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Learn more","excerptHtml","content","Our planet is overheating. In Europe this summer, climate change trends created life-threatening heatwaves and widespread wildfires. Those conditions made Paris the third most polluted major city in the world on July 19, 2022.Pictured: Paris, France air quality was dangerously unhealthy on the evening of July 19, 2022. Source: IQAir AirVisual.Extreme heat and wildfire smoke caused PM2.5 concentration in Paris to rise to four times the WHO daily air quality guideline value.In Paris, the average PM2.5 (particulate matter measuring under 2.5 microns in diameter) concentration of 60 μg/m3 was measured on Tuesday. Extreme heat and wildfire smoke caused PM2.5 concentration in Paris to rise to four times the WHO daily air quality guideline value.Pictured: City air quality in Paris, France on July 19 was four times the WHO daily air quality guideline value. Source: IQAir AirVisual.Pictured: Air quality map of Paris displays most air quality stations with unhealthy air quality. Source: IQAir AirVisual.Extreme heat impacts air qualityParis, London, Amsterdam, and Brussels were broiling on Tuesday, where temperatures were over 20 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than historical averages for the date than in previous years (1). A village in Lincolnshire, England recorded a temperature of 104.5 degrees for the first time on record (2).Over 1,700 people have suffered heat-related deaths in Spain and Portugal.The heatwave alone has carried an alarming death toll. Over 1,700 people have suffered heat-related deaths in Spain and Portugal. Portugal sustained 1,063 deaths between July 7 and 18 from the heatwave. In Spain, 678 people died between July 10 and July 17 (3).The heatwave set the stage for fire, smoke, and smoke’s deadly air pollution to impact millions of lives. But pollutants reacting with sunshine can also result in air pollution. When temperatures rise, ground-level ozone increases. Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by vehicles and industry react with sunlight to create ozone, also known as smog.Apart from impacting visibility, smog affects the heart and lungs with an array of symptoms ranging from difficulty breathing to lung damage and increased asthma attacks.As temperatures rise, wildfires rageIn Europe, the extreme heatwave fueled severe wildfires in multiple countries and endangered health across the continent. Are you wildfire ready? Get your free wildfire checklist and be prepared. Download Now ×Close Email No Thanks Through human-induced climate change, Northern Hemisphere temperatures are rising and drying out ground cover, creating tinderbox conditions that feed into more extreme wildfires like those burning in Europe.The fires in southwestern France are the region’s largest conflagration in over 30 years.In southwestern France, wildfires surrounding Bordeaux burned about 80 square miles of forest and forced the evacuation of 37,000 residents in seaside resorts (4). The fires are the region’s largest conflagration in over 30 years.In late July, wildfires blazed and caused evacuations across Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and Greece.In Spain, wildfires charred 173,000 acres in 2022 and doubled the average acreage burned by wildfires for the past decade (5). As of Tuesday, firefighters were battling over 30 wildfires across the country.Wildfire smoke and heat drives poor air qualityWildfires send drifting plumes of noxious smoke hundreds or even thousands of miles from its source. The end result – very poor air quality.Wildfire smoke’s primary pollutant is PM2.5. This tiny pollutant causes heart and respiratory illness, as well as impacting every organ in the body.Because it’s so dangerous, the World Health Organization guideline for average daily PM2.5 emission levels is 15 μg/m3 or lower. Poor air quality far above the WHO guideline was measured in London and Paris on Tuesday evening.Pictured: Heat and wildfire smoke steeply degraded air quality in much of Western Europe on July 19. Source: IQAir AirVisual.The heatwave and fires burning in London led to poor air quality. Air quality monitoring stations showed air quality in the “moderate” range. And “moderate” can be misleading – no amount of air pollution is considered safe, including the entire range of average PM2.5 concentration measurements in the moderate range (12.1 to 35.4 μg/m3).Pictured: London’s air quality map displays air quality shown as moderate throughout most of the city. Source: IQAir AirVisual.Wildfire smoke is toxic and has both an immediate and long-term impact on human health. We may first experience wildfire smoke through eye irritation, a scratchy throat, shortness of breath, and a headache. Asthma sufferers and people with allergies can struggle with severe symptoms through airway inflammation. Studies have found that in places more prone to wildfire smoke exposure, there are increases in respiratory illness hospitalizations (6).Carbon dioxide is also emitted with wildfire smoke. A primary greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide contributes to climate change by helping trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere – continuing a feedback loop that results in higher temperatures and more fires.The takeawayThe vicious feedback loop connecting warming temperatures, increased heat, wildfire smoke, and air pollution will only grow stronger so long as the world allows uncontrolled warming.“The inextricable link between air pollution and global climate change is a stark reminder that the risks posed by air pollution are far more widespread than the adverse health effects experienced in global regions with chronically poor quality air,” noted Dr. Christi Chester Schroeder, Air Quality Science Manager at IQAir.“Air pollution anywhere increases risk for adverse consequences everywhere.”The best solution is to cut greenhouse gases and air pollution sources off at their source by enforcing reduced industrial and vehicle emissions. By adopting policies that adhere to the WHO guideline, nations can ensure healthier air quality for all citizens and reduce emissions that feed into the cycle of human-induced climate change.","contentHtml","

Our planet is overheating. In Europe this summer, climate change trends created life-threatening heatwaves and widespread wildfires. Those conditions made Paris the third most polluted major city in the world on July 19, 2022.

$\"France$

Pictured: Paris, France air quality was dangerously unhealthy on the evening of July 19, 2022. Source: IQAir AirVisual.

Extreme heat and wildfire smoke caused PM2.5 concentration in Paris to rise to four times the WHO daily air quality guideline value.

In Paris, the average PM2.5 (particulate matter measuring under 2.5 microns in diameter) concentration of 60 μg/m3 was measured on Tuesday. Extreme heat and wildfire smoke caused PM2.5 concentration in Paris to rise to four times the WHO daily air quality guideline value.

$\"City$

Pictured: City air quality in Paris, France on July 19 was four times the WHO daily air quality guideline value. Source: IQAir AirVisual.

$\"Air$

Pictured: Air quality map of Paris displays most air quality stations with unhealthy air quality. Source: IQAir AirVisual.

Extreme heat impacts air quality

Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Brussels were broiling on Tuesday, where temperatures were over 20 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than historical averages for the date than in previous years (1). A village in Lincolnshire, England recorded a temperature of 104.5 degrees for the first time on record (2).

Over 1,700 people have suffered heat-related deaths in Spain and Portugal.

The heatwave alone has carried an alarming death toll. Over 1,700 people have suffered heat-related deaths in Spain and Portugal. Portugal sustained 1,063 deaths between July 7 and 18 from the heatwave. In Spain, 678 people died between July 10 and July 17 (3).

The heatwave set the stage for fire, smoke, and smoke’s deadly air pollution to impact millions of lives. But pollutants reacting with sunshine can also result in air pollution. When temperatures rise, ground-level ozone increases. Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by vehicles and industry react with sunlight to create ozone, also known as smog.

Apart from impacting visibility, smog affects the heart and lungs with an array of symptoms ranging from difficulty breathing to lung damage and increased asthma attacks.

As temperatures rise, wildfires rage

In Europe, the extreme heatwave fueled severe wildfires in multiple countries and endangered health across the continent.

Are you wildfire ready?
\n\nGet your free wildfire checklist and be prepared.

\n\n\n

\n Download Now\n

\n \n

Through human-induced climate change, Northern Hemisphere temperatures are rising and drying out ground cover, creating tinderbox conditions that feed into more extreme wildfires like those burning in Europe.

The fires in southwestern France are the region’s largest conflagration in over 30 years.

In southwestern France, wildfires surrounding Bordeaux burned about 80 square miles of forest and forced the evacuation of 37,000 residents in seaside resorts (4). The fires are the region’s largest conflagration in over 30 years.

In late July, wildfires blazed and caused evacuations across Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and Greece.

In Spain, wildfires charred 173,000 acres in 2022 and doubled the average acreage burned by wildfires for the past decade (5). As of Tuesday, firefighters were battling over 30 wildfires across the country.

Wildfire smoke and heat drives poor air quality

Wildfires send drifting plumes of noxious smoke hundreds or even thousands of miles from its source. The end result – very poor air quality.

Wildfire smoke’s primary pollutant is PM2.5. This tiny pollutant causes heart and respiratory illness, as well as impacting every organ in the body.

Because it’s so dangerous, the World Health Organization guideline for average daily PM2.5 emission levels is 15 μg/m3 or lower.

Poor air quality far above the WHO guideline was measured in London and Paris on Tuesday evening.

$\"Heat$

Pictured: Heat and wildfire smoke steeply degraded air quality in much of Western Europe on July 19. Source: IQAir AirVisual.

The heatwave and fires burning in London led to poor air quality. Air quality monitoring stations showed air quality in the “moderate” range. And “moderate” can be misleading – no amount of air pollution is considered safe, including the entire range of average PM2.5 concentration measurements in the moderate range (12.1 to 35.4 μg/m3).

$\"London’s$

Pictured: London’s air quality map displays air quality shown as moderate throughout most of the city. Source: IQAir AirVisual.

Wildfire smoke is toxic and has both an immediate and long-term impact on human health. We may first experience wildfire smoke through eye irritation, a scratchy throat, shortness of breath, and a headache. Asthma sufferers and people with allergies can struggle with severe symptoms through airway inflammation. Studies have found that in places more prone to wildfire smoke exposure, there are increases in respiratory illness hospitalizations (6).

Carbon dioxide is also emitted with wildfire smoke. A primary greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide contributes to climate change by helping trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere – continuing a feedback loop that results in higher temperatures and more fires.

The takeaway

The vicious feedback loop connecting warming temperatures, increased heat, wildfire smoke, and air pollution will only grow stronger so long as the world allows uncontrolled warming.

“The inextricable link between air pollution and global climate change is a stark reminder that the risks posed by air pollution are far more widespread than the adverse health effects experienced in global regions with chronically poor quality air,” noted Dr. Christi Chester Schroeder, Air Quality Science Manager at IQAir.

“Air pollution anywhere increases risk for adverse consequences everywhere.”

The best solution is to cut greenhouse gases and air pollution sources off at their source by enforcing reduced industrial and vehicle emissions. By adopting policies that adhere to the WHO guideline, nations can ensure healthier air quality for all citizens and reduce emissions that feed into the cycle of human-induced climate change.

","2022-european-heatwave","gid://shopify/Article/606872469803","onlineStoreUrl","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/2022-european-heatwave","trackingParameters","publishedAt","2022-07-20T21:17:38Z",[390,643,1146],"Wildfires","Wildfires, heatwave drive air pollution in Europe","image",{"_10":1150,"_243":1151,"_246":1152,"_248":1153,"_244":1154},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406553887094","Paris skyline with smog surround the Eiffel Tower","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/AQL_EuropeAirPollution_Desktop_2e2f4796-c75a-443a-b560-31a52624cb9d.jpg?v=1752575452",2880,1500,{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1156,"_1115":1157,"_1131":1158,"_1133":1158,"_1134":1159,"_1136":1160,"_985":1161,"_10":1162,"_1140":1163,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1164,"_577":1165,"_541":1166,"_1148":1167},{"_12":1128},{"_985":1130},"Poor air quality is demanding that candidates in Bangkok’s Governor’s race pledge stronger mitigation.","On Sunday, May 22nd, Bangkok, Thailand held its first gubernatorial elections in nine years against a backdrop of recurring poor air quality and rising citizen health concerns. Election results released on Monday, May 23rd showed independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt had won the office (1). Delayed by the 2014 coup d'état, 31 office-seekers were vying for the Bangkok governor’s post, a position that doubles as the city’s mayor. As governor, Sittipunt has some authority to set air pollution mitigation policy for the sprawling city with a metropolitan population of 14.6 million people. Other leading candidates’ platforms proposed numerous solutions for improving the city’s poor air quality, but air quality activists like Greenpeace are concerned that stated plans – including Sittpunt’s – didn’t go far enough in addressing the root causes of Bangkok’s air pollution. Long-standing poor air quality in Bangkok Too often, Bangkok residents struggle to enjoy breathable air year-round. According to IQAir’s 2021 World Air Quality Report, Bangkok had an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 20.0 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3), an incremental improvement from 20.6 μg/m3 in 2020. Bangkok’s average annual PM2.5 concentration – particulate pollution under 2.5 microns in diameter linked to a wide range of serious health problems – is four times the WHO guideline of 5 μg/m3. Bangkok’s PM2.5 levels exceeded the WHO guideline by over nine times during January and February 2021. However, the air quality in Bangkok was much more of a health hazard during January and February 2021, rising to an average monthly PM2.5 concentration of 42.3 μg/m3 and 45.2 μg/m3 for January and February respectively. PM2.5 levels exceeded the WHO guideline by over nine times during those months. “The trend in Thailand of slightly decreasing PM2.5 concentrations is encouraging, however, the magnitude of these PM2.5 levels continues to pose a serious health risk.” said Dr. Christi Chester Schroeder, Air Quality Science Manager at IQAir. Bangkok air pollution causes Much of Thailand's air pollution is concentrated in the northwest, where agricultural burns and forest fires can have a strong seasonal impact on air quality. However, smoke from those fires and nearer agricultural burns can also reach as far as Bangkok, conflating existing source control issues like industrial and vehicular traffic emissions. Bangkok also struggles with poor urban planning, a problem none of the candidates addressed directly. But Bangkok also struggles with poor urban planning, a problem none of the candidates addressed directly. “Like other cities around the world, Bangkok also has a heat island phenomenon caused by unplanned and uncontrolled high buildings,” said Alliya Moun-ob, Greenpeace Thailand Energy Transition Coordinator. “The heat island can cause atmospheric inversion and bad air flow in the area. “It’s the reason why the concentration of PM2.5 is much higher from November through February in Bangkok.” Candidates pledged Bangkok air pollution change Many of the leading candidates had included air quality improvement in their platforms. In his platform, newly-elected Governor Chadchart Sittipunt cited a plan to create a dust-free “Clean Air area,” increase green spaces, improve waste management, encourage electric vehicles, and address the city’s PM2.5 root causes. Outgoing Governor Aswin Kwanmuang also declared his intention to increase green spaces and improve waste management. He placed fifth in the race. Five candidates – including Chadchart Sittipunt, Deputy Governor Sakoltee Phattiyakul, second-place candidate Suchatvee Suwansawat, Weerachai Laoruangwattana, and Supachai Tantikom – pledged to expand the number of air quality monitors in the city. Alliya voiced concerns prior to the vote that after the elections have passed and when seasons change, the urgency to change will be diminished. “The public's interest in air pollution in Bangkok depends on the PM2.5 concentration. In April, the PM2.5 concentration spiked due to the weather conditions, causing the public and the candidates to take an interest in this issue. Many candidates propose very nice policies but after this dust period, it is still unknown whether the new governor will do what he/she promised or not. “We still need to work hard to make the public aware that even in other seasons, including the wet season, PM2.5 is still in the air and can cause chronic health issues.” Schroeder agrees that awareness is important. “Raising awareness of the real health risks posed by breathing poor quality air is crucial to the well-being of people around the world. Unfortunately, it often becomes a topic only raised when the consequences occur in real time and cannot be ignored.” The takeaway Thailand's government operates the largest air quality monitoring network in Southeast Asia, with stations in 113 cities. However, none of the cities – including Bangkok – met the WHO's PM2.5 guideline in 2021. Acknowledging the air quality problem – both nationally and locally – has been a hurdle to tackling air pollution. Incoming Governor Sittipunt will have to take a multi-prong approach to air pollution reduction by eliminating air pollution sources, prioritizing a more sustainable city plan, and raising air quality awareness throughout the year.","

On Sunday, May 22nd, Bangkok, Thailand held its first gubernatorial elections in nine years against a backdrop of recurring poor air quality and rising citizen health concerns. Election results released on Monday, May 23rd showed independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt had won the office (1).

Delayed by the 2014 coup d'état, 31 office-seekers were vying for the Bangkok governor’s post, a position that doubles as the city’s mayor. As governor, Sittipunt has some authority to set air pollution mitigation policy for the sprawling city with a metropolitan population of 14.6 million people.

Other leading candidates’ platforms proposed numerous solutions for improving the city’s poor air quality, but air quality activists like Greenpeace are concerned that stated plans – including Sittpunt’s – didn’t go far enough in addressing the root causes of Bangkok’s air pollution.

Long-standing poor air quality in Bangkok

Too often, Bangkok residents struggle to enjoy breathable air year-round. According to IQAir’s 2021 World Air Quality Report, Bangkok had an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 20.0 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³), an incremental improvement from 20.6 μg/m³ in 2020. Bangkok’s average annual PM2.5 concentration – particulate pollution under 2.5 microns in diameter linked to a wide range of serious health problems – is four times the WHO guideline of 5 μg/m³.

Bangkok’s PM2.5 levels exceeded the WHO guideline by over nine times during January and February 2021.

However, the air quality in Bangkok was much more of a health hazard during January and February 2021, rising to an average monthly PM2.5 concentration of 42.3 μg/m³ and 45.2 μg/m³ for January and February respectively. PM2.5 levels exceeded the WHO guideline by over nine times during those months.

“The trend in Thailand of slightly decreasing PM2.5 concentrations is encouraging, however, the magnitude of these PM2.5 levels continues to pose a serious health risk.” said Dr. Christi Chester Schroeder, Air Quality Science Manager at IQAir.

Bangkok air pollution causes

Much of Thailand's air pollution is concentrated in the northwest, where agricultural burns and forest fires can have a strong seasonal impact on air quality. However, smoke from those fires and nearer agricultural burns can also reach as far as Bangkok, conflating existing source control issues like industrial and vehicular traffic emissions.

Bangkok also struggles with poor urban planning, a problem none of the candidates addressed directly.

But Bangkok also struggles with poor urban planning, a problem none of the candidates addressed directly. “Like other cities around the world, Bangkok also has a heat island phenomenon caused by unplanned and uncontrolled high buildings,” said Alliya Moun-ob, Greenpeace Thailand Energy Transition Coordinator. “The heat island can cause atmospheric inversion and bad air flow in the area.

“It’s the reason why the concentration of PM2.5 is much higher from November through February in Bangkok.”

Candidates pledged Bangkok air pollution change

Many of the leading candidates had included air quality improvement in their platforms.

In his platform, newly-elected Governor Chadchart Sittipunt cited a plan to create a dust-free “Clean Air area,” increase green spaces, improve waste management, encourage electric vehicles, and address the city’s PM2.5 root causes.

Outgoing Governor Aswin Kwanmuang also declared his intention to increase green spaces and improve waste management. He placed fifth in the race.

