display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; gap: 8px; justify-content: center; padding: 16px 0; } .recommendation-block img { max-width: 50px; height: auto; } .recommendation-text { font-size: 18px; text-align: center; } /* Responsive styling */ @media (max-width: 768px) { .recommendations-table, .recommendations-table thead, .recommendations-table tbody, .recommendations-table tr, .recommendations-table td, .recommendations-table th { display: block; width: 100%; } .recommendations-table tr { margin-bottom: 20px; } .recommendations-table td, .recommendations-table th { text-align: center; border: none; border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc; } .recommendation-block { flex-direction: column; align-items: center; } .recommendation-text { font-size: 16px; } .recommendation-block img { max-width: 40px; } } HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS How to protect from Hazardous pollution Wear a mask outdoors and indoorsGET A MASK Run an air purifierGET AN AIR PURIFIER Close your windows to avoid dirty outdoor airGET A MONITOR Avoid outdoor exercise Protective Measures for Hazardous Air Quality When air quality is hazardous, everyone is at high risk of experiencing strong irritation and negative health effects that could trigger respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses. Avoid exercise and remain indoors. Avoid outdoor exercise. It is advisable to wear a pollution mask outdoors and indoors as well. Air purifiers should be turned on. Heed every local health advisory, and ensure homes are sealed effectively against the polluted air. Join the movement! Get a monitor and contribute to air quality data in your city BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR How can I protect myself when air quality is hazardous? Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts and consistently monitor your air quality. Help increase the amount of ground-level monitors by becoming an air quality contributor. Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data. Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode. Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask. Note that “Hazardous” pollution levels require a mask even when indoors.Run a high-performance air purifier to filter pollutants, particles, gases, and other contaminants. How to best protect from air pollution? Reduce your air pollution exposure Face Mask Air Purifier Air quality monitors /* Ensure full-width container */ .container { width: 100%; } /* Responsive styles */ @media (max-width: 768px) { /* Stack images vertically on smaller screens */ table { width: 100%; display: block; } table tr { display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; } table td { width: 100%; padding: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 20px; } table td img { max-width: 100%; height: auto; } /* Adjust h3 and p for smaller screens */ h3 { font-size: 1.5em; } p { font-size: 1.1em; } }","

Grasping the Severity of Hazardous AQI

An Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 300 is termed \"Hazardous.\" At this extreme, there's a health warning of emergency conditions. The entire population is likely to be severely affected.

\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS
How to protect from Hazardous pollution
\n \n $\"Mask$ \n Wear a mask outdoors and indoors GET A MASK\n \n \n	\n \n $\"Air$ \n Run an air purifier GET AN AIR PURIFIER\n \n \n
\n \n $\"Monitor$ \n Close your windows to avoid dirty outdoor air GET A MONITOR\n \n \n	\n \n $\"Exercise$ \n Avoid outdoor exercise \n \n

\n

Protective Measures for Hazardous Air Quality

When air quality is hazardous, everyone is at high risk of experiencing strong irritation and negative health effects that could trigger respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.

Avoid exercise and remain indoors. Avoid outdoor exercise. It is advisable to wear a pollution mask outdoors and indoors as well. Air purifiers should be turned on. Heed every local health advisory, and ensure homes are sealed effectively against the polluted air.

Join the movement!

Get a monitor and contribute to air quality data in your city

BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR

How can I protect myself when air quality is hazardous?

\nGet a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts and consistently monitor your air quality.
Help increase the amount of ground-level monitors by becoming an air quality contributor. Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask. Note that “Hazardous” pollution levels require a mask even when indoors.Run a high-performance air purifier to filter pollutants, particles, gases, and other contaminants.

How to best protect from air pollution?

Reduce your air pollution exposure

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n $\"Mask\"$ \n

Face Mask

\n $\"HPP\"$ \n

Air Purifier

\n $\"AV$ \n

Air quality monitors

\n","2023-02-15T21:30:33Z",[390,1398],{"_12":1156},{"_10":2006,"_243":2007,"_246":2008,"_248":1152,"_244":1171},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406775595382","Hazardous AQI","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/AQI_Haardous_Desktop_081523_EN_efbe7946-cda2-417a-b347-007876a5a4df.jpg?v=1753346479",{"_983":2010,"_541":-5},"How to protect yourself against \"Hazardous\" air quality levels",{"_1668":1669},{"_1668":2013},{"_1121":2014},[2015],{"_1124":1677,"_10":1678,"_985":1679,"_541":1680,"_983":1681,"_1682":1683,"_1684":211,"_1685":1686,"_1142":-5,"_1687":53,"_1688":2016,"_1693":2017,"_1701":2020,"_1706":2023,"_1131":2036,"_1753":-5,"_1754":2037,"_1757":2038,"_1760":2039,"_1763":2040,"_1766":-5,"_1767":2041,"_1774":2045,"_1778":2048,"_1815":2077,"_1851":2109,"_1855":2111},{"_243":-5,"_244":1690,"_10":1691,"_246":1692,"_248":1690},{"_1695":2018,"_1699":2019},{"_1697":1698,"_16":17},{"_1697":1698,"_16":17},{"_1695":2021,"_1699":2022},{"_1697":1704,"_16":17},{"_1697":1704,"_16":17},{"_1687":53,"_1708":1709,"_1710":43,"_1711":2024,"_1717":2025,"_1724":-5,"_10":1725,"_1147":2026,"_1728":2027,"_1730":2028,"_1732":2029,"_1737":1738,"_541":1736,"_1739":-5,"_1740":2031,"_1743":2033,"_1746":-5,"_1747":-5,"_1748":2034},{"_1713":1714,"_1715":-5,"_1716":1714},{"_1719":-5,"_1720":-5,"_1721":119,"_1722":-5,"_1723":119},{"_1124":1727,"_10":1691,"_246":1692,"_243":-5,"_248":1690,"_244":1690},{"_1697":1698,"_16":17},{"_541":1680,"_985":1679,"_10":1678},[2030],{"_12":1735,"_1668":1736},{"_1121":2032},[],{"_1668":1745},{"_1121":2035},[],{"_1668":1752},{"_1668":1756},{"_1668":1759},{"_1668":1762},{"_1668":1765},{"_1769":2042},{"_1096":2043,"_246":2044},{"_1668":1772},{"_1668":723},{"_1121":2046},[2047],{"_10":1691,"_243":-5,"_244":1690,"_248":1690,"_246":1692},{"_1121":2049},[2050,2063],{"_1687":53,"_1708":1709,"_1710":43,"_1711":2051,"_1717":2052,"_1724":-5,"_10":1725,"_1147":2053,"_1728":2054,"_1730":2055,"_1732":2056,"_1737":1738,"_541":1736,"_1739":-5,"_1740":2058,"_1743":2060,"_1746":-5,"_1747":-5,"_1748":2061},{"_1713":1714,"_1715":-5,"_1716":1714},{"_1719":-5,"_1720":-5,"_1721":119,"_1722":-5,"_1723":119},{"_1124":1727,"_10":1691,"_246":1692,"_243":-5,"_248":1690,"_244":1690},{"_1697":1698,"_16":17},{"_541":1680,"_985":1679,"_10":1678},[2057],{"_12":1735,"_1668":1736},{"_1121":2059},[],{"_1668":1745},{"_1121":2062},[],{"_1687":53,"_1708":1795,"_1710":1796,"_1711":2064,"_1717":2065,"_1724":-5,"_10":1799,"_1147":2066,"_1728":2067,"_1730":2068,"_1732":2069,"_1737":1806,"_541":1805,"_1739":-5,"_1740":2071,"_1743":2073,"_1746":2074,"_1747":-5,"_1748":2075},{"_1713":1714,"_1715":-5,"_1716":1714},{"_1719":