Five candidates – including Chadchart Sittipunt, Deputy Governor Sakoltee Phattiyakul, second-place candidate Suchatvee Suwansawat, Weerachai Laoruangwattana, and Supachai Tantikom – pledged to expand the number of air quality monitors in the city.

Alliya voiced concerns prior to the vote that after the elections have passed and when seasons change, the urgency to change will be diminished. “The public's interest in air pollution in Bangkok depends on the PM2.5 concentration. In April, the PM2.5 concentration spiked due to the weather conditions, causing the public and the candidates to take an interest in this issue. Many candidates propose very nice policies but after this dust period, it is still unknown whether the new governor will do what he/she promised or not.

“We still need to work hard to make the public aware that even in other seasons, including the wet season, PM2.5 is still in the air and can cause chronic health issues.”

Schroeder agrees that awareness is important. “Raising awareness of the real health risks posed by breathing poor quality air is crucial to the well-being of people around the world. Unfortunately, it often becomes a topic only raised when the consequences occur in real time and cannot be ignored.”

The takeaway

Thailand's government operates the largest air quality monitoring network in Southeast Asia, with stations in 113 cities. However, none of the cities – including Bangkok – met the WHO's PM2.5 guideline in 2021.

Acknowledging the air quality problem – both nationally and locally – has been a hurdle to tackling air pollution. Incoming Governor Sittipunt will have to take a multi-prong approach to air pollution reduction by eliminating air pollution sources, prioritizing a more sustainable city plan, and raising air quality awareness throughout the year.

","2022-bangkok-governors-race","gid://shopify/Article/606872633643","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/2022-bangkok-governors-race","2022-05-23T19:56:21Z",[390,643],"Air quality key issue in Bangkok Governor’s race",{"_10":1168,"_243":1169,"_246":1170,"_248":1153,"_244":1154},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406755410294","Bangkok air quality","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/BN_Bangkok_Desktop_f7105fa3-35a3-414c-9a84-ac21c036cc3a.jpg?v=1753261095",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1172,"_1115":1173,"_1131":1174,"_1133":1174,"_1134":1175,"_1136":1176,"_985":1177,"_10":1178,"_1140":1179,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1180,"_577":1181,"_541":1182,"_1148":1183},{"_12":1128},{"_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":1184,"_243":1185,"_246":1186,"_248":1153,"_244":1154},"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":1188,"_1115":1189,"_1131":1190,"_1133":1190,"_1134":1191,"_1136":1192,"_985":1193,"_10":1194,"_1140":1195,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1196,"_577":1197,"_541":1198,"_1148":1199},{"_12":1128},{"_985":1130},"Find out what the research says about early deaths linked to air pollution.","Air pollution is a silent but deadly killer.Around 70-75% of the global population breathes dangerously polluted air above the annual limit of 10 μg/m3 recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).And in 2017, a highly publicized Lancet commission on pollution and health painted a vivid portrait of global air quality.According to the report, air pollution is one of the world’s most dangerous killers. Nearly 7 million early deaths per year are linked to air pollution alone.1But increasing research shows that previous estimates of numbers of deaths linked to air pollution may be understated.A groundbreaking 2018 study from Health Canada used a novel data collection method called the Global Exposure Mortality Model (GEMM) to estimate that up to 8.8 million people may die every year from causes linked to particulate matter pollution.2A groundbreaking 2018 study estimated that up to 8.8 million people die each year from air pollution.This study also noted that up to 2.4 million of these deaths were specifically attributable to cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure, concluding that air pollution was a leading cause of death worldwide.In 2019, two alarming studies corroborated this estimate of deaths by air pollution.A study in the European Heart Journal used the GEMM method to confirm the Canadian team’s figure of 8.8 million deaths, further breaking down their data to show that Europe bore the brunt of air pollution-related deaths.3According to researchers, 269,000 out of the 2.4 million deaths caused by air pollution-related heart disease were documented in Europe alone.Another study, this time from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), found that, even though air pollution levels in the United States dropped nearly 25% from 2009 to 2016, they rose again by over 5% between 2016 and 2018.4This sudden increase from 2016 to 2018 is no accident. Much of this increase can be attributed to the change in presidential administrations in early 2017.The Trump administration frequently claimed that it “made it a top priority to ensure America” has the cleanest air and water. However, his administration, including leadership at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was nonetheless responsible for frequent attempts to loosen pollution guidelines.According to the official EPA Air Quality Index, the number of official Unhealthy Air Days during the Trump presidency increased in America.5For context, the category of “Unhealthy Air Days” refers to days where the outdoor air quality is so poor that children, the elderly, and those with existing lung conditions are at much higher risk for exacerbated symptoms and premature deaths.The Trump administration also authorized rollbacks on environmental protections established during the Obama administration, such as freezing vehicle emission standards and pulling out of the international Paris Agreement.6,7As a result, the U.S. had the seventh-highest number of pollution-related deaths in the world as of 2019.8The U.S. had the 7th-highest number of air pollution deaths in the world as of 2019.The Global Alliance on Health and Pollution estimates that 196,930 Americans lost their lives prematurely due to pollution in 2017 alone, over half of which were caused by outdoor air pollution.What are the biggest sources of air pollution?There are three main types of air pollution: Indoor air pollution: This type of pollution can stem from indoor cooking, cleaning chemicals and even poor ventilation while using heating or air conditioning.9 Ambient fine-particulate pollution (PM2.5): PM2.5 particles come from many sources, including vehicle exhaust and factory emissions. They can get into your bloodstream and cause heart and lung conditions.10 Tropospheric (ground-level) ozone: This dangerous type of ozone forms when heat interacts with chemicals in the lower atmosphere. It can trigger asthma symptoms and even permanently harm your lungs.11 Relative wealth and poverty influence the sources of pollution in a community and how acutely they harm those communities.Developed countries face dangerous pollution from industrialization. But many of these nations have the resources to make policy changes that improve air quality.For example, the 1970 Clean Air Act in the United States helped decrease air pollution by 70% in a matter of decades.12Wealth and poverty influence the sources of pollution in a community and how acutely they harm those communities.But 92% of the worldwide air pollution-related deaths happen in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).These countries have far fewer resources to combat air pollution. Pollution-related human health impacts and increased death rates are also common among minority groups more likely to live in or near poor and polluted areas.13,14,15Pollution linked to povertyPoor and developing areas suffer the worst air pollution.16Nearly 3 billion people still rely on biomass fuels for light, heat, and cooking. These fuels, which include firewood and animal dung, are crucial for survival where electricity, gas, and oil aren’t available.But biomass fuels contain dangerous particles and chemicals like sulfur and nitrogen and quickly build up indoors. This can cause damage to your lungs, trigger asthma and cause life-threatening breathing problems.Many communities are also exposed to other dangerous pollutants: Coal facilities near indigenous Adivasi communities in India have caused millions to leave their homes due to deadly pollution generated by power plants and coal burning. Lead, zinc, and coal mines near villages in South Africa and Peru cause lung conditions like silicosis because of airborne particles produced by mining. Oil and gas production near poor communities in Latin America have led to large-scale pollution in areas that don’t have the resources to regulate corporations or clean pollution left behind by production activities. Electronic waste (E-waste) recycling creates toxic fumes from the burning of electronics for their raw minerals. Nearly 50 million tons of e-waste was generated in 2019.17 Many communities rely on these e-waste facilities for jobs and income, trapping them in a cycle of poverty and pollution. Pollution linked to industrial developmentMany industrialized regions aren’t as exposed to solid fuels and mining as poorer, developing regions are. But other types of pollutants have become rampant, including: Ambient air pollution from vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, and electricity production18 Chemical pollution from agricultural pesticides and herbicides (also called “weed killers”)19 Ambient air pollution, especially PM2.5 and ground-level ozone, has been linked to: asthma diabetes birth defects ADHD autism dementia heart disease COPD cancer Increasing concentrations of chemical pollution have been linked to endocrine disruption, which stunts growth and can cause cancer.In developed countries, a majority of industrial air pollution is caused by just a small percentage of companies with gigantic carbon footprints.A 2017 study by the non-profit CDP in partnership with the Climate Accountability Institute found that 70% of the world’s air pollution came from 100 companies who alone produced 923 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, including:20 energy companies that constantly burn fossil fuels, such as coal, to generate power, including investor-owned corporate giants like Saudi Aramco and Gazprom worth billions of dollars car manufacturers with large-scale production of vehicles massive factories and production facilities that require enormous amounts of power to operate 70% of the world’s air pollution comes from just 100 companies.Some cities in industrialized countries bear the worst of this pollution.Mira Loma Village, a California city 50 miles east of Los Angeles, is surrounded by factory smoke, heavy vehicle traffic, and pollutants blown in from the coast and trapped by the surrounding San Gabriel mountains.Children and adults living in this region of Southern California, known as the Inland Empire, experience lower lung capacity and higher rates of asthma and lung cancer.The city of Bakersfield, located in California’s Central Valley, also faces pollution from pesticides, fertilizer, and several busy highways within the city limits.Located in the center of California’s enormous agricultural industry, Bakersfield and other Central Valley cities, such as Fresno and Visalia, regularly outrank even notoriously polluted cities like Los Angeles, New York City and Beijing on lists of the world’s dirtiest cities.What’s next for global air pollution?Global deaths from air pollution will rise if nothing changes. Deaths could increase over 50% by 2050 due to PM2.5 pollution alone. Cities suffering from new, deadly combinations of air pollution regularly appear in the news.In 2017, the Indian city of Delhi was named the most polluted city on Earth by numerous publications due to extreme levels of PM2.5.Much of this pollution was caused by a mixture of pollution from sources old and new – smog from millions of cars, factories and construction sites coupled with large-scale biomass fuel burning in the surrounding regions.21Global deaths from air pollution will rise if nothing changes. Deaths could increase over 50% by 2050 due to PM2.5 pollution alone.In the same year, the city of Lahore in Pakistan experienced a similar pollution crisis.Massive amounts of biofuel smoke and largely unregulated factory emissions regularly result in smog so thick and toxic that it’s called a “fifth season.”A 2015 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that air pollution killed 60,000 residents of Lahore that year, and pollution concentrations have only risen since.22But it’s not all bad news.The Supreme Court of India has passed laws to protect Adivasi communities from polluted air caused by mining.23,24The Gyapa Stoves project has also addressed coal and biomass pollution in Accra, Ghana. Since 2008, this project has improved local air quality by nearly 50%.And in 2020, COVID-19 ground global economies to a halt, creating a massive experiment in the possibilities of fighting air pollution.Using AirVisual data from over 80,000 sensors, the IQAir COVID-19 Air Quality Report found that shutdowns resulting from the pandemic reduced air pollution in major cities like Delhi, Seoul, and Los Angeles by up to 60%.This extreme reduction in air pollution was attributed to a huge drop in vehicle traffic, thousands of grounded flights, and reduced production capacities at factories, all of which are major contributors to global air pollution.Though the reduction in global air pollution didn’t last long, this brief period of improved air quality shows what’s possible if sources of air pollution are reduced or replaced by cleaner technologies like wind and solar power.What can I do to help?Even small, gradual changes in your daily life can save millions of lives as you take part in the global movement to clean our air. Make changes to your commute. Getting around town can be difficult without a car. But if you can, use alternative commuting options to limit the time you spend in your car. Carpool with friends, classmates or coworkers to reduce the number of cars on the road. Use public transportation, such as the bus or train, a few times a week to help lower levels of vehicle emissions significantly. Walk or bike to work to reduce not only vehicle emissions but also your risk of developing conditions like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.25,26 Consider buying a hybrid or electric vehicle. These vehicles use gasoline fuel efficiently or not at all, greatly reducing emissions from combustion engine exhaust.27 Avoid burning solid fuels. Try alternatives to biomass fuels. For example, use a pellet stove or coconut shell charcoal, which releases fewer toxic pollutants.28 Use an exhaust hood when cooking. A stove hood that covers the entire cooking surface can limit indoor air pollution from smoke and gases. Use green cleaning chemicals. Avoid cleaners that contain toxic chemicals like formaldehyde. Protect yourself with a high-performance air purifier. The IQAir HealthPro Plus filters 99.97% of even the smallest ultrafine particles, such as those from vehicles and nearby factory exhaust, from your indoor air. The Atem Desk personal air purifier filters 99.5% of particles down to 0.003 microns from your personal breathing zone. With the Atem, you can breathe virtually pure air even when you’re surrounded by polluted air. Monitor your local air quality. Use an air quality monitor to keep track of your local air quality. AirVisual displays 72-hour historical and forecast data so that you can know when and why your air quality changes. Air quality data can help keep local polluters accountable by showing details of pollution’s health effects and impacts on local air quality. Get involved. Become familiar with local environmental justice groups and policymakers and how they represent your community’s air quality interests. Simply showing up at regular city council meetings can help you get in tune with your community air quality issues. There’s a lot of work to be done, and the cost of air pollution is high: in the world’s top five most populous cities, air pollution killed 98,300 people and cost $56.5 billion USD in the first half of 2020 alone in lives and economic activity lost.But around the world, communities are already experiencing the benefits of increased awareness and action about air pollution.You can start helping today. All you have to do is look around and begin to understand where your community fits into the portrait of global air pollution.","

Air pollution is a silent but deadly killer.

Around 70-75% of the global population breathes dangerously polluted air above the annual limit of 10 μg/m³ recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

And in 2017, a highly publicized Lancet commission on pollution and health painted a vivid portrait of global air quality.

According to the report, air pollution is one of the world’s most dangerous killers. Nearly 7 million early deaths per year are linked to air pollution alone.¹

But increasing research shows that previous estimates of numbers of deaths linked to air pollution may be understated.

A groundbreaking 2018 study from Health Canada used a novel data collection method called the Global Exposure Mortality Model (GEMM) to estimate that up to 8.8 million people may die every year from causes linked to particulate matter pollution.²

A groundbreaking 2018 study estimated that up to 8.8 million people die each year from air pollution.

This study also noted that up to 2.4 million of these deaths were specifically attributable to cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure, concluding that air pollution was a leading cause of death worldwide.

In 2019, two alarming studies corroborated this estimate of deaths by air pollution.

A study in the European Heart Journal used the GEMM method to confirm the Canadian team’s figure of 8.8 million deaths, further breaking down their data to show that Europe bore the brunt of air pollution-related deaths.³

According to researchers, 269,000 out of the 2.4 million deaths caused by air pollution-related heart disease were documented in Europe alone.

Another study, this time from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), found that, even though air pollution levels in the United States dropped nearly 25% from 2009 to 2016, they rose again by over 5% between 2016 and 2018.⁴

This sudden increase from 2016 to 2018 is no accident. Much of this increase can be attributed to the change in presidential administrations in early 2017.

The Trump administration frequently claimed that it “made it a top priority to ensure America” has the cleanest air and water. However, his administration, including leadership at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was nonetheless responsible for frequent attempts to loosen pollution guidelines.

According to the official EPA Air Quality Index, the number of official Unhealthy Air Days during the Trump presidency increased in America.⁵

For context, the category of “Unhealthy Air Days” refers to days where the outdoor air quality is so poor that children, the elderly, and those with existing lung conditions are at much higher risk for exacerbated symptoms and premature deaths.

The Trump administration also authorized rollbacks on environmental protections established during the Obama administration, such as freezing vehicle emission standards and pulling out of the international Paris Agreement.^6,7

As a result, the U.S. had the seventh-highest number of pollution-related deaths in the world as of 2019.⁸

The U.S. had the 7th-highest number of air pollution deaths in the world as of 2019.

The Global Alliance on Health and Pollution estimates that 196,930 Americans lost their lives prematurely due to pollution in 2017 alone, over half of which were caused by outdoor air pollution.

What are the biggest sources of air pollution?

There are three main types of air pollution:

\nIndoor air pollution: This type of pollution can stem from indoor cooking, cleaning chemicals and even poor ventilation while using heating or air conditioning.⁹\n
\nAmbient fine-particulate pollution (PM_2.5): PM_2.5 particles come from many sources, including vehicle exhaust and factory emissions. They can get into your bloodstream and cause heart and lung conditions.¹⁰\n
\nTropospheric (ground-level) ozone: This dangerous type of ozone forms when heat interacts with chemicals in the lower atmosphere. It can trigger asthma symptoms and even permanently harm your lungs.¹¹\n

Relative wealth and poverty influence the sources of pollution in a community and how acutely they harm those communities.

Developed countries face dangerous pollution from industrialization. But many of these nations have the resources to make policy changes that improve air quality.

For example, the 1970 Clean Air Act in the United States helped decrease air pollution by 70% in a matter of decades.¹²

Wealth and poverty influence the sources of pollution in a community and how acutely they harm those communities.

But 92% of the worldwide air pollution-related deaths happen in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

These countries have far fewer resources to combat air pollution. Pollution-related human health impacts and increased death rates are also common among minority groups more likely to live in or near poor and polluted areas.^13,14,15

Pollution linked to poverty

Poor and developing areas suffer the worst air pollution.¹⁶

Nearly 3 billion people still rely on biomass fuels for light, heat, and cooking. These fuels, which include firewood and animal dung, are crucial for survival where electricity, gas, and oil aren’t available.

But biomass fuels contain dangerous particles and chemicals like sulfur and nitrogen and quickly build up indoors. This can cause damage to your lungs, trigger asthma and cause life-threatening breathing problems.

Many communities are also exposed to other dangerous pollutants:

\nCoal facilities near indigenous Adivasi communities in India have caused millions to leave their homes due to deadly pollution generated by power plants and coal burning.
\nLead, zinc, and coal mines near villages in South Africa and Peru cause lung conditions like silicosis because of airborne particles produced by mining.
\nOil and gas production near poor communities in Latin America have led to large-scale pollution in areas that don’t have the resources to regulate corporations or clean pollution left behind by production activities.
\nElectronic waste (E-waste) recycling creates toxic fumes from the burning of electronics for their raw minerals. Nearly 50 million tons of e-waste was generated in 2019.¹⁷ Many communities rely on these e-waste facilities for jobs and income, trapping them in a cycle of poverty and pollution.

Pollution linked to industrial development

Many industrialized regions aren’t as exposed to solid fuels and mining as poorer, developing regions are. But other types of pollutants have become rampant, including:

\nAmbient air pollution from vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, and electricity production¹⁸\n
\nChemical pollution from agricultural pesticides and herbicides (also called “weed killers”)¹⁹\n

Ambient air pollution, especially PM_2.5 and ground-level ozone, has been linked to:

asthma
diabetes
birth defects
ADHD
autism
dementia
heart disease
COPD
cancer

Increasing concentrations of chemical pollution have been linked to endocrine disruption, which stunts growth and can cause cancer.