-5,"_1720":-5,"_1721":119,"_1722":-5,"_1723":119},{"_1124":1727,"_10":1691,"_246":1692,"_243":-5,"_248":1690,"_244":1690},{"_1697":1698,"_16":17},{"_541":1680,"_985":1679,"_10":1678},[2070],{"_12":1735,"_1668":1805},{"_1121":2072},[],{"_1668":1810},{"_1668":1812},{"_1121":2076},[],[2078],{"_12":1735,"_1818":2079},[2080,2094],{"_12":1736,"_1821":2081,"_1835":-5},{"_1687":53,"_1708":1709,"_1710":43,"_1711":2082,"_1717":2083,"_1724":-5,"_10":1725,"_1147":2084,"_1728":2085,"_1730":2086,"_1732":2087,"_1737":1738,"_541":1736,"_1739":-5,"_1740":2089,"_1743":2091,"_1746":-5,"_1747":-5,"_1748":2092},{"_1713":1714,"_1715":-5,"_1716":1714},{"_1719":-5,"_1720":-5,"_1721":119,"_1722":-5,"_1723":119},{"_1124":1727,"_10":1691,"_246":1692,"_243":-5,"_248":1690,"_244":1690},{"_1697":1698,"_16":17},{"_541":1680,"_985":1679,"_10":1678},[2088],{"_12":1735,"_1668":1736},{"_1121":2090},[],{"_1668":1745},{"_1121":2093},[],{"_12":1805,"_1821":2095,"_1835":-5},{"_1687":53,"_1708":1795,"_1710":1796,"_1711":2096,"_1717":2097,"_1724":-5,"_10":1799,"_1147":2098,"_1728":2099,"_1730":2100,"_1732":2101,"_1737":1806,"_541":1805,"_1739":-5,"_1740":2103,"_1743":2105,"_1746":2106,"_1747":-5,"_1748":2107},{"_1713":1714,"_1715":-5,"_1716":1714},{"_1719":-5,"_1720":-5,"_1721":119,"_1722":-5,"_1723":119},{"_1124":1727,"_10":1691,"_246":1692,"_243":-5,"_248":1690,"_244":1690},{"_1697":1698,"_16":17},{"_541":1680,"_985":1679,"_10":1678},[2102],{"_12":1735,"_1668":1805},{"_1121":2104},[],{"_1668":1810},{"_1668":1812},{"_1121":2108},[],{"_1769":2110},{"_985":1854},{"_1121":2112},[2113],{"_10":1859,"_985":1860,"_541":311},{"_12":2115,"_1630":1631,"_1632":1633,"_29":1634,"_1635":2116,"_1639":2119,"_1130":2120,"_10":2122,"_985":1996,"_1648":1997},"Winchester AQI Alert",[2117,2118],-84.1905856,38.0023639,"2025-12-25T22:19:00.241Z",{"_246":1992,"_541":2121,"_1644":1994},"Winchester has \"hazardous\" air quality. See the map and health recommendations.","autoGenCustomMarker:city-5bc822ae41fdcdf1939e65f0","meta",{"_2125":2126,"_2127":1935,"_2128":2129,"_1635":2130,"_2134":2135},"bbox","-87.100537,36.793399,-78.896863,43.124001","zoomLevel","radiusKm",350,{"_2131":2132,"_1052":1053,"_2133":1055},"source","cloudfront","lon","markerCount",3,"actionData","errors"]

Health and wellness

Trending topics

Tridemic: 6 Important ways to protect yourself from RSV, flu, and COVID-19

IQAir helps double lung recipient Aaron Carroll breathe easier

Big cities with good air quality

Dr. Kelly Blodgett Success Story

Air quality scientists worried about sandstorm

What pollutants should I watch out for?

Can air pollution be predicted?

Natural gas and air quality

Is your backyard barbecue a health hazard?

4 Asthma “cures” you need to stop using right now

Returning to work after COVID-19

9 Ways to improve the air quality in your baby’s room

Connect With IQAir