In developed countries, a majority of industrial air pollution is caused by just a small percentage of companies with gigantic carbon footprints.

A 2017 study by the non-profit CDP in partnership with the Climate Accountability Institute found that 70% of the world’s air pollution came from 100 companies who alone produced 923 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, including:²⁰

energy companies that constantly burn fossil fuels, such as coal, to generate power, including investor-owned corporate giants like Saudi Aramco and Gazprom worth billions of dollars
car manufacturers with large-scale production of vehicles
massive factories and production facilities that require enormous amounts of power to operate

 70% of the world’s air pollution comes from just 100 companies.

Some cities in industrialized countries bear the worst of this pollution.

Mira Loma Village, a California city 50 miles east of Los Angeles, is surrounded by factory smoke, heavy vehicle traffic, and pollutants blown in from the coast and trapped by the surrounding San Gabriel mountains.

Children and adults living in this region of Southern California, known as the Inland Empire, experience lower lung capacity and higher rates of asthma and lung cancer.

The city of Bakersfield, located in California’s Central Valley, also faces pollution from pesticides, fertilizer, and several busy highways within the city limits.

Located in the center of California’s enormous agricultural industry, Bakersfield and other Central Valley cities, such as Fresno and Visalia, regularly outrank even notoriously polluted cities like Los Angeles, New York City and Beijing on lists of the world’s dirtiest cities.

What’s next for global air pollution?

Global deaths from air pollution will rise if nothing changes. Deaths could increase over 50% by 2050 due to PM2.5 pollution alone. Cities suffering from new, deadly combinations of air pollution regularly appear in the news.

In 2017, the Indian city of Delhi was named the most polluted city on Earth by numerous publications due to extreme levels of PM2.5.

Much of this pollution was caused by a mixture of pollution from sources old and new – smog from millions of cars, factories and construction sites coupled with large-scale biomass fuel burning in the surrounding regions.²¹

Global deaths from air pollution will rise if nothing changes. Deaths could increase over 50% by 2050 due to PM_2.5 pollution alone.

In the same year, the city of Lahore in Pakistan experienced a similar pollution crisis.

Massive amounts of biofuel smoke and largely unregulated factory emissions regularly result in smog so thick and toxic that it’s called a “fifth season.”

A 2015 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that air pollution killed 60,000 residents of Lahore that year, and pollution concentrations have only risen since.²²

But it’s not all bad news.

The Supreme Court of India has passed laws to protect Adivasi communities from polluted air caused by mining.^23,24

The Gyapa Stoves project has also addressed coal and biomass pollution in Accra, Ghana. Since 2008, this project has improved local air quality by nearly 50%.

And in 2020, COVID-19 ground global economies to a halt, creating a massive experiment in the possibilities of fighting air pollution.

Using AirVisual data from over 80,000 sensors, the IQAir COVID-19 Air Quality Report found that shutdowns resulting from the pandemic reduced air pollution in major cities like Delhi, Seoul, and Los Angeles by up to 60%.

This extreme reduction in air pollution was attributed to a huge drop in vehicle traffic, thousands of grounded flights, and reduced production capacities at factories, all of which are major contributors to global air pollution.

Though the reduction in global air pollution didn’t last long, this brief period of improved air quality shows what’s possible if sources of air pollution are reduced or replaced by cleaner technologies like wind and solar power.

What can I do to help?

Even small, gradual changes in your daily life can save millions of lives as you take part in the global movement to clean our air.

\nMake changes to your commute. Getting around town can be difficult without a car. But if you can, use alternative commuting options to limit the time you spend in your car.\n\n\n\n\t
- \nCarpool with friends, classmates or coworkers to reduce the number of cars on the road.
- \nUse public transportation, such as the bus or train, a few times a week to help lower levels of vehicle emissions significantly.
- \nWalk or bike to work to reduce not only vehicle emissions but also your risk of developing conditions like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.^25,26\n
- \nConsider buying a hybrid or electric vehicle. These vehicles use gasoline fuel efficiently or not at all, greatly reducing emissions from combustion engine exhaust.²⁷\n
\n\n\t
\nAvoid burning solid fuels. Try alternatives to biomass fuels. For example, use a pellet stove or coconut shell charcoal, which releases fewer toxic pollutants.²⁸\n
\nUse an exhaust hood when cooking. A stove hood that covers the entire cooking surface can limit indoor air pollution from smoke and gases.
\nUse green cleaning chemicals. Avoid cleaners that contain toxic chemicals like formaldehyde.
\nProtect yourself with a high-performance air purifier.
The IQAir HealthPro Plus filters 99.97% of even the smallest ultrafine particles, such as those from vehicles and nearby factory exhaust, from your indoor air.
The Atem Desk personal air purifier filters 99.5% of particles down to 0.003 microns from your personal breathing zone. With the Atem, you can breathe virtually pure air even when you’re surrounded by polluted air.
\nMonitor your local air quality. Use an air quality monitor to keep track of your local air quality. AirVisual displays 72-hour historical and forecast data so that you can know when and why your air quality changes. Air quality data can help keep local polluters accountable by showing details of pollution’s health effects and impacts on local air quality.
\nGet involved. Become familiar with local environmental justice groups and policymakers and how they represent your community’s air quality interests. Simply showing up at regular city council meetings can help you get in tune with your community air quality issues.

There’s a lot of work to be done, and the cost of air pollution is high: in the world’s top five most populous cities, air pollution killed 98,300 people and cost $56.5 billion USD in the first half of 2020 alone in lives and economic activity lost.

But around the world, communities are already experiencing the benefits of increased awareness and action about air pollution.

You can start helping today. All you have to do is look around and begin to understand where your community fits into the portrait of global air pollution.

","are-deaths-by-air-pollution-rising-globally","gid://shopify/Article/606882365739","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/are-deaths-by-air-pollution-rising-globally","2022-01-08T19:07:29Z",[390,643],"Are deaths by air pollution rising globally?",{"_10":1200,"_243":1198,"_246":1201,"_248":1153,"_244":1154},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/405536538998","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/Deaths_Desktop_b_a84d5c53-8bfd-4df6-bd52-b9d3c1f5b7fe.jpg?v=1749032026",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1203,"_1115":1204,"_1131":1205,"_1133":1205,"_1134":1206,"_1136":1207,"_985":1208,"_10":1209,"_1140":1210,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1211,"_577":1212,"_541":1213,"_1148":1214},{"_12":1128},{"_985":1130},"Two years after 32 people sued the Indonesian government over poor air quality, the verdict is in – learn more.","More than two years after Indonesian citizens filed a lawsuit to improve their air quality, the Central Jakarta District Court has found President Joko Widodo and members of his government guilty of negligence for not doing enough to counter air pollution in and around the city.1,2President Joko Widodo and members of his government were found guilty of negligence for not doing enough to counter air pollution in and around Jakarta.The capital of Indonesia, Jakarta and its surrounding communities of Bekasi, Bogor, Depok, South Tangerang, and Tangerang share a population of over 30 million people. Air pollution levels in the region routinely exceed the World Health Organization’s recommended PM2.5 annual mean of 10 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3).Bondan Andriyanu, an Indonesian climate and energy campaigner with Greenpeace Southeast Asia, expressed his appreciation for the judges’ decision in the lawsuit. \"It proves that the defendants, from the president to the governor of Jakarta, committed an unlawful act.\"The long-delayed verdict was expected May 20, 2021 but was postponed eight times until the court reached a verdict on September 16.Facts of the caseIn July 2019, 32 litigants and their advocacy team comprising the Clean Air Initiative Coalition sued the Indonesian government to hold leaders accountable for the city’s poor air quality. Jakarta frequently reaches levels of air quality that measure in the “hazardous” range on the air quality index. Hazardous AQI levels are over 301, or concentrations of PM2.5 greater than 250.5 μg/m3.Jakarta frequently reaches levels of air quality that measure in the “hazardous” range on the air quality index.Indonesia was the 9thmost polluted country in 2020 with a mean annual PM2.5 concentration of 40.7 μg/m3. South Tangerang ranked 25th among the most polluted cities in the world.Apart from President Widodo, the suit also named the three Ministers of the Environment and Forestry, Health, and Home Affairs, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, Banten Governor Wahidin Halim, and West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil.The court attributed the delays to the judges and clerks contracting COVID-19 and to the large number of documents requiring review. The plaintiff’s legal counsel filed a letter with Indonesia’s Judicial Commission and the Supervisory Body of the Supreme Court, alleging that the delays were a potential violation of the judicial code of ethics.3Pollutant health implicationsJakarta’s primary air pollutants are PM2.5 and ultrafine particles. The deadliest of airborne pollutants, ultrafine particles are PM measured at less than .1 micron in diameter. Ultrafine particles are so tiny that they can enter the bloodstream after being inhaled and harm all bodily organs.A 2020 review article in Experimental & Molecular Medicine noted a number of health hazards from exposure to ultrafine particles, including:4 induced cough worsened asthma pulmonary and systemic inflammation cardiac disease hypertension metal fume fever Diabetes cancer low birthweight Khalisah Khalid sued because her young son’s health had been impacted by the city’s pollution, resulting in frequent nosebleeds and allergies.A plaintiff in the case, Khalisah Khalid, filed suit because her young son’s health had been impacted by the city’s pollution, resulting in frequent nosebleeds and allergies.5Air pollution sourcesJakarta’s biggest sources of pollution are a result of rapid urban growth, including vehicle traffic, industrial emissions, and coal-fired power plants. These emissions cause 5.5 million illnesses annually, according to Governor Anies Baswedan.6According to the 2020 world air quality report, lockdowns implemented to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus reduced air pollution from industrial and traffic sources globally in 2020. Jakarta closed offices, schools, and places of worship from April 10 through June 5, 2020. These restrictions reduced PM2.5 output by 12.8 percent in April and 31.7 percent in May as compared to 2019. Even with the reduction in traffic pollution, Jakarta’s air quality was still poor due to the city’s heavy dependence on nearby coal-fired power plants.Like many countries in Southeast Asia, Indonesian farmers typically burn waste materials on croplands as a cheap method of clearing the land for future plantings.Additionally, as rainforests are destroyed to make room for more agricultural use including palm oil, wet peat land becomes drier and more susceptible to fires. Peat fires are hard to put out and emit some of the worst pollutants.7Smoke from crop fires and wildfires can contribute to poor air quality for many miles from their source.Next stepsIndonesia’s government has a stated goal of moving from non-renewable, polluting sources of energy towards renewable energy and carbon neutrality by 2060.8 The country plans to derive 23 percent of its energy from renewable resources by 2025. To make this happen, the country’s state utility, Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), will gradually retire its coal-fired power plants, shuttering the first three by 2030.Pollution is so bad in Jakarta that it is one of several contributing factors in President Widodo’s push to relocate the government to an as-yet unbuilt city in Kalimantan on the eastern coastline of the island of Borneo.9 The relocation is estimated to result in moving 1.5 million civil servants out of Jakarta.It is unclear what specific steps the government will take in response to the court verdict.But it is unclear what specific steps the government will take in response to the court verdict. The president’s spokesperson, Fadjroel Rhaman, said that further action would be the responsibility of the environment minister, though he didn’t state what that action might be.10 The Jakarta governor’s office indicated that they were reviewing the decision.The court has instructed the government to improve the national air quality standard and found that provincial governments must conduct emission checks on vehicles in Jakarta and conduct outdoor air quality tests. The court stipulated that this gathered air quality information must be made available to the public.Andriyanu noted that the lawsuit didn’t request compensation – only that “the defendants carry out their duties and obligations to protect their citizens from the dangers of air pollution.”\"This is a victory that we need to celebrate together. We are one step ahead in providing clean air for our children and grandchildren in the future.\"The takeawayWhile hazardous air quality is a major health concern, poor air quality doesn’t have to be hazardous to be a health threat. No amount of air pollution is safe for human beings.It’s essential that leaders everywhere take bolder steps to make sure that everyone has access to clean, healthy air.It’s essential that leaders everywhere take bolder steps to ensure everyone has access to clean, healthy air. As the people of Jakarta demonstrated, citizen activists can make a difference by holding leaders to account when necessary.Officials can improve public health by taking several steps to immediately help improve air quality, both in Jakarta and throughout Indonesia. incentivize reduced vehicle use and the purchase of energy-efficient vehicles incentivize alternatives to crop burning, while maintaining pressure on enforcement fast track development of carbon-neutral energy sources monitor air quality in the most at-risk and impacted neighborhoods and take steps to reduce nearby emission sources","

More than two years after Indonesian citizens filed a lawsuit to improve their air quality, the Central Jakarta District Court has found President Joko Widodo and members of his government guilty of negligence for not doing enough to counter air pollution in and around the city.^1,2

President Joko Widodo and members of his government were found guilty of negligence for not doing enough to counter air pollution in and around Jakarta.

The capital of Indonesia, Jakarta and its surrounding communities of Bekasi, Bogor, Depok, South Tangerang, and Tangerang share a population of over 30 million people. Air pollution levels in the region routinely exceed the World Health Organization’s recommended PM2.5 annual mean of 10 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³).

Bondan Andriyanu, an Indonesian climate and energy campaigner with Greenpeace Southeast Asia, expressed his appreciation for the judges’ decision in the lawsuit. \"It proves that the defendants, from the president to the governor of Jakarta, committed an unlawful act.\"

The long-delayed verdict was expected May 20, 2021 but was postponed eight times until the court reached a verdict on September 16.

Facts of the case

In July 2019, 32 litigants and their advocacy team comprising the Clean Air Initiative Coalition sued the Indonesian government to hold leaders accountable for the city’s poor air quality. Jakarta frequently reaches levels of air quality that measure in the “hazardous” range on the air quality index. Hazardous AQI levels are over 301, or concentrations of PM2.5 greater than 250.5 μg/m³.

Jakarta frequently reaches levels of air quality that measure in the “hazardous” range on the air quality index.

Indonesia was the 9^thmost polluted country in 2020 with a mean annual PM2.5 concentration of 40.7 μg/m³. South Tangerang ranked 25^th among the most polluted cities in the world.

Apart from President Widodo, the suit also named the three Ministers of the Environment and Forestry, Health, and Home Affairs, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, Banten Governor Wahidin Halim, and West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil.

The court attributed the delays to the judges and clerks contracting COVID-19 and to the large number of documents requiring review. The plaintiff’s legal counsel filed a letter with Indonesia’s Judicial Commission and the Supervisory Body of the Supreme Court, alleging that the delays were a potential violation of the judicial code of ethics.³

Pollutant health implications

Jakarta’s primary air pollutants are PM2.5 and ultrafine particles. The deadliest of airborne pollutants, ultrafine particles are PM measured at less than .1 micron in diameter. Ultrafine particles are so tiny that they can enter the bloodstream after being inhaled and harm all bodily organs.

A 2020 review article in Experimental & Molecular Medicine noted a number of health hazards from exposure to ultrafine particles, including:⁴

induced cough
worsened asthma
pulmonary and systemic inflammation
cardiac disease
hypertension
metal fume fever
Diabetes
cancer
low birthweight

Khalisah Khalid sued because her young son’s health had been impacted by the city’s pollution, resulting in frequent nosebleeds and allergies.

A plaintiff in the case, Khalisah Khalid, filed suit because her young son’s health had been impacted by the city’s pollution, resulting in frequent nosebleeds and allergies.⁵

Air pollution sources

Jakarta’s biggest sources of pollution are a result of rapid urban growth, including vehicle traffic, industrial emissions, and coal-fired power plants. These emissions cause 5.5 million illnesses annually, according to Governor Anies Baswedan.⁶

According to the 2020 world air quality report, lockdowns implemented to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus reduced air pollution from industrial and traffic sources globally in 2020. Jakarta closed offices, schools, and places of worship from April 10 through June 5, 2020. These restrictions reduced PM2.5 output by 12.8 percent in April and 31.7 percent in May as compared to 2019.
\n\n
\n\nEven with the reduction in traffic pollution, Jakarta’s air quality was still poor due to the city’s heavy dependence on nearby coal-fired power plants.

Like many countries in Southeast Asia, Indonesian farmers typically burn waste materials on croplands as a cheap method of clearing the land for future plantings.

Additionally, as rainforests are destroyed to make room for more agricultural use including palm oil, wet peat land becomes drier and more susceptible to fires. Peat fires are hard to put out and emit some of the worst pollutants.⁷

Smoke from crop fires and wildfires can contribute to poor air quality for many miles from their source.

Next steps

Indonesia’s government has a stated goal of moving from non-renewable, polluting sources of energy towards renewable energy and carbon neutrality by 2060.⁸ The country plans to derive 23 percent of its energy from renewable resources by 2025. To make this happen, the country’s state utility, Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), will gradually retire its coal-fired power plants, shuttering the first three by 2030.

Pollution is so bad in Jakarta that it is one of several contributing factors in President Widodo’s push to relocate the government to an as-yet unbuilt city in Kalimantan on the eastern coastline of the island of Borneo.⁹ The relocation is estimated to result in moving 1.5 million civil servants out of Jakarta.

It is unclear what specific steps the government will take in response to the court verdict.

But it is unclear what specific steps the government will take in response to the court verdict. The president’s spokesperson, Fadjroel Rhaman, said that further action would be the responsibility of the environment minister, though he didn’t state what that action might be.¹⁰The Jakarta governor’s office indicated that they were reviewing the decision.

The court has instructed the government to improve the national air quality standard and found that provincial governments must conduct emission checks on vehicles in Jakarta and conduct outdoor air quality tests. The court stipulated that this gathered air quality information must be made available to the public.

Andriyanu noted that the lawsuit didn’t request compensation – only that “the defendants carry out their duties and obligations to protect their citizens from the dangers of air pollution.”

\"This is a victory that we need to celebrate together. We are one step ahead in providing clean air for our children and grandchildren in the future.\"

The takeaway

While hazardous air quality is a major health concern, poor air quality doesn’t have to be hazardous to be a health threat. No amount of air pollution is safe for human beings.

It’s essential that leaders everywhere take bolder steps to make sure that everyone has access to clean, healthy air.

It’s essential that leaders everywhere take bolder steps to ensure everyone has access to clean, healthy air. As the people of Jakarta demonstrated, citizen activists can make a difference by holding leaders to account when necessary.

Officials can improve public health by taking several steps to immediately help improve air quality, both in Jakarta and throughout Indonesia.

incentivize reduced vehicle use and the purchase of energy-efficient vehicles
incentivize alternatives to crop burning, while maintaining pressure on enforcement
fast track development of carbon-neutral energy sources
\nmonitor air quality in the most at-risk and impacted neighborhoods and take steps to reduce nearby emission sources

","2021-decision-jakarta-air-pollution-lawsuit","gid://shopify/Article/606890098987","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/2021-decision-jakarta-air-pollution-lawsuit","2021-09-16T21:13:59Z",[390,643],"Indonesian court finds president negligent in air quality suit",{"_10":1215,"_243":1216,"_246":1217,"_248":1153,"_244":1154},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406313992566","Jakarta pollution","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/JakartaBR_Desktop_6c9e613f-20b6-4687-86d4-30743a63b2c9.jpg?v=1751626806",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1219,"_1115":1220,"_1131":1221,"_1133":1221,"_1134":1222,"_1136":1223,"_985":1224,"_10":1225,"_1140":1226,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1227,"_577":1228,"_541":1229,"_1148":1230},{"_12":1128},{"_985":1130},"Read our analysis of air quality data from Thailand’s 2021 burning season as compared to years past.","In 2020, it was estimated that the average Thai resident was exposed to an annual PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter size of 2.5 microns or smaller) concentration of 21.4 μg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter), nearly two times the World Health Organization (WHO) target of 10 μg/m3. For a few months each year, Chiang Mai, northern Thailand’s tourist-friendly cultural hotspot, ranks among the world’s most polluted cities. Chiang Mai’s air pollution is largely attributable to agricultural burning rather than fossil-fuel-related combustion experienced in other global cities. Chiang Mai’s air pollution is largely attributable to agricultural burning rather than fossil-fuel-related combustion. Agricultural burning, also called open burning or “burning season,” is the practice of setting fire to cultivated fields to clear the land in preparation for the next crop cycle. In northern Thailand, agricultural burning practices are mostly used on sugarcane, rice, and maize crop fields between December and April.1 The concurrence of burning season and Thailand’s driest, coldest months can result in extremely poor regional air quality, as this weather creates favorable conditions for particle pollution to accumulate and linger. Often, smoke from Thailand’s agricultural burns persists until Songkran, the Thai new year. Around this time, the impending rainy season helps clear the skies and tamp down polluted air. Air quality during Thailand’s burning season commonly reaches and remains at levels considered “unhealthy” by the WHO and the air quality index (AQI) defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In Chiang Mai, the deterioration in air quality is often plainly visible. Brown smoke from crop-burning can frequently obstruct sunlight and views from Doi Suthep, a mountain that’s the site of a centuries-old Buddhist template. This analysis examines the impact of agricultural burning on Chiang Mai air quality over a five-year period, evaluating the effectiveness of the Ministry of Agriculture’s ban on crop burning and proposing what more could be done to reduce dangerous PM2.5 levels. The importance of PM2.5 Of all the pollutants emitted from agricultural burning, PM2.5, particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, is widely regarded as the most dangerous. Average PM2.5 pollution levels during the agricultural burning period are often three to five times higher than the WHO’s 10 microgram per cubic meter (μg/m3) standard for annual PM2.5 exposure, with concentration levels during some hours climbing as high as 400 μg/m3.2 Average PM2.5 pollution levels in Chiang Mai during agricultural burning can climb as high as 400 μg/m3. Due to its small size, PM2.5 can penetrate deep into the human respiratory system and into the bloodstream, causing far-reaching health impacts. PM2.5 originating from agricultural burning includes: smoke black carbon (soot) chemicals dust dirt Epidemiological studies have linked exposure to PM2.5 to detrimental health effects, including:3 asthma chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) respiratory infections stroke heart attack death PM2.5 pollution standards The following analysis uses the US EPA air quality index (AQI) to correlate PM2.5 concentration values to a widely accepted standard for health risk, supplemented by the WHO annual mean exposure threshold of 10 μg/m3. Thailand has its own standard for acceptable air quality, recommending that PM2.5 levels not exceed 50 μg/m3 on a 24-hour basis. 50 μg/m3 closely correlates to the US EPA “unhealthy” limit of 55.4 μg/m3.4 To compare air quality levels using this standard, PM2.5 levels color-coded green, yellow, and orange (0-150) are deemed acceptable, while levels color-coded red, purple, and maroon (151-301+) are not (see Figure 1 for a visualization of the US AQI standard). Figure 1: US AQI levels from 0-301+, equivalent PM2.5 standards by μg/m³, and health recommendations for each level. Source: IQAir\" src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/1747_AQLChart_US_v3_WEB_210521b.jpg\"> Methodology This analysis examines PM2.5 levels reported by ground-level monitoring stations in Chiang Mai, Thailand across three months (January, February, and March) during 2021. This data is compared to the same time period in 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017. A three-month time period was selected for the agricultural burning season in Thailand because the actual start and end dates vary each year based on weather conditions and other variables. Comparing the same time period for each year helps reduce the influence of changes in weather that might affect measured PM2.5 levels. Data was collected from 37 public PM2.5 sensors aggregated on the IQAir platform. Two are operated by the Thailand Pollution Control Department, part of the Thai government. All others represent validated non-governmental air quality monitors. Findings Per the three-month average during the open burning season, Chiang Mai experienced less PM2.5 pollution in 2021 than in 2020 and 2019, but higher PM2.5 concentrations compared to 2018 and 2017. During all 5 years, PM2.5 concentrations were recorded at dangerously unhealthy levels. In 2021, the city experienced average monthly PM2.5 concentrations drastically above the WHO’s 10 μg/m3 target (see Figure 2): January: 42.5 μg/m3 February: 47.7 μg/m3 March: 83.3 μg/m3 Figure 2: Average annual and monthly PM2.5 concentrations, color-coded by US Air Quality Index categories. Source: IQAir\" src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Figure2-ChiangMai-monthly-averages.jpg\"> From 2017-2021, March was the most polluted month, with average PM2.5 concentrations frequently double that of the other months in the three-month monitoring period. Only 1.5 percent of hours met the US AQI “good” standard Over the three-month monitoring period in 2021, only 1.5 percent of hours averaged PM2.5 concentrations below 12.0 μg/m3, the US AQI standard for “good.” By comparison, this threshold was met by: 0.7 percent of hours in 2020 2.6 percent of hours in 2019 2.0 percent of hours in 2018 1.2 percent of hours in 2017 More hours in 2021 had levels deemed “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse than any other year examined (see Figure 3). Even though the frequency of “good” air quality was up from 2020, so too were average PM2.5 concentrations above 35.4 μg/m3. Figure 3: Chiang Mai’s distribution of hourly PM2.5 concentrations from January 1 - March 31, shown as US Air Quality Index categories. Source: IQAir\" src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Figure3-ChiangMai-percent-horus.png\"> Burning season is beginning earlier Trends indicate an increasingly earlier start in agricultural burning that may be the result of: climate change, which has pushed agricultural workers to start the season earlier to avoid droughts government bans on crop burning during January and February Average PM2.5 concentrations during December and January of 2021 and 2020 were double that of the same months in 2017, 2018, and 2019 (see Figure 4 for PM2.5 levels during each month as divided by daily PM2.5 concentrations). Figure 4: Daily PM2.5 levels in Chiang Mai from 2017-2021, indicated by US AQI color. Source: IQAir\" src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Figure4-ChiangMai-calander-year.jpg\"> Why do farmers participate in open burning? Open burning practices are illegal in Thailand. Farmers, however, often have little recourse to find alternatives given their financial situation. Hiring workers to cut stalks and collect leaves manually can delay sowing of the next crop cycle and raise the total cost of cultivation by 30 to 40 percent. Hiring workers to cut stalks and collect leaves manually can delay sowing of the next crop cycle and raise the total cost of cultivation by 30 to 40 percent. Mechanized harvesting provides an alternative, but it is often prohibitively costly and typically used less than 10% of the time.5 Farmers fear that costly solutions could threaten their market share, reduce demand, and endanger their livelihood. Many farmers are also indebted to large agribusinesses and suffer from falling prices and diminished yields. This can make the transition to more laborious methods or more expensive technology unfeasible. In order to navigate around the burn ban imposed in 2020, many farmers have resorted to burning their fields at night when smoke sources are less likely to be detected. Many farmers are indebted to large agribusiness and suffer from falling prices and diminished yields. This can make the transition to more laborious methods or more expensive technology unfeasible. What is being done to curtail agricultural burning? The government, while banning the practice on a federal level, does not provide any resources to ease the transition to cleaner alternatives. No money, machinery, or labor is offered to farmers to promote compliance. Some federal organizations have taken measures to begin helping farmers make the transition from agricultural burning to more healthy, sustainable methods of preparing for the next season. In 2021, the Department of Agricultural Extension campaigned in Northern Thailand to demonstrate environment-friendly ways to handle farm waste. It is yet to be seen whether these efforts will have an observable impact on air pollution levels in the region. When agricultural smoke becomes particularly severe, the Thai armed forces are sometimes employed by the Thai government to put out the fires. Cloud seeding, a type of weather modification that changes a cloud's structure to increase the chance of precipitation, is also used under the discretion of the Royal Rainmaking Project. The rain spawned from cloud seeding can help to tamp down smoke and clear the skies, although the long-term climate impact of this practice has yet to be determined. Despite government efforts to reduce the concentration of airborne particulates, air pollution continues to pose a significant health threat to residents in Thailand and beyond, as smoke from crop burning can travel for thousands of miles into neighboring countries. Despite government efforts to reduce airborne particulates, air pollution continues to pose a significant health threat to residents in Thailand and beyond, as smoke from crop burning can travel for thousands of miles into neighboring countries. Other solutions for effectively combating crop burning may include: government subsidies government-provided mechanized harvesters diversification of crops breaking up large agribusinesses to allow farmers to earn more and gain more control over their farms Summary While average PM2.5 concentrations were down from 2020 (a record burning season) to 2021, they were roughly in line with 2019 and nearly 20 percent higher than 2018 and 2017. The 2021 season also had the most hours with PM2.5 concentrations over 35.4 μg/m3 (“unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse), placing children, elderly, and people with pre-existing heart and lung disease at a higher risk than previous years. Farmers in northern Thailand often resort to crop burning as a means for clearing land of residue, pests, and weeds. While this practice allows farmers to turn over fields quickly with fewer resources, it is costly for public health and the environment. A review of PM2.5 concentration data over the last 5 years fails to show a drastic change in the 2021 season from years past despite increasing public knowledge about the air quality impacts of crop burning. To achieve safe air quality, a more committed and multifaceted approach is required.","

In 2020, it was estimated that the average Thai resident was exposed to an annual PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter size of 2.5 microns or smaller) concentration of 21.4 μg/m³ (micrograms per cubic meter), nearly two times the World Health Organization (WHO) target of 10 μg/m³.

For a few months each year, Chiang Mai, northern Thailand’s tourist-friendly cultural hotspot, ranks among the world’s most polluted cities. Chiang Mai’s air pollution is largely attributable to agricultural burning rather than fossil-fuel-related combustion experienced in other global cities.

Chiang Mai’s air pollution is largely attributable to agricultural burning rather than fossil-fuel-related combustion.

Agricultural burning, also called open burning or “burning season,” is the practice of setting fire to cultivated fields to clear the land in preparation for the next crop cycle. In northern Thailand, agricultural burning practices are mostly used on sugarcane, rice, and maize crop fields between December and April.¹

The concurrence of burning season and Thailand’s driest, coldest months can result in extremely poor regional air quality, as this weather creates favorable conditions for particle pollution to accumulate and linger. Often, smoke from Thailand’s agricultural burns persists until Songkran, the Thai new year. Around this time, the impending rainy season helps clear the skies and tamp down polluted air.

Air quality during Thailand’s burning season commonly reaches and remains at levels considered “unhealthy” by the WHO and the air quality index (AQI) defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In Chiang Mai, the deterioration in air quality is often plainly visible. Brown smoke from crop-burning can frequently obstruct sunlight and views from Doi Suthep, a mountain that’s the site of a centuries-old Buddhist template.

This analysis examines the impact of agricultural burning on Chiang Mai air quality over a five-year period, evaluating the effectiveness of the Ministry of Agriculture’s ban on crop burning and proposing what more could be done to reduce dangerous PM2.5 levels.

The importance of PM2.5

Of all the pollutants emitted from agricultural burning, PM2.5, particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, is widely regarded as the most dangerous.

Average PM2.5 pollution levels during the agricultural burning period are often three to five times higher than the WHO’s 10 microgram per cubic meter (μg/m³) standard for annual PM2.5 exposure, with concentration levels during some hours climbing as high as 400 μg/m³.²

Average PM2.5 pollution levels in Chiang Mai during agricultural burning can climb as high as 400 μg/m³.

Due to its small size, PM2.5 can penetrate deep into the human respiratory system and into the bloodstream, causing far-reaching health impacts. PM2.5 originating from agricultural burning includes:

smoke
black carbon (soot)
chemicals
dust
dirt

Epidemiological studies have linked exposure to PM2.5 to detrimental health effects, including:³

asthma
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
respiratory infections
stroke
heart attack
death

PM2.5 pollution standards

The following analysis uses the US EPA air quality index (AQI) to correlate PM2.5 concentration values to a widely accepted standard for health risk, supplemented by the WHO annual mean exposure threshold of 10 μg/m³.

Thailand has its own standard for acceptable air quality, recommending that PM2.5 levels not exceed 50 μg/m³ on a 24-hour basis. 50 μg/m³ closely correlates to the US EPA “unhealthy” limit of 55.4 μg/m³.⁴

To compare air quality levels using this standard, PM2.5 levels color-coded green, yellow, and orange (0-150) are deemed acceptable, while levels color-coded red, purple, and maroon (151-301+) are not (see Figure 1 for a visualization of the US AQI standard).

$\"AQI$ Figure 1: US AQI levels from 0-301+, equivalent PM2.5 standards by μg/m³, and health recommendations for each level. Source: IQAir\" src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/1747_AQLChart_US_v3_WEB_210521b.jpg\">

Methodology

This analysis examines PM2.5 levels reported by ground-level monitoring stations in Chiang Mai, Thailand across three months (January, February, and March) during 2021. This data is compared to the same time period in 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

A three-month time period was selected for the agricultural burning season in Thailand because the actual start and end dates vary each year based on weather conditions and other variables. Comparing the same time period for each year helps reduce the influence of changes in weather that might affect measured PM2.5 levels.

Data was collected from 37 public PM2.5 sensors aggregated on the IQAir platform. Two are operated by the Thailand Pollution Control Department, part of the Thai government. All others represent validated non-governmental air quality monitors.

Findings

Per the three-month average during the open burning season, Chiang Mai experienced less PM2.5 pollution in 2021 than in 2020 and 2019, but higher PM2.5 concentrations compared to 2018 and 2017. During all 5 years, PM2.5 concentrations were recorded at dangerously unhealthy levels.

In 2021, the city experienced average monthly PM2.5 concentrations drastically above the WHO’s 10 μg/m³ target (see Figure 2):

\nJanuary: 42.5 μg/m³\n
\nFebruary: 47.7 μg/m³\n
\nMarch: 83.3 μg/m³\n

$\"Chiang$ Figure 2: Average annual and monthly PM2.5 concentrations, color-coded by US Air Quality Index categories. Source: IQAir\" src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Figure2-ChiangMai-monthly-averages.jpg\">

From 2017-2021, March was the most polluted month, with average PM2.5 concentrations frequently double that of the other months in the three-month monitoring period.

Only 1.5 percent of hours met the US AQI “good” standard

Over the three-month monitoring period in 2021, only 1.5 percent of hours averaged PM2.5 concentrations below 12.0 μg/m³, the US AQI standard for “good.”

By comparison, this threshold was met by:

0.7 percent of hours in 2020
2.6 percent of hours in 2019
2.0 percent of hours in 2018
1.2 percent of hours in 2017

More hours in 2021 had levels deemed “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse than any other year examined (see Figure 3). Even though the frequency of “good” air quality was up from 2020, so too were average PM2.5 concentrations above 35.4 μg/m³.

$\"Chiang$ Figure 3: Chiang Mai’s distribution of hourly PM2.5 concentrations from January 1 - March 31, shown as US Air Quality Index categories. Source: IQAir\" src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Figure3-ChiangMai-percent-horus.png\">

Burning season is beginning earlier

Trends indicate an increasingly earlier start in agricultural burning that may be the result of:

\nclimate change, which has pushed agricultural workers to start the season earlier to avoid droughts
\ngovernment bans on crop burning during January and February

Average PM2.5 concentrations during December and January of 2021 and 2020 were double that of the same months in 2017, 2018, and 2019 (see Figure 4 for PM2.5 levels during each month as divided by daily PM2.5 concentrations).

$\"Figure$ Figure 4: Daily PM2.5 levels in Chiang Mai from 2017-2021, indicated by US AQI color. Source: IQAir\" src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Figure4-ChiangMai-calander-year.jpg\">

Why do farmers participate in open burning?

Open burning practices are illegal in Thailand. Farmers, however, often have little recourse to find alternatives given their financial situation. Hiring workers to cut stalks and collect leaves manually can delay sowing of the next crop cycle and raise the total cost of cultivation by 30 to 40 percent.

Hiring workers to cut stalks and collect leaves manually can delay sowing of the next crop cycle and raise the total cost of cultivation by 30 to 40 percent.

Mechanized harvesting provides an alternative, but it is often prohibitively costly and typically used less than 10% of the time.⁵ Farmers fear that costly solutions could threaten their market share, reduce demand, and endanger their livelihood.

Many farmers are also indebted to large agribusinesses and suffer from falling prices and diminished yields. This can make the transition to more laborious methods or more expensive technology unfeasible. In order to navigate around the burn ban imposed in 2020, many farmers have resorted to burning their fields at night when smoke sources are less likely to be detected.

Many farmers are indebted to large agribusiness and suffer from falling prices and diminished yields. This can make the transition to more laborious methods or more expensive technology unfeasible.

What is being done to curtail agricultural burning?

The government, while banning the practice on a federal level, does not provide any resources to ease the transition to cleaner alternatives. No money, machinery, or labor is offered to farmers to promote compliance.

Some federal organizations have taken measures to begin helping farmers make the transition from agricultural burning to more healthy, sustainable methods of preparing for the next season.

In 2021, the Department of Agricultural Extension campaigned in Northern Thailand to demonstrate environment-friendly ways to handle farm waste. It is yet to be seen whether these efforts will have an observable impact on air pollution levels in the region.

When agricultural smoke becomes particularly severe, the Thai armed forces are sometimes employed by the Thai government to put out the fires.

Cloud seeding, a type of weather modification that changes a cloud's structure to increase the chance of precipitation, is also used under the discretion of the Royal Rainmaking Project. The rain spawned from cloud seeding can help to tamp down smoke and clear the skies, although the long-term climate impact of this practice has yet to be determined.

Despite government efforts to reduce the concentration of airborne particulates, air pollution continues to pose a significant health threat to residents in Thailand and beyond, as smoke from crop burning can travel for thousands of miles into neighboring countries.

Despite government efforts to reduce airborne particulates, air pollution continues to pose a significant health threat to residents in Thailand and beyond, as smoke from crop burning can travel for thousands of miles into neighboring countries.

Other solutions for effectively combating crop burning may include:

government subsidies
government-provided mechanized harvesters
diversification of crops
breaking up large agribusinesses to allow farmers to earn more and gain more control over their farms

Summary

While average PM2.5 concentrations were down from 2020 (a record burning season) to 2021, they were roughly in line with 2019 and nearly 20 percent higher than 2018 and 2017.

The 2021 season also had the most hours with PM2.5 concentrations over 35.4 μg/m³ (“unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse), placing children, elderly, and people with pre-existing heart and lung disease at a higher risk than previous years.

Farmers in northern Thailand often resort to crop burning as a means for clearing land of residue, pests, and weeds. While this practice allows farmers to turn over fields quickly with fewer resources, it is costly for public health and the environment.

A review of PM2.5 concentration data over the last 5 years fails to show a drastic change in the 2021 season from years past despite increasing public knowledge about the air quality impacts of crop burning. To achieve safe air quality, a more committed and multifaceted approach is required.

","thailand-2021-burning-season","gid://shopify/Article/606890656043","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/thailand-2021-burning-season","2021-05-17T06:00:00Z",[390,643],"New data exposes Thailand’s 2021 “burning season”",{"_10":1231,"_243":1232,"_246":1233,"_248":1153,"_244":1154},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406779330934","Sugarcane burned by farmer for pre-harvest in Thailand","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/ThailandBurning_Desktop_05c6d12f-7bc8-42f1-96da-c9324f546466.jpg?v=1753353539",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1235,"_1115":1236,"_1131":1237,"_1133":1237,"_1134":1238,"_1136":1239,"_985":1240,"_10":1241,"_1140":1242,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1243,"_577":1244,"_541":1245,"_1148":1246},{"_12":1128},{"_985":1130},"Discover the reasons behind Dhaka’s elevated air pollution in early 2021.","In 2020, Dhaka, Bangladesh ranked as the second most polluted capital city globally. Its nearly 22 million residents were exposed to an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 77.1 μg/m3, more than 7 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) annual mean target for safer air at 10 μg/m3.Dhaka’s chronically polluted skies are a major public health concern. The WHO estimates that outdoor air pollution kills an estimated 108,000 Bangladesh residents every year, while countless others suffer morbidities associated with long-term exposure.1The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a renewed focus on the health impacts of PM2.5 pollution. A respiratory illness, COVID-19 disproportionately affects populations exposed to long-term air pollution.2 In South Asia, an estimated 15 percent of COVID-19 deaths are attributed to air pollution exposure.COVID-19 disproportionately affects populations exposed to long-term air pollution. In South Asia, an estimated 15% of COVID-19 deaths are attributed to chronic pollution exposure.By some measures, the early months of 2021 have been the most polluted on record. At the same time, Dhaka has suffered its highest number of COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began, despite vaccination rollout across the country.3This analysis examines the reasons behind Dhaka's relatively high wintertime pollution levels and presents the status of air quality in the capital during the early months of 2021, including its peak as the most polluted city in the world (see Figure 1). The consequences of this record-breaking air pollution will likely play out during the rest of the year and beyond.Figure 1: On April 23rd, 2021 Dhaka topped the Most Polluted Cities ranking. Source: IQAir' src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Dhaka-most-pollution.png\">Importance of PM2.5PM2.5, or particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller, describes a mixture of microscopic solid and liquid particles, including: smoke or soot dust dirt wind-blown salt chemicals pathogens PM2.5 is frequently regarded as the most dangerous air pollutant to human health. Due to its microscopic size, it is able to penetrate deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream. Once transported in the blood, PM2.5 can affect a number of organs and contribute to a range of morbidities, including: asthma chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) respiratory infections stroke heart attack death PM2.5 emission sourcesData used in this study reveals that while Dhaka’s annual PM2.5 exposure has been on the decline since its peak in 2018 at 97.1 μg/m3, 2021 may prove to be an exception. While Dhaka’s annual PM2.5 exposure has declined since its 2018 peak at 97.1 μg/m3, 2021 may prove to be an exception.Dhaka ranks third among the fastest growing megacities worldwide.4 On average, 536,000 new residents move to the city every year, usually migrating from the countryside for better employment opportunities.Much of the city’s PM2.5 emissions are linked to its rapid population growth, with brick kilns and dust from construction sites contributing 73 percent of citywide PM2.5.5 Motor vehicles are the next largest source, comprising 10.4 percent of total PM2.5 emissions, followed by lead, biomass burning, and sea salt.Brick kilnsBrick kilns are the single largest source of PM2.5 pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Over 2,000 kilns exist in the capital, burning coal to create bricks for new construction. Many are operating illegally.6Brick kiln chimneys release dense plumes of PM2.5 smoke as well as: sulfur oxides volatile organic compounds carbon monoxide nitrogen oxides While no government authority has been designated to control air pollution in Bangladesh or in Dhaka, local and federal policy has been established to reduce emissions from brick kilns, including:7 requiring fixed-chimney kilns be converted to zig zag kilns capable of reducing emissions by more than 50 percent imposed emission standards on kilns and fines for exceedances ending environmental clearance certificates on brick kilns promoting the transition from brick to concrete blocks by 2025 DustDust is the second leading cause of PM2.5 pollution in the capital.Located on a river delta, Bangladesh is built on sand and fine sediment that is easily kicked up and resuspended, particularly during construction when ground is broken for new development.Construction on Dhaka’s Metro Rail Project and Elevated Expressway Project are expected to be major sources of dust resuspension in the coming years.8Motor vehiclesIn Dhaka, fossil-fuel-powered vehicles are the third leading source of PM2.5, comprising 10.4 percent of all PM2.5 emissions.As the capital’s population has grown, so too have the number of vehicles. Between 2010 and 2018, Dhaka has observed a 68 percent increase in the number of vehicles on the road as the prevalence of certain types of vehicles (e.g., trucks, jeeps, minivans) more than doubled.Between 2010 and 2018, Dhaka has observed a 68% increase in vehicles on the road as the prevalence of trucks, jeeps, and minivans more than doubled.Dhaka’s seasonal air pollutionDhaka experiences strong seasonal deviations in air quality. December through March are the most polluted months of the year, often experiencing PM2.5 concentration levels more than six times higher than summer months.In Dhaka, wintertime PM2.5 levels are often six times higher than summertime levels.Elevated wintertime pollution is the result of both increased emissions as well as weather conditions that prevent pollution dispersion.9Other causes of increased PM2.5 emissions during winter include: soil erosion from tilling and less frequent rainfall in the winter dry season seasonal operation of 1,000 brick kilns as construction picks up during cooler and drier winter months road and soil dust emissions from increased construction activity Winter weather conditions that allow particle pollution to accumulate and linger include: low wind speed infrequent rainfall, which normally helps to coagulate or tamp down PM2.5 and other pollutants transboundary air pollution from India to Dhaka through the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) corridor temperature inversions that trap air pollutants close to the ground and prevent normal dispersal 2021 Dhaka Pollution FindingsDuring the first three months of 2021, Dhaka averaged a PM2.5 concentration of 154.6 μg/m3.During the first three months of 2021, Dhaka averaged a PM2.5 concentration of 154.6 μg/m3.Compared to the same time period in years past, the start of 2021 was more polluted than the start of 2020 (141.8 μg/m3), 2019 (144.8 μg/m3), and 2017 (146.6 μg/m3), but less polluted than the start of 2018 (156.3 μg/m3).While the three-month monitoring period in 2021 was 1.1 percent less polluted than 2018 (the most polluted year on record), data indicates that 2021 will be more polluted than 2018 and any other year in recorded history for Dhaka. While early 2021 was 1.1 percent less polluted than 2018 (the most polluted year on record), data indicates that 2021 may be more polluted than 2018 and any other year in recorded history for Dhaka.2021 had the most polluted March on recordMarch 2021 averaged a PM2.5 concentration of 118.0 μg/m3, higher than any other March in the last 5 years or since air pollution records began for Dhaka. March 2018 ranks as the second most polluted March in the 5-year span, with a level 7 percent lower than March 2021 (110.0 μg/m3).Every day in March 2021 averaged a U.S. AQI “unhealthy” PM2.5 concentration or worse, which has never before happened in the 5-year monitoring period (see Figure 2).Figure 2: Average annual and monthly PM2.5 concentrations in Dhaka, color-coded by U.S. Air Quality Index categories. Source: IQAir\" src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Dhaka-monthly-averages-v2.png\">No hours met U.S. AQI standards for “good”During the first three months of the year, no hours in Dhaka met the U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) standard for “good.”During the first three months of 2021, no hours in Dhaka met the U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) standard for “good.”Only 2.3 percent of hours were deemed “moderate” or “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” while the remaining 97.7 percent of hours were classified as “unhealthy” or worse (see Figure 3).Figure 3: Dhaka’s distribution of hourly PM2.5 concentrations from January 1 to March 31, shown as U.S. Air Quality Index categories. Source: IQAir\" src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Dhaka-percent-hours.png\">2021 had the most hours with a concentration above 150.4 μg/m3, “very unhealthy”During the first three months of 2021, 47.1 percent of hours were deemed “very unhealthy” or worse – the most of any year in recorded history.During the first three months of 2021, 47.1% of hours were deemed “very unhealthy” or worse – the most of any year in recorded history in Dhaka.By comparison, the number of hours that averaged a “very unhealthy” concentration (≥ 150.4 μg/m3) in years past are (see Figure 4): 2020: 40.2 percent 2019: 40.6 percent 2018: 44.4 percent 2017: 42.0 percent Figure 4: Daily PM2.5 levels in Dhaka from 2017-2021, indicated by U.S. AQI color. Source: IQAir\" src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/calander-year-Dhaka.png\">The takeawayAir quality in Dhaka is an environmental risk for heart and lung disease and early death.Since 2017, the beginning of Dhaka’s air quality data records, every year has averaged pollution levels more than 7 times the WHO recommendation, falling into the U.S. AQI “unhealthy” range.Early data indicates that 2021 may be Dhaka’s most polluted year on record. For the first three months of the year, 2021 lagged behind 2018 (the most polluted year) by just 1.1 percent. But 2021 has already set records, with the most polluted March in Dhaka history and the highest number of hours meeting the “unhealthy” U.S. AQI designation.To reduce annual average PM2.5 emissions in the capital, focus should be placed on winter emissions.Regulations that control dust from construction sites and brick kiln activity could also be better mitigated with policy and enforcement. Transitioning from bricks to concrete block alternatives as well as from fossil fuels to lower-emission or renewable sources of energy could both significantly reduce PM2.5 in Dhaka.","

In 2020, Dhaka, Bangladesh ranked as the second most polluted capital city globally. Its nearly 22 million residents were exposed to an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 77.1 μg/m³, more than 7 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) annual mean target for safer air at 10 μg/m³.

Dhaka’s chronically polluted skies are a major public health concern. The WHO estimates that outdoor air pollution kills an estimated 108,000 Bangladesh residents every year, while countless others suffer morbidities associated with long-term exposure.¹

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a renewed focus on the health impacts of PM2.5 pollution. A respiratory illness, COVID-19 disproportionately affects populations exposed to long-term air pollution.² In South Asia, an estimated 15 percent of COVID-19 deaths are attributed to air pollution exposure.

COVID-19 disproportionately affects populations exposed to long-term air pollution. In South Asia, an estimated 15% of COVID-19 deaths are attributed to chronic pollution exposure.

By some measures, the early months of 2021 have been the most polluted on record. At the same time, Dhaka has suffered its highest number of COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began, despite vaccination rollout across the country.³

This analysis examines the reasons behind Dhaka's relatively high wintertime pollution levels and presents the status of air quality in the capital during the early months of 2021, including its peak as the most polluted city in the world (see Figure 1). The consequences of this record-breaking air pollution will likely play out during the rest of the year and beyond.

$\"Dhaka$ Figure 1: On April 23rd, 2021 Dhaka topped the Most Polluted Cities ranking. Source: IQAir' src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Dhaka-most-pollution.png\">

Importance of PM2.5

PM2.5, or particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller, describes a mixture of microscopic solid and liquid particles, including:

smoke or soot
dust
dirt
wind-blown salt
chemicals
pathogens

PM2.5 is frequently regarded as the most dangerous air pollutant to human health. Due to its microscopic size, it is able to penetrate deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream. Once transported in the blood, PM2.5 can affect a number of organs and contribute to a range of morbidities, including:

asthma
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
respiratory infections
stroke
heart attack
death

PM2.5 emission sources

Data used in this study reveals that while Dhaka’s annual PM2.5 exposure has been on the decline since its peak in 2018 at 97.1 μg/m³, 2021 may prove to be an exception.

While Dhaka’s annual PM2.5 exposure has declined since its 2018 peak at 97.1 μg/m³, 2021 may prove to be an exception.

Dhaka ranks third among the fastest growing megacities worldwide.⁴ On average, 536,000 new residents move to the city every year, usually migrating from the countryside for better employment opportunities.

Much of the city’s PM2.5 emissions are linked to its rapid population growth, with brick kilns and dust from construction sites contributing 73 percent of citywide PM2.5.⁵ Motor vehicles are the next largest source, comprising 10.4 percent of total PM2.5 emissions, followed by lead, biomass burning, and sea salt.

Brick kilns

Brick kilns are the single largest source of PM2.5 pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Over 2,000 kilns exist in the capital, burning coal to create bricks for new construction. Many are operating illegally.⁶

Brick kiln chimneys release dense plumes of PM2.5 smoke as well as:

While no government authority has been designated to control air pollution in Bangladesh or in Dhaka, local and federal policy has been established to reduce emissions from brick kilns, including:⁷

requiring fixed-chimney kilns be converted to zig zag kilns capable of reducing emissions by more than 50 percent
imposed emission standards on kilns and fines for exceedances
ending environmental clearance certificates on brick kilns
promoting the transition from brick to concrete blocks by 2025

Dust

Dust is the second leading cause of PM2.5 pollution in the capital.

Located on a river delta, Bangladesh is built on sand and fine sediment that is easily kicked up and resuspended, particularly during construction when ground is broken for new development.

Construction on Dhaka’s Metro Rail Project and Elevated Expressway Project are expected to be major sources of dust resuspension in the coming years.⁸

Motor vehicles

In Dhaka, fossil-fuel-powered vehicles are the third leading source of PM2.5, comprising 10.4 percent of all PM2.5 emissions.

As the capital’s population has grown, so too have the number of vehicles. Between 2010 and 2018, Dhaka has observed a 68 percent increase in the number of vehicles on the road as the prevalence of certain types of vehicles (e.g., trucks, jeeps, minivans) more than doubled.

Between 2010 and 2018, Dhaka has observed a 68% increase in vehicles on the road as the prevalence of trucks, jeeps, and minivans more than doubled.

Dhaka’s seasonal air pollution

Dhaka experiences strong seasonal deviations in air quality. December through March are the most polluted months of the year, often experiencing PM2.5 concentration levels more than six times higher than summer months.

In Dhaka, wintertime PM2.5 levels are often six times higher than summertime levels.

Elevated wintertime pollution is the result of both increased emissions as well as weather conditions that prevent pollution dispersion.⁹

Other causes of increased PM2.5 emissions during winter include:

soil erosion from tilling and less frequent rainfall in the winter dry season
seasonal operation of 1,000 brick kilns as construction picks up during cooler and drier winter months
road and soil dust emissions from increased construction activity

Winter weather conditions that allow particle pollution to accumulate and linger include:

low wind speed
infrequent rainfall, which normally helps to coagulate or tamp down PM2.5 and other pollutants
transboundary air pollution from India to Dhaka through the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) corridor
temperature inversions that trap air pollutants close to the ground and prevent normal dispersal

2021 Dhaka Pollution Findings

During the first three months of 2021, Dhaka averaged a PM2.5 concentration of 154.6 μg/m³.

During the first three months of 2021, Dhaka averaged a PM2.5 concentration of 154.6 μg/m³.

Compared to the same time period in years past, the start of 2021 was more polluted than the start of 2020 (141.8 μg/m³), 2019 (144.8 μg/m³), and 2017 (146.6 μg/m³), but less polluted than the start of 2018 (156.3 μg/m³).

While the three-month monitoring period in 2021 was 1.1 percent less polluted than 2018 (the most polluted year on record), data indicates that 2021 will be more polluted than 2018 and any other year in recorded history for Dhaka.

While early 2021 was 1.1 percent less polluted than 2018 (the most polluted year on record), data indicates that 2021 may be more polluted than 2018 and any other year in recorded history for Dhaka.

2021 had the most polluted March on record

March 2021 averaged a PM2.5 concentration of 118.0 μg/m³, higher than any other March in the last 5 years or since air pollution records began for Dhaka. March 2018 ranks as the second most polluted March in the 5-year span, with a level 7 percent lower than March 2021 (110.0 μg/m³).

Every day in March 2021 averaged a U.S. AQI “unhealthy” PM2.5 concentration or worse, which has never before happened in the 5-year monitoring period (see Figure 2).

$\"Dhaka$ Figure 2: Average annual and monthly PM2.5 concentrations in Dhaka, color-coded by U.S. Air Quality Index categories. Source: IQAir\" src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Dhaka-monthly-averages-v2.png\">

No hours met U.S. AQI standards for “good”

During the first three months of the year, no hours in Dhaka met the U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) standard for “good.”

During the first three months of 2021, no hours in Dhaka met the U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) standard for “good.”

Only 2.3 percent of hours were deemed “moderate” or “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” while the remaining 97.7 percent of hours were classified as “unhealthy” or worse (see Figure 3).

$\"Dhaka$ Figure 3: Dhaka’s distribution of hourly PM2.5 concentrations from January 1 to March 31, shown as U.S. Air Quality Index categories. Source: IQAir\" src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Dhaka-percent-hours.png\">

2021 had the most hours with a concentration above 150.4 μg/m³, “very unhealthy”

During the first three months of 2021, 47.1 percent of hours were deemed “very unhealthy” or worse – the most of any year in recorded history.

During the first three months of 2021, 47.1% of hours were deemed “very unhealthy” or worse – the most of any year in recorded history in Dhaka.

By comparison, the number of hours that averaged a “very unhealthy” concentration (≥ 150.4 μg/m³) in years past are (see Figure 4):

\n2020: 40.2 percent
\n2019: 40.6 percent
\n2018: 44.4 percent
\n2017: 42.0 percent

$\"Daily$ Figure 4: Daily PM2.5 levels in Dhaka from 2017-2021, indicated by U.S. AQI color. Source: IQAir\" src=\"https://cms.iqair.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/calander-year-Dhaka.png\">

The takeaway

Air quality in Dhaka is an environmental risk for heart and lung disease and early death.

Since 2017, the beginning of Dhaka’s air quality data records, every year has averaged pollution levels more than 7 times the WHO recommendation, falling into the U.S. AQI “unhealthy” range.

Early data indicates that 2021 may be Dhaka’s most polluted year on record. For the first three months of the year, 2021 lagged behind 2018 (the most polluted year) by just 1.1 percent. But 2021 has already set records, with the most polluted March in Dhaka history and the highest number of hours meeting the “unhealthy” U.S. AQI designation.

To reduce annual average PM2.5 emissions in the capital, focus should be placed on winter emissions.

Regulations that control dust from construction sites and brick kiln activity could also be better mitigated with policy and enforcement. Transitioning from bricks to concrete block alternatives as well as from fossil fuels to lower-emission or renewable sources of energy could both significantly reduce PM2.5 in Dhaka.

","dhaka-suffers-record-air-pollution-2021","gid://shopify/Article/606889476395","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/dhaka-suffers-record-air-pollution-2021","2021-04-13T22:07:16Z",[390,643],"Dhaka suffers record PM2.5 levels in 2021",{"_10":1247,"_243":1248,"_246":1249,"_248":1250,"_244":1154},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406142058870","Air pollution in Dakha affecting citizens","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/pexels-azraq-al-rezoan-3449646-7473234_cropped_1_cropped.jpg?v=1751026838",2878,{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1252,"_1115":1253,"_1131":1254,"_1133":1254,"_1134":1255,"_1136":1256,"_985":1257,"_10":1258,"_1140":1259,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1260,"_577":1261,"_541":1262,"_1148":1263},{"_12":1128},{"_985":1130},"A partnership between IQAir and Greenpeace estimated deaths from PM2.5 in 2020. See the results.","Jakarta, Indonesia, 18 February – PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter size of 2.5 microns or smaller)air pollution was behind approximately 160,000 deaths in the world’s five most populous cities in 2020, according to a Greenpeace Southeast Asia analysis of IQAir data from a live Cost Estimator.1,2 While some cities saw small improvements in air quality as a result of lockdowns due to COVID-19 (a serious disease, often fatal, that is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus), the devastating impact of air pollution underscores the need to rapidly scale up clean energy, build electrified, accessible transport systems and end reliance on fossil fuels. “When governments choose coal, oil and gas over clean energy, it’s our health that pays the price. Air pollution from burning fossil fuels increases our likelihood of dying from cancer or stroke, suffering asthma attacks and of experiencing severe COVID-19. We can’t afford to keep breathing dirty air when the solutions to air pollution are widely available and affordable,” said Avinash Chanchal, climate campaigner at Greenpeace India. Delhi sustained an estimated 54,000 avoidable deaths due to PM2.5 air pollution in 2020, or one death per 500 people. Jakarta suffered an estimated 13,000 avoidable deaths due to PM2.5 air pollution in 2020 and sustained air pollution-related losses of USD 3.4 billion, equivalent to 8.2% of the city’s total gross domestic product (GDP). In 2020, the estimated economic cost of PM2.5 air pollution exceeded USD 5 billion in 14 cities included in the analysis. Of the included cities, the highest estimated total financial cost from air pollution was recorded in Tokyo, which suffered approximately 40,000 avoidable deaths and an economic loss of USD 43 billion due to PM2.5 air pollution in 2020. Los Angeles recorded the highest per capita financial cost of PM2.5 air pollution of all cities on the estimator, at approximately USD 2,700 per resident. Estimated air pollution impacts in the world’s five biggest cities (2020) Name Population Estimated Deaths Estimated Cost (USD) Delhi 30 million 54,000 8.1 billion Mexico City 22 million 15,000 8.0 billion São Paulo 22 million 15,000 7.0 billion Shanghai 26 million 39,000 19 billion Tokyo 37 million 40,000 43 billion Greenpeace urges that governments at all levels invest in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar energy, and clean-energy powered, accessible public transport to protect residents from lethal air pollution. “Breathing should not be deadly. The fact that poor air quality claimed an estimated 160,000 lives in the five largest cities alone should give us pause, especially in a year when many cities were seeing lower air pollution levels due to less economic activity. Governments, corporations and individuals must do more to eliminate the sources of air pollution and make our cities better places to live,” said Frank Hammes, CEO of IQAir. “In most parts of the world it is now cheaper to build clean energy infrastructure than to continue investing in polluting fossil fuels, even before taking the cost of air pollution and climate change into account. As governments look to recover from the economic impact of COVID, they must create green jobs, build accessible, clean-energy powered public transport systems and invest in renewable energy sources like wind and solar. We demand a better normal, not only for the sake of our air, but also to address the flooding, heat waves and intensified storms that we’re experiencing as a result of climate change,” said Bondan Andriyanu, campaigner at Greenpeace Indonesia.","

Jakarta, Indonesia, 18 February – PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter size of 2.5 microns or smaller)air pollution was behind approximately 160,000 deaths in the world’s five most populous cities in 2020, according to a Greenpeace Southeast Asia analysis of IQAir data from a live Cost Estimator.^1,2 While some cities saw small improvements in air quality as a result of lockdowns due to COVID-19 (a serious disease, often fatal, that is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus), the devastating impact of air pollution underscores the need to rapidly scale up clean energy, build electrified, accessible transport systems and end reliance on fossil fuels.

“When governments choose coal, oil and gas over clean energy, it’s our health that pays the price. Air pollution from burning fossil fuels increases our likelihood of dying from cancer or stroke, suffering asthma attacks and of experiencing severe COVID-19. We can’t afford to keep breathing dirty air when the solutions to air pollution are widely available and affordable,” said Avinash Chanchal, climate campaigner at Greenpeace India.

Delhi sustained an estimated 54,000 avoidable deaths due to PM2.5 air pollution in 2020, or one death per 500 people. Jakarta suffered an estimated 13,000 avoidable deaths due to PM2.5 air pollution in 2020 and sustained air pollution-related losses of USD 3.4 billion, equivalent to 8.2% of the city’s total gross domestic product (GDP).

In 2020, the estimated economic cost of PM2.5 air pollution exceeded USD 5 billion in 14 cities included in the analysis. Of the included cities, the highest estimated total financial cost from air pollution was recorded in Tokyo, which suffered approximately 40,000 avoidable deaths and an economic loss of USD 43 billion due to PM2.5 air pollution in 2020. Los Angeles recorded the highest per capita financial cost of PM2.5 air pollution of all cities on the estimator, at approximately USD 2,700 per resident.

Estimated air pollution impacts in the world’s five biggest cities (2020)

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

Name	Population	Estimated Deaths	Estimated Cost (USD)
Delhi	30 million	54,000	8.1 billion
Mexico City	22 million	15,000	8.0 billion
São Paulo	22 million	15,000	7.0 billion
Shanghai	26 million	39,000	19 billion
Tokyo	37 million	40,000	43 billion

Greenpeace urges that governments at all levels invest in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar energy, and clean-energy powered, accessible public transport to protect residents from lethal air pollution.

“Breathing should not be deadly. The fact that poor air quality claimed an estimated 160,000 lives in the five largest cities alone should give us pause, especially in a year when many cities were seeing lower air pollution levels due to less economic activity. Governments, corporations and individuals must do more to eliminate the sources of air pollution and make our cities better places to live,” said Frank Hammes, CEO of IQAir.

“In most parts of the world it is now cheaper to build clean energy infrastructure than to continue investing in polluting fossil fuels, even before taking the cost of air pollution and climate change into account. As governments look to recover from the economic impact of COVID, they must create green jobs, build accessible, clean-energy powered public transport systems and invest in renewable energy sources like wind and solar. We demand a better normal, not only for the sake of our air, but also to address the flooding, heat waves and intensified storms that we’re experiencing as a result of climate change,” said Bondan Andriyanu, campaigner at Greenpeace Indonesia.

","iqair-greenpeace-2020-air-pollution-deaths","gid://shopify/Article/606889083179","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/iqair-greenpeace-2020-air-pollution-deaths","2021-02-17T22:02:02Z",[390,643,848],"IQAir and Greenpeace report 2020 air pollution deaths",{"_10":1264,"_243":1265,"_246":1266,"_248":1153,"_244":1154},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406249537910","City with air pollution","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/Greenp_PR_Desk_b_8333225e-6dec-403a-acb9-051c039e91f1.jpg?v=1751449688",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1268,"_1115":1269,"_1131":1270,"_1133":1270,"_1134":1271,"_1136":1272,"_985":1273,"_10":1274,"_1140":1275,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1276,"_577":1277,"_541":1278,"_1148":1279},{"_12":1128},{"_985":1130},"Learn how IQAir and Greenpeace calculated the deaths caused by air pollution in 2020.","The year 2020 will be remembered as tragic by people around the globe because of COVID-19 (a serious disease, often fatal, that is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus). In 2020, air pollution claimed over 160,000 lives in the world’s five largest cities. The economic cost of air pollution from reduced productivity for just these five cities has been estimated to be over $85.1 billion. Many of these deaths were preventable – they may not have occurred had these 160,000 people not been exposed to air pollution. These sobering estimates speak to the need for greater public emphasis on air pollution prevention and control as well as investment in air cleaning and monitoring technologies. In 2020, air pollution claimed over 160,000 lives in the world’s five largest cities. In response to this global crisis, Greenpeace Southeast Asia partnered with IQAir to create the Cost of Air Pollution estimator. Using the IQAir air quality database, drawn from over 80,000 sensors worldwide, the estimator calculates deaths and economic costs incurred in select cities during 2020. Air pollution’s avoidable and lethal impacts have been felt globally, sparing none of the world’s five largest cities. Tokyo, Japan: 40,000 deaths, $43 billion USD lost Delhi, India: 54,000 deaths, $8.1 billion USD lost Shanghai, China: 39,000 deaths, $19 billion USD lost Mexico City, 15,000 deaths, $8 billion USD lost Sao Paulo, Brazil: 15,000 deaths, $7 billion USD lost Total Deaths: 163,000Total Cost: $85.1 billion USD These five cities have a combined population of 137 million people, or nearly 2 percent of the world’s total population. The IQAir platform measures ground-level particulate matter (PM2.5) in real time. This data is then combined with a city’s population, health data, and scientific risk models to determine mortality and cost estimates. PM2.5 is particulate matter pollution measuring 2.5 microns or less. These microscopic particles are considered a grave threat to human health. PM2.5 can be inhaled and absorbed into the bloodstream, impacting both the respiratory and cardiovascular system.1 Global health costs of air pollution Though early 2020 lockdowns for COVID-19 slowed global air pollution by reducing travel and associated pollutants, the impact proved to be brief. The Cost of Air Pollution estimator demonstrates that air pollution still claimed many lives in major metropolitan cities around the world. New Delhi, Tokyo, and Shanghai were the top three cities for estimated deaths among the selected cities. Delhi, India: 54,000 deaths Tokyo, Japan: 40,000 deaths Shanghai, China: 39,000 deaths Beijing, China: 34,000 deaths Mumbai, India: 25,000 deaths Pictured: Shanghai’s air quality index levels on 14 January, 2021 at 1 pm (PST) varied from moderate downtown to unhealthy in suburban areas. In Thailand, more than 15.2 million people in six cities were strongly impacted by air pollution, experiencing over 13,000 deaths.Bangkok accounted for most of the losses, with 9,400 avoidable deaths recorded in 2020. Pictured: Bangkok’s air quality on 15 January, 2021 at 9 am (PST). The air quality index levels for the city range from \"unhealthy for sensitive groups\" to \"unhealthy for the public.\" Four cities in Indonesia with a population of 17.5 million people lost 19,750 people. In Jakarta, 13,000 people died due to air pollution, or 1,200 people per million. While the COVID-19 lockdowns may have provided a temporary respite by reducing air pollution, emerging research suggests that exposure to pollutants may have increased COVID-19 deaths. A 2020 study published in Science Advances found that if a U.S. county had a history of higher exposure levels to PM2.5- an increase of 1 microgram per cubic meter (μg/m3) in the county’s long-term PM2.5 exposure -that county experienced an 11% increase in their COVID-19 mortality rate.2 Global economic cost of air pollution The economic costs of air pollution for humanity have been devastating. Air pollution’s economic consequences carry huge implications for people and their communities, including: reduced work hours and shifts increased health care costs from disability, asthma, and chronic respiratory disease lost household income from caregiving for ill family members For communities, air pollution’s economic costs can translate to lowered economic productivity from work absences and overall reduced life expectancy. The Cost of Air Pollution estimator considers these factors, among others, in calculating a city’s economic cost. In terms of absolute cost, five global cities lost an estimated $135 billion inU.S. dollars (USD)to air pollution in 2020. Tokyo, Los Angeles, and New York City carried the highest air pollution losses among the cities examined in 2020. Tokyo, Japan: $43 billion USD lost Los Angeles, California: $32 billion USD lost New York City, New York: $25 billion USD lost Shanghai, China: $19 billion USD lost Beijing, China: $16 billion USD lost Los Angeles, California had the greatest per capita air pollution cost in the world, at $2,700 USD per person. Residents in the next three cities after Los Angeles experienced $1,400 USD per capita or more in air pollution costs: Berlin, Germany: $1,900 USD Canberra, Australia: $1,700 USD Yunlin, Taiwan: $1,400 USD Combined, five global cities lost an estimated $135 billion USD to air pollution in 2020. Two cities in northern India lost at least 13 percent of their gross domestic product, or GDP, in 2020 to air pollution: Lucknow: 14 percent of GDP Delhi: 13 percent of GDP Pictured: On 13 January, 2021 at 2:30 pm (PST), New Delhi registered an air quality of 346 and Lucknow registered 262. Numerous northern Indian cities were rated with very unhealthy to hazardous air. India’s projected national GDP for 2020 was $2.6 trillion USD, the sixth highest GDP in the world.3 But despite India’s high-ranking national GDP, northern Indian cities carried a disproportionate amount of financial burden from air pollution compared to residents of other global cities. The takeaway Poor air quality is taking a calculable toll on the world’s largest cities. The calculations provided through the Cost of Air Pollution estimator capture a real-time snapshot of the key health and economic costs that result from air pollution. These estimates tell us that not enough is being done to save lives and improve global quality of life. Air pollution’s extreme human and financial costs demand greater need for air quality activism, accountability, pollution prevention, and clean air technologies. You can find out where your city ranks among the world’s most polluted cities. Monthly PM2.5 air quality index levels for the prior year are provided for thousands of cities.","

The year 2020 will be remembered as tragic by people around the globe because of COVID-19 (a serious disease, often fatal, that is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus).

In 2020, air pollution claimed over 160,000 lives in the world’s five largest cities. The economic cost of air pollution from reduced productivity for just these five cities has been estimated to be over $85.1 billion.

Many of these deaths were preventable – they may not have occurred had these 160,000 people not been exposed to air pollution. These sobering estimates speak to the need for greater public emphasis on air pollution prevention and control as well as investment in air cleaning and monitoring technologies.

In 2020, air pollution claimed over 160,000 lives in the world’s five largest cities.

In response to this global crisis, Greenpeace Southeast Asia partnered with IQAir to create the Cost of Air Pollution estimator.

Using the IQAir air quality database, drawn from over 80,000 sensors worldwide, the estimator calculates deaths and economic costs incurred in select cities during 2020.

Air pollution’s avoidable and lethal impacts have been felt globally, sparing none of the world’s five largest cities.

\nTokyo, Japan: 40,000 deaths, $43 billion USD lost
\nDelhi, India: 54,000 deaths, $8.1 billion USD lost
\nShanghai, China: 39,000 deaths, $19 billion USD lost
\nMexico City, 15,000 deaths, $8 billion USD lost
\nSao Paulo, Brazil: 15,000 deaths, $7 billion USD lost

Total Deaths: 163,000
Total Cost: $85.1 billion USD

These five cities have a combined population of 137 million people, or nearly 2 percent of the world’s total population.

The IQAir platform measures ground-level particulate matter (PM2.5) in real time. This data is then combined with a city’s population, health data, and scientific risk models to determine mortality and cost estimates.

PM2.5 is particulate matter pollution measuring 2.5 microns or less. These microscopic particles are considered a grave threat to human health. PM2.5 can be inhaled and absorbed into the bloodstream, impacting both the respiratory and cardiovascular system.¹

Global health costs of air pollution

Though early 2020 lockdowns for COVID-19 slowed global air pollution by reducing travel and associated pollutants, the impact proved to be brief. The Cost of Air Pollution estimator demonstrates that air pollution still claimed many lives in major metropolitan cities around the world.

New Delhi, Tokyo, and Shanghai were the top three cities for estimated deaths among the selected cities.

Delhi, India: 54,000 deaths
Tokyo, Japan: 40,000 deaths
Shanghai, China: 39,000 deaths
\nBeijing, China: 34,000 deaths
\nMumbai, India: 25,000 deaths

$\"picture1\"$

Pictured: Shanghai’s air quality index levels on 14 January, 2021 at 1 pm (PST) varied from moderate downtown to unhealthy in suburban areas.

In Thailand, more than 15.2 million people in six cities were strongly impacted by air pollution, experiencing over 13,000 deaths.Bangkok accounted for most of the losses, with 9,400 avoidable deaths recorded in 2020.

$\"picture$

Pictured: Bangkok’s air quality on 15 January, 2021 at 9 am (PST). The air quality index levels for the city range from \"unhealthy for sensitive groups\" to \"unhealthy for the public.\"

Four cities in Indonesia with a population of 17.5 million people lost 19,750 people. In Jakarta, 13,000 people died due to air pollution, or 1,200 people per million.

While the COVID-19 lockdowns may have provided a temporary respite by reducing air pollution, emerging research suggests that exposure to pollutants may have increased COVID-19 deaths.

A 2020 study published in Science Advances found that if a U.S. county had a history of higher exposure levels to PM2.5- an increase of 1 microgram per cubic meter (μg/m3) in the county’s long-term PM2.5 exposure -that county experienced an 11% increase in their COVID-19 mortality rate.²

Global economic cost of air pollution

The economic costs of air pollution for humanity have been devastating.

Air pollution’s economic consequences carry huge implications for people and their communities, including:

reduced work hours and shifts
increased health care costs from disability, asthma, and chronic respiratory disease
lost household income from caregiving for ill family members

For communities, air pollution’s economic costs can translate to lowered economic productivity from work absences and overall reduced life expectancy.

The Cost of Air Pollution estimator considers these factors, among others, in calculating a city’s economic cost.

In terms of absolute cost, five global cities lost an estimated $135 billion inU.S. dollars (USD)to air pollution in 2020. Tokyo, Los Angeles, and New York City carried the highest air pollution losses among the cities examined in 2020.

Tokyo, Japan: $43 billion USD lost
Los Angeles, California: $32 billion USD lost
New York City, New York: $25 billion USD lost
Shanghai, China: $19 billion USD lost
Beijing, China: $16 billion USD lost

Los Angeles, California had the greatest per capita air pollution cost in the world, at $2,700 USD per person.

Residents in the next three cities after Los Angeles experienced $1,400 USD per capita or more in air pollution costs:

\nBerlin, Germany: $1,900 USD
\nCanberra, Australia: $1,700 USD
\nYunlin, Taiwan: $1,400 USD

Combined, five global cities lost an estimated $135 billion USD to air pollution in 2020.

Two cities in northern India lost at least 13 percent of their gross domestic product, or GDP, in 2020 to air pollution:

\nLucknow: 14 percent of GDP
Delhi: 13 percent of GDP

$\"picture$
Pictured: On 13 January, 2021 at 2:30 pm (PST), New Delhi registered an air quality of 346 and Lucknow registered 262. Numerous northern Indian cities were rated with very unhealthy to hazardous air.

India’s projected national GDP for 2020 was $2.6 trillion USD, the sixth highest GDP in the world.³ But despite India’s high-ranking national GDP, northern Indian cities carried a disproportionate amount of financial burden from air pollution compared to residents of other global cities.

The takeaway

Poor air quality is taking a calculable toll on the world’s largest cities. The calculations provided through the Cost of Air Pollution estimator capture a real-time snapshot of the key health and economic costs that result from air pollution. These estimates tell us that not enough is being done to save lives and improve global quality of life.

Air pollution’s extreme human and financial costs demand greater need for air quality activism, accountability, pollution prevention, and clean air technologies.

You can find out where your city ranks among the world’s most polluted cities. Monthly PM2.5 air quality index levels for the prior year are provided for thousands of cities.

","the-cost-of-air-pollution-in-2020","gid://shopify/Article/606889050411","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/the-cost-of-air-pollution-in-2020","2021-02-17T15:44:59Z",[390,643],"The cost of air pollution in 2020",{"_10":1280,"_243":1265,"_246":1281,"_248":1153,"_244":1154},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406443098486","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/AQL_CostOfAirPollution_Desktop_A_a303efd6-0d1b-4d5d-95e7-99aea2e3e0e2.jpg?v=1752144673",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1283,"_1115":1284,"_1131":1285,"_1133":1285,"_1134":1286,"_1136":1287,"_985":1288,"_10":1289,"_1140":1290,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1291,"_577":1292,"_541":1293,"_1148":1294},{"_12":1128},{"_985":1130},"See why Delhi and Lahore are experiencing dangerously hazardous air quality for weeks on end.","Since the beginning of October, a thick brown smog has shrouded Northern India and Pakistan. To residents, it’s a familiar sight: “Parali” season, or stubble-burning, has begun. During the fall, farmers set fire to bare stalks of harvested crops to clear the land for the following season’s cultivation. As these agricultural fields burn, regional air pollution spikes to “very unhealthy” and “hazardous'' levels, often for days or weeks at a time. Pictured: Delhi and Lahore top the Major City Ranking for worst air pollution globally on 9 November, at 8:00am (MST). The severe air pollution levels in these two cities is largely attributed to agricultural fires. On 10 November at 10:30 AM, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) reached a record high for the season: 1092. PM2.5(particulate matter with a diameter size of 2.5 microns or smaller)concentration levels at this time measured 813 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3), roughly 32 times the World Health Organization (WHO) target for daily exposure (25 μg/m3). Pictured: Hourly air quality index (AQI) levels reach 1039 on Tuesday, November 10. As of mid-November 2020, as many as 4,000 agricultural fires were burning at any given time in the 409 km (254 mi) stretch between Delhi, India and Lahore, Pakistan. The region, which spans Punjab and Haryana province, is known as India’s agricultural “breadbasket.” Farms here alternate between two harvesting seasons: a winter wheat crop reaped in April and May and a summer rice crop reaped in October and November.1 Harvesting the fall’s rice crop is most often associated with open burning. This is because mechanized rice harvesters tend to leave behind a significant amount of waste. In order to prepare the fields for the next sow in a few short weeks, farmers resort to burning the remaining residue. In 2020, fires commenced around mid-October. Since then, air quality levels in the region have remained “very unhealthy” or worse. This air quality designation indicates that all 50 million residents exposed are likely to experience some adverse health effects as a result. The stubble burning season of 2020 has already greatly exceeded the 2019 season. Between 1-23 October, a total of 11,796 fires burned in Punjab as compared to just 4,889 fires during the same period in 2019.2 This year, a much larger area was harvested, hence the increase in fires. Why is crop burning such a major air quality concern? At first glance, crop burning can appear to be an atrocious but preventable air quality concern. But from a farmer’s perspective, stubble burning not only shortens and eases the transition to the next season but also rids the land of pests and weeds and returns plant-stored nitrogen back to the soil. In an industry where margins are thin, schedules must be kept, and time is money, the convenience and cost savings afforded by crop burning supersedes all else. But these short-term economic benefits come at a high cost to the environment and human health. Worldwide, open burning represents the leading cause for air pollution-related illness in outdoor environments and contributes significantly to climate change.3 Why is Delhi so polluted? Delhi has the reputation of having some of the world’s worst air quality, even without the impact of crop burning in November. In 2019, Delhi was ranked the most polluted capital city in the world, with an annual PM2.5 concentration of, 98.6 μg/m³, nearly 10 times the World Health Organization annual exposure target of 10 μg/m³. While November, peak stubble burning season, is typically the city’s most polluted month, averaging a PM2.5 concentration of 200.7 μg/m³ in 2019, high pollution levels tend to be sustained through January, well after the Pawali season is over. Pictured: Yearly and monthly PM2.5 averages across major cities in Pakistan and Northern India. India’s SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research) program estimates that smoke blown into Delhi from agricultural farms only contributes to roughly 20-40 percent of Delhi’s city-wide emissions on any given day in Pawali season.4 Other sources of Delhi’s pollution mix include: transportation emissions biomass burning for household cooking and heating industry coal combustion High wintertime air quality levels are not simply indicative of emissions alone. Delhi’s geography and weather often play a role by preventing normal emission dispersion. The rice harvest season coincides with post-monsoon conditions that stagnate air. During winter, the average wind speed in Delhi varies between 1-3 m/s, roughly one third slower than average summer speeds. Winds are typically considered the most powerful weather condition for dispersing air pollution. Without winds to carry pollutants away, emissions accumulate in the valley and pollution levels rise. Making matters worse is Delhi’s geographic location in a “bowl” surrounded by mountains. As coastal winds blow in, they become trapped by the foothills of the Himalayas, with only a narrow outlet to escape. Notoriously polluted cities, Beijing, China and Los Angeles, California, have similar geographic conditions to these. The combination of unideal conditions result in Delhi’s frequently unhealthy air quality. In 2019, 60.5 percent of hours in Delhi were classified as “unhealthy” or worse, with 7.8 percent deemed “hazardous.” Only 1.1 percent of hours were deemed to have “good” air quality. As a result of such severe and unrelenting pollution levels, it is estimated the city suffered a loss of 41,000 deaths annually and at least $6 billion in economic costs from January to November 2020. What are the health impacts of crop burning pollution? Agriculture is an essential industry, but commercial crop production can have negative impacts on human health. In countries like India and Pakistan, crop burning is a primary contributor to poor air quality and can be very detrimental to human health. A 2019 study in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that people living in northern India, where stubble burning was most common, experienced a three-fold higher risk of acute respiratory infection.5 Children under the age of 5 were especially found to be at risk. Exposure to these pollutants can have numerous short-term effects, such as: coughing and wheezing weakness vomiting upset stomach headaches dizziness confusion chest pain and tightness shortness of breath lung, eye, throat, and nose irritation irregular heartbeat increased risk of respiratory infection more frequent and intense asthma attacks Longer-term health effects of exposure to crop burning pollution may include: respiratory illness and chronic lung disease neurological disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) emphysema increased carcinogenesis risk change in lung function cardiovascular illness premature death Crop burning also contributes high concentrations of toxic air pollutants, including:6 carbon dioxide carbon monoxide nitrogen oxides sulphur oxides methane PM10 PM2.5 black carbon What are Delhi & Lahore doing to curb crop burning pollution? 2019 marked the first year of India’s National Clean Air Program (NCAP), a roadmap for tackling air pollution through monitoring, regulation, and enforcement. Major targets include reducing PM2.5 pollution by 20-30% in key cities by 2024 (as compared to 2017 levels).7 The state of Punjab has long banned stubble-burning, but enforcement has been lack-luster. Prompted by exceedingly high pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR region, the central government announced it would dissolve the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) on 29 October and replace it with the Commission on Air Quality Management in the jurisdiction of the Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh provinces.8 This new commission has been encouraged to take all measures necessary to stop stubble burning and improve regional air quality. Non-compliance with the new Commission’s measures will result in a maximum jail sentence of five years, a high fine, or both. Even in the face of such severe penalties, however, stubble burning continues unabated. Farmers have protested that they lack financial incentives to make a switch to cleaner waste management practices. The Punjab government has attempted to incentivize farmers to reduce this practice by, for example, offering 27,000 stubble removing machines. To date, only 14,000 have been distributed. More incentives are likely needed for cooperation, as farms (especially small-scale farms) lack resources for making the transition alone. With government incentives and rebates as well as fines and penalties, the Commission is hopeful that emissions can be driven down. However, it may take years before farmers are able to transition to environmentally-friendly waste management practices. Some progress has been made. As compared to 2018, 2019 saw improvements in PM2.5 concentrations across all Indian cities (except for in Nagpur). These reductions, however, appear to be more attributable to economic slowdown and favourable meteorological conditions than air pollution mitigation measures. It’s unclear whether improvements in air quality will continue. The lockdown measures due to COVID-19 (a serious disease, often fatal, that is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus) during the spring of 2020 resulted in short-term improvements to air quality. However, the fall of 2020 has already experienced a 240 percent increase in stubble burning as compared to 2019. Such a sharp increase in agricultural fires could jeopardize overall improvements for the year. However, many other countries have also worked to outlaw crop burning. Crop burning illegal England, Wales, and China.9,10 The practice is banned in the European Union except for plant health reasons and discouraged in Australia.11,12 It is allowed in Canada by permit and in the United States, though it is regulated in certain states and tribal governments with Smoke Management Programs.13,14 The takeaway Many farmers in India, Pakistan, and around the world are aware that their practices contribute to poor air quality. However, many believe they have little choice in the matter – they simply can’t afford to rid themselves of excess straw by other means.15 A number of conservation agriculture mitigation measures have been proposed to reduce burning in the region that may be possible in other countries as well, including:16 zero-tillage agriculture biomass used as animal feed bio-composting biomass-based thermal power plants mushroom cultivation With a combination of legislation and new agricultural practices, progress is possible in reducing and ultimately ending the poor air quality linked to crop burning for good.","

Since the beginning of October, a thick brown smog has shrouded Northern India and Pakistan. To residents, it’s a familiar sight: “Parali” season, or stubble-burning, has begun.

During the fall, farmers set fire to bare stalks of harvested crops to clear the land for the following season’s cultivation. As these agricultural fields burn, regional air pollution spikes to “very unhealthy” and “hazardous'' levels, often for days or weeks at a time.

$\"Dehli$

Pictured: Delhi and Lahore top the Major City Ranking for worst air pollution globally on 9 November, at 8:00am (MST). The severe air pollution levels in these two cities is largely attributed to agricultural fires.

On 10 November at 10:30 AM, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) reached a record high for the season: 1092. PM2.5(particulate matter with a diameter size of 2.5 microns or smaller)concentration levels at this time measured 813 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3), roughly 32 times the World Health Organization (WHO) target for daily exposure (25 μg/m³).

$\"Pictured:$

Pictured: Hourly air quality index (AQI) levels reach 1039 on Tuesday, November 10.

As of mid-November 2020, as many as 4,000 agricultural fires were burning at any given time in the 409 km (254 mi) stretch between Delhi, India and Lahore, Pakistan. The region, which spans Punjab and Haryana province, is known as India’s agricultural “breadbasket.” Farms here alternate between two harvesting seasons: a winter wheat crop reaped in April and May and a summer rice crop reaped in October and November.¹

Harvesting the fall’s rice crop is most often associated with open burning. This is because mechanized rice harvesters tend to leave behind a significant amount of waste. In order to prepare the fields for the next sow in a few short weeks, farmers resort to burning the remaining residue.

In 2020, fires commenced around mid-October. Since then, air quality levels in the region have remained “very unhealthy” or worse. This air quality designation indicates that all 50 million residents exposed are likely to experience some adverse health effects as a result.

The stubble burning season of 2020 has already greatly exceeded the 2019 season. Between 1-23 October, a total of 11,796 fires burned in Punjab as compared to just 4,889 fires during the same period in 2019.² This year, a much larger area was harvested, hence the increase in fires.

Why is crop burning such a major air quality concern?

At first glance, crop burning can appear to be an atrocious but preventable air quality concern.

But from a farmer’s perspective, stubble burning not only shortens and eases the transition to the next season but also rids the land of pests and weeds and returns plant-stored nitrogen back to the soil. In an industry where margins are thin, schedules must be kept, and time is money, the convenience and cost savings afforded by crop burning supersedes all else.

But these short-term economic benefits come at a high cost to the environment and human health. Worldwide, open burning represents the leading cause for air pollution-related illness in outdoor environments and contributes significantly to climate change.³

Why is Delhi so polluted?

Delhi has the reputation of having some of the world’s worst air quality, even without the impact of crop burning in November.

In 2019, Delhi was ranked the most polluted capital city in the world, with an annual PM2.5 concentration of, 98.6 μg/m³, nearly 10 times the World Health Organization annual exposure target of 10 μg/m³. While November, peak stubble burning season, is typically the city’s most polluted month, averaging a PM2.5 concentration of 200.7 μg/m³ in 2019, high pollution levels tend to be sustained through January, well after the Pawali season is over.
$\":$

Pictured: Yearly and monthly PM2.5 averages across major cities in Pakistan and Northern India.

India’s SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research) program estimates that smoke blown into Delhi from agricultural farms only contributes to roughly 20-40 percent of Delhi’s city-wide emissions on any given day in Pawali season.⁴

Other sources of Delhi’s pollution mix include:

transportation emissions
biomass burning for household cooking and heating
industry
coal combustion

High wintertime air quality levels are not simply indicative of emissions alone. Delhi’s geography and weather often play a role by preventing normal emission dispersion.

The rice harvest season coincides with post-monsoon conditions that stagnate air. During winter, the average wind speed in Delhi varies between 1-3 m/s, roughly one third slower than average summer speeds. Winds are typically considered the most powerful weather condition for dispersing air pollution. Without winds to carry pollutants away, emissions accumulate in the valley and pollution levels rise.

Making matters worse is Delhi’s geographic location in a “bowl” surrounded by mountains. As coastal winds blow in, they become trapped by the foothills of the Himalayas, with only a narrow outlet to escape. Notoriously polluted cities, Beijing, China and Los Angeles, California, have similar geographic conditions to these.

The combination of unideal conditions result in Delhi’s frequently unhealthy air quality. In 2019, 60.5 percent of hours in Delhi were classified as “unhealthy” or worse, with 7.8 percent deemed “hazardous.” Only 1.1 percent of hours were deemed to have “good” air quality.

As a result of such severe and unrelenting pollution levels, it is estimated the city suffered a loss of 41,000 deaths annually and at least $6 billion in economic costs from January to November 2020.

What are the health impacts of crop burning pollution?

Agriculture is an essential industry, but commercial crop production can have negative impacts on human health. In countries like India and Pakistan, crop burning is a primary contributor to poor air quality and can be very detrimental to human health.

A 2019 study in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that people living in northern India, where stubble burning was most common, experienced a three-fold higher risk of acute respiratory infection.⁵ Children under the age of 5 were especially found to be at risk.

Exposure to these pollutants can have numerous short-term effects, such as:

coughing and wheezing
weakness
vomiting
upset stomach
headaches
dizziness
confusion
chest pain and tightness
shortness of breath
lung, eye, throat, and nose irritation
irregular heartbeat
increased risk of respiratory infection
more frequent and intense asthma attacks

Longer-term health effects of exposure to crop burning pollution may include:

respiratory illness and chronic lung disease
neurological disease
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
emphysema
increased carcinogenesis risk
change in lung function
cardiovascular illness
premature death

Crop burning also contributes high concentrations of toxic air pollutants, including:⁶

What are Delhi & Lahore doing to curb crop burning pollution?

2019 marked the first year of India’s National Clean Air Program (NCAP), a roadmap for tackling air pollution through monitoring, regulation, and enforcement. Major targets include reducing PM2.5 pollution by 20-30% in key cities by 2024 (as compared to 2017 levels).⁷

The state of Punjab has long banned stubble-burning, but enforcement has been lack-luster.

Prompted by exceedingly high pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR region, the central government announced it would dissolve the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) on 29 October and replace it with the Commission on Air Quality Management in the jurisdiction of the Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh provinces.⁸

This new commission has been encouraged to take all measures necessary to stop stubble burning and improve regional air quality. Non-compliance with the new Commission’s measures will result in a maximum jail sentence of five years, a high fine, or both.

Even in the face of such severe penalties, however, stubble burning continues unabated. Farmers have protested that they lack financial incentives to make a switch to cleaner waste management practices.

The Punjab government has attempted to incentivize farmers to reduce this practice by, for example, offering 27,000 stubble removing machines. To date, only 14,000 have been distributed. More incentives are likely needed for cooperation, as farms (especially small-scale farms) lack resources for making the transition alone.

With government incentives and rebates as well as fines and penalties, the Commission is hopeful that emissions can be driven down. However, it may take years before farmers are able to transition to environmentally-friendly waste management practices.

Some progress has been made. As compared to 2018, 2019 saw improvements in PM2.5 concentrations across all Indian cities (except for in Nagpur). These reductions, however, appear to be more attributable to economic slowdown and favourable meteorological conditions than air pollution mitigation measures.

It’s unclear whether improvements in air quality will continue. The lockdown measures due to COVID-19 (a serious disease, often fatal, that is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus) during the spring of 2020 resulted in short-term improvements to air quality. However, the fall of 2020 has already experienced a 240 percent increase in stubble burning as compared to 2019. Such a sharp increase in agricultural fires could jeopardize overall improvements for the year.

However, many other countries have also worked to outlaw crop burning.

Crop burning illegal England, Wales, and China.^9,10 The practice is banned in the European Union except for plant health reasons and discouraged in Australia.^11,12 It is allowed in Canada by permit and in the United States, though it is regulated in certain states and tribal governments with Smoke Management Programs.^13,14

The takeaway

Many farmers in India, Pakistan, and around the world are aware that their practices contribute to poor air quality. However, many believe they have little choice in the matter – they simply can’t afford to rid themselves of excess straw by other means.¹⁵

A number of conservation agriculture mitigation measures have been proposed to reduce burning in the region that may be possible in other countries as well, including:¹⁶

zero-tillage agriculture
biomass used as animal feed
bio-composting
biomass-based thermal power plants
mushroom cultivation

With a combination of legislation and new agricultural practices, progress is possible in reducing and ultimately ending the poor air quality linked to crop burning for good.

","poor-air-quality-delhi-lahore-crop-burning","gid://shopify/Article/606888919339","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/poor-air-quality-delhi-lahore-crop-burning","2020-11-13T23:10:14Z",[390,643,1146],"Emergency-level air pollution in India and Pakistan",{"_10":1295,"_243":1296,"_246":1297,"_248":1153,"_244":1154},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406774940022","Fires in India","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/BreakingNews_DelhiFires_Desk_111620_228ed209-829a-4e57-9843-97f93319df4b.jpg?v=1753344188",{"_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,"_1148":1310},{"_12":1128},{"_985":1130},"Learn how to take the Clean Air Pledge for the 2020 virtual Clean Air Day.","It’s that time again – time for California Clean Air Day! Founded and organized by the Coalition for Clean Air, the annual Clean Air Day event is meant to inspire thousands to take a pledge to do their part to help improve the air around the world. But due to COVID-19 (a serious disease, often fatal, that is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus), Clean Air Day’s going to be a bit different this year. Normally, thousands of people, companies, and community organizations plan and gather for a series of some of the world’s biggest air quality events during the month of October. For example, in 2019, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) made all their public transport free for the entire day, and the Sacramento Tree Foundation led volunteers in the planting of hundreds of new trees. The necessity for social distancing presents a unique challenge for such events this year. 2020 Air quality highlights Air quality has had highs and lows in 2020. This helps to illustrate how important it is to take action to help improve air quality throughout the world. For example, in March 2020, several major cities around the world experienced some of their best air quality in decades due to shutdowns related to COVID-19.In Delhi, India, PM2.5(particulate matter with a diameter size of 2.5 microns or smaller) levels dropped 60%, and Seoul, South Korea saw an enormous 54% drop in PM2.5. Yet the air quality story didn’t end there – many cities soon started to experience dangerous levels of air quality again mere months later. During Independence Day celebrations on July 4th and 5th, the United States experienced some of the world’s worst air quality due to widespread local fireworks air pollution – some cities saw spikes in PM2.5 levels of over 900% compared to the days leading up to the holiday. These events in world air quality show that much work still must be done to improve air quality for good. Slowdowns in economic activity have only brought temporary relief from PM2.5 and other toxic pollutants that continue to come from some of the world’s biggest polluters. Take the Clean Air Pledge Clean Air Day is a global event – but it starts with people like you. So here’s what you can do for Clean Air Day this year. Start by taking the Clean Air Pledge. There’s a lot you can do in your daily life to help reduce air pollution – from little things like changing your home air filter to big things like buying a hybrid or electric car. Go to the official Clean Air Day pledge site to commit within your means to help clear the air. Just fill out the checklists to switch to more sustainable habits to reduce fuel emissions, plant something to help the air, or change your driving behavior to lower how much vehicle emissions you produce. Every little thing helps! Here are some ideas to get you started thinking about what you can do: Make only one trip a week to the grocery store or to run errands to reduce emissions from travel Buy local produce to support your local economy and reduce emissions from shipping Change your home air filter Use an air quality monitor to check air pollution levels both indoors and outdoors Buy a plant for your home or plant a garden in your yard Walk or bike to work, to run local errands, or just to get exercise instead of driving Bring your lunch to work instead of going out to eat to reduce travel emissions Don’t keep your car engine idling when you’re not driving Replace your gas-powered car to a hybrid, electric, or hydrogen-powered vehicle Keeping our air clean starts with little decisions that we make every day – and if we all do our part, billions of us together can slowly but surely empower the world to breathe cleaner air.","

It’s that time again – time for California Clean Air Day!

Founded and organized by the Coalition for Clean Air, the annual Clean Air Day event is meant to inspire thousands to take a pledge to do their part to help improve the air around the world. But due to COVID-19 (a serious disease, often fatal, that is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus), Clean Air Day’s going to be a bit different this year.

Normally, thousands of people, companies, and community organizations plan and gather for a series of some of the world’s biggest air quality events during the month of October.

For example, in 2019, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) made all their public transport free for the entire day, and the Sacramento Tree Foundation led volunteers in the planting of hundreds of new trees. The necessity for social distancing presents a unique challenge for such events this year.

2020 Air quality highlights

Air quality has had highs and lows in 2020. This helps to illustrate how important it is to take action to help improve air quality throughout the world.

For example, in March 2020, several major cities around the world experienced some of their best air quality in decades due to shutdowns related to COVID-19.In Delhi, India, PM2.5(particulate matter with a diameter size of 2.5 microns or smaller) levels dropped 60%, and Seoul, South Korea saw an enormous 54% drop in PM2.5.

Yet the air quality story didn’t end there – many cities soon started to experience dangerous levels of air quality again mere months later.

During Independence Day celebrations on July 4^th and 5^th, the United States experienced some of the world’s worst air quality due to widespread local fireworks air pollution – some cities saw spikes in PM2.5 levels of over 900% compared to the days leading up to the holiday.

These events in world air quality show that much work still must be done to improve air quality for good. Slowdowns in economic activity have only brought temporary relief from PM2.5 and other toxic pollutants that continue to come from some of the world’s biggest polluters.

Take the Clean Air Pledge

Clean Air Day is a global event – but it starts with people like you. So here’s what you can do for Clean Air Day this year.

Start by taking the Clean Air Pledge. There’s a lot you can do in your daily life to help reduce air pollution – from little things like changing your home air filter to big things like buying a hybrid or electric car.

Go to the official Clean Air Day pledge site to commit within your means to help clear the air.

Just fill out the checklists to switch to more sustainable habits to reduce fuel emissions, plant something to help the air, or change your driving behavior to lower how much vehicle emissions you produce. Every little thing helps!

Here are some ideas to get you started thinking about what you can do:

\nMake only one trip a week to the grocery store or to run errands to reduce emissions from travel
\nBuy local produce to support your local economy and reduce emissions from shipping
Change your home air filter
\nUse an air quality monitor to check air pollution levels both indoors and outdoors
\nBuy a plant for your home or plant a garden in your yard
\nWalk or bike to work, to run local errands, or just to get exercise instead of driving
\nBring your lunch to work instead of going out to eat to reduce travel emissions
\nDon’t keep your car engine idling when you’re not driving
\nReplace your gas-powered car to a hybrid, electric, or hydrogen-powered vehicle

Keeping our air clean starts with little decisions that we make every day – and if we all do our part, billions of us together can slowly but surely empower the world to breathe cleaner air.

","how-to-take-the-2020-clean-air-day-pledge","gid://shopify/Article/606888657195","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/how-to-take-the-2020-clean-air-day-pledge","2020-10-02T16:51:43Z",[390,643],"Take the Clean Air Day pledge!",{"_10":1311,"_243":1312,"_246":1313,"_248":1153,"_244":1154},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406245900662","Clean Air Day","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/CleanAirDay_Desk_b_d2e46c98-779e-403b-b028-b7a8e36fb4fa.jpg?v=1751445556",{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1315,"_1115":1316,"_1131":1317,"_1133":1318,"_1134":1319,"_1136":1320,"_985":1321,"_10":1322,"_1140":1323,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1324,"_577":1325,"_541":1327,"_1148":1328},{"_12":1128},{"_985":1130},"Learn what Swiss identity means to IQAir as an international Swiss-born company.","

Learn what Swiss identity means to IQAir as an international Swiss-born company.

","To IQAir, “Swiss Made” is more than a label we affix to our high-performance products. It’s an identity. A nationhood. A symbol of pride. But what is Swiss National Day to IQAir and Switzerland? “Swiss-ness” is a deeply embedded part of IQAir’s identity, as well as the identities of millions of Swiss people. Like IQAir, Switzerland’s almost 9 million residents declare their pride in being Swiss on August 1. What does Swiss National Day celebrate? Swiss National Day, which falls on August 1, memorialises the founding of the Swiss Confederation. In 1291, the territorial districts, or cantons, of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden aligned with each other to present a united front against the growing Habsburg dynasty that ruled neighboring Austria. To formalise the agreement, the Federal Charter of 1291, or Pacte du Rütli, was signed. The country of Switzerland now encompasses 26 cantons situated on almost 16,000 square miles in a mountainous region bordered by Austria, as well as Germany, France, Italy, and Liechtenstein. How is Swiss National Day celebrated? Swiss National Day was first recognised as an official public holiday in Switzerland in 1994. The commemoration, day mostly centers on local festivities, as the Swiss people are known for their dedication to community. Like most national celebrations around the world, traditional food and drink play a big role in the day’s activities. It often starts with a farmer’s breakfast or brunch with eggs, sausages, rosti (a potato dish) and bread buns including the traditional Augustweggen – the top of which features a cross reminiscent of the Swiss flag. The Swiss national sausage, cervelat, is the main course for many afternoon and evening barbecues. Cheese is served with every meal. Swiss hard apple cider is often the beverage of choice during, and in between, meals. Throughout the day, citizens enjoy parades, musical events (some featuring yodeling and alphorns), and historical re-creations with citizens bedecked in colorful costumes surrounded by flags. At night, children take to streets, carrying paper lanterns that bear Switzerland’s red and white cross symbol, and fireworks can be seen and heard throughout the country. More traditional celebrations involve building a bonfire in an elevated spot, recalling Switzerland’s early history and the ongoing strides that led to full independence. Prominent members of a community give speeches about the values of “Swiss-ness,” and what the future promises for the proud citizens of this multicultural, peaceable nation. Swiss National Day is widely regarded as one of the most important holidays in Switzerland. It is a day when the entire nation comes together to celebrate their shared heritage and values. What does being Swiss mean to IQAir? Swiss-ness permeates everything we do at IQAir. It drives our vision, our mission, our processes, and our philosophy. We’re dedicated to quality and our international, multicultural community. Explore high-performance air purifiers CLICK HERE From the award-winning HealthPro Series to the elegant, high-performance Atem X air purifier, to the radically inventive AirVisual platform and air quality app, we work tirelessly to ensure that all IQAir technology is at the forefront of our field in quality, innovation, and effectiveness. For IQAir, Swiss National Day is a celebration of our heritage and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards in everything we do. On this celebratory day, as on every day, we are, inspired by the values of our Swiss roots.","

To IQAir, “Swiss Made” is more than a label we affix to our high-performance products. It’s an identity. A nationhood. A symbol of pride. But what is Swiss National Day to IQAir and Switzerland?

“Swiss-ness” is a deeply embedded part of IQAir’s identity, as well as the identities of millions of Swiss people.

Like IQAir, Switzerland’s almost 9 million residents declare their pride in being Swiss on August 1.

What does Swiss National Day celebrate?

Swiss National Day, which falls on August 1, memorialises the founding of the Swiss Confederation. In 1291, the territorial districts, or cantons, of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden aligned with each other to present a united front against the growing Habsburg dynasty that ruled neighboring Austria. To formalise the agreement, the Federal Charter of 1291, or Pacte du Rütli, was signed.

The country of Switzerland now encompasses 26 cantons situated on almost 16,000 square miles in a mountainous region bordered by Austria, as well as Germany, France, Italy, and Liechtenstein.

How is Swiss National Day celebrated?

Swiss National Day was first recognised as an official public holiday in Switzerland in 1994. The commemoration, day mostly centers on local festivities, as the Swiss people are known for their dedication to community.

Like most national celebrations around the world, traditional food and drink play a big role in the day’s activities.

It often starts with a farmer’s breakfast or brunch with eggs, sausages, rosti (a potato dish) and bread buns including the traditional Augustweggen – the top of which features a cross reminiscent of the Swiss flag.

The Swiss national sausage, cervelat, is the main course for many afternoon and evening barbecues. Cheese is served with every meal. Swiss hard apple cider is often the beverage of choice during, and in between, meals.

Throughout the day, citizens enjoy parades, musical events (some featuring yodeling and alphorns), and historical re-creations with citizens bedecked in colorful costumes surrounded by flags.

At night, children take to streets, carrying paper lanterns that bear Switzerland’s red and white cross symbol, and fireworks can be seen and heard throughout the country. More traditional celebrations involve building a bonfire in an elevated spot, recalling Switzerland’s early history and the ongoing strides that led to full independence.

Prominent members of a community give speeches about the values of “Swiss-ness,” and what the future promises for the proud citizens of this multicultural, peaceable nation.

Swiss National Day is widely regarded as one of the most important holidays in Switzerland. It is a day when the entire nation comes together to celebrate their shared heritage and values.

What does being Swiss mean to IQAir?

Swiss-ness permeates everything we do at IQAir. It drives our vision, our mission, our processes, and our philosophy.

We’re dedicated to quality and our international, multicultural community.

Explore high-performance air purifiers

CLICK HERE

From the award-winning HealthPro Series to the elegant, high-performance Atem X air purifier, to the radically inventive AirVisual platform and air quality app, we work tirelessly to ensure that all IQAir technology is at the forefront of our field in quality, innovation, and effectiveness.

For IQAir, Swiss National Day is a celebration of our heritage and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards in everything we do. On this celebratory day, as on every day, we are, inspired by the values of our Swiss roots.

","celebrating-swiss-national-day","gid://shopify/Article/606884102443","https://shop-gl-eur.iqair.com/blogs/news/celebrating-swiss-national-day","2020-07-31T17:00:00Z",[390,1326,643],"Allergies and Asthma","Celebrating Swiss National Day",{"_10":1329,"_243":1330,"_246":1331,"_248":1153,"_244":1154},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/406753182070","Swiss flags hanging on buildings","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0677/4059/8571/articles/SwissDay_071322_Desktop_VFIN_fe668fe9-399e-4635-848f-dd4bbca537a1.jpg?v=1753257587","pageInfo",{"_1334":53,"_1335":53,"_1336":1337,"_1338":1339},"hasPreviousPage","hasNextPage","endCursor","eyJsYXN0X2lkIjo2MDY4ODQxMDI0NDMsImxhc3RfdmFsdWUiOjE1OTYyMTQ4MDAwMDAsIm9mZnNldCI6NTl9","startCursor","eyJsYXN0X2lkIjo2MDY4NzI0Njk4MDMsImxhc3RfdmFsdWUiOjE2NTgzNTE4NTgwMDAsIm9mZnNldCI6NDh9","selectedTag",{"_541":1342,"_983":43,"_246":987,"_988":1343},"IQAir News - Community",{"_990":991,"_992":1344,"_12":1342,"_983":43,"_246":987},"Blog","categorizedArticles",{"_1347":1348,"_1385":1386,"_1486":1487,"_1553":1554,"_1624":1625},"featured",[1349,1368],{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1350,"_1115":1351,"_1131":1352,"_1133":1353,"_1134":1354,"_1136":1355,"_985":1356,"_10":1357,"_1140":1358,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1359,"_577":1360,"_541":1362,"_1148":1363},{"_12":1128},{"_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",[643,1361,648],"Featured articles","Revealing the Invisible: Campus air quality monitoring in Cameroon",{"_10":1364,"_243":-5,"_246":1365,"_248":1366,"_244":1367},"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":1369,"_1115":1370,"_1131":1371,"_1133":1372,"_1134":1373,"_1136":1374,"_985":1375,"_10":1376,"_1140":1377,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1378,"_577":1379,"_541":1380,"_1148":1381},{"_12":1128},{"_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",[853,1361],"Should you leave an air purifier on all day?",{"_10":1382,"_243":1383,"_246":1384,"_248":1153,"_244":1154},"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",[1387,1403,1420,1436,1453,1470],{"_1124":1125,"_1126":1388,"_1115":1389,"_1131":1390,"_1133":1391,"_1134":1392,"_1136":1393,"_985":1394,"_10":1395,"_1140":1396,"_1142":-5,"_1143":1397,"_577":1398,"_541":1399,"_1148":1400},{"_12":1128},{"_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",[390,638,1146],"Wildfire Map Spotlight: Brantley Highway 82 Fire, Georgia",{"_10":1401,"_243":-5,"_246":1402,"_248":1153,"_244":1154},"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,"_1148":1416},{"_12":1128},{"_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",[390,638,663,1146],"Wildfire Map Spotlight: Pressey Fire, Central Nebraska",{"_10":1417,"_243":1418,"_246":1419,"_248":1153,"_244":1154},"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,"_1148":1433},{"_12":1128},{"_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":1366,"_244":1367},"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,"_1148":1449},{"_12":1128},{"_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",[390,638,663,1146],"Wildfire Map Spotlight: Pineland Road Fire, Georgia",{"_10":1450,"_243":1451,"_246":1452,"_248":1366,"_244":1367},"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,"_1148":1466},{"_12":1128},{"_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":1153,"_244":1154},"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,"_1148":1483},{"_12":1128},{"_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":1153,"_244":1154},"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,"_1148":1501},{"_12":1128},{"_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
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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",[390,638,1499,1146],"Popular articles","How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke",{"_10":1502,"_243":1503,"_246":1504,"_248":1153,"_244":1154},"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,"_1148":1517},{"_12":1128},{"_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":1153,"_244":1154},"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,"_1148":1533},{"_12":1128},{"_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":1153,"_244":1154},"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,"_1148":1549},{"_12":1128},{"_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":1153,"_244":1154},"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,"_1148":1568},{"_12":1128},{"_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":1153,"_244":1154},"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,"_1148":1585},{"_12":1128},{"_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":1153,"_244":1154},"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,"_1148":1600},{"_12":1128},{"_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":1153,"_244":1154},"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,"_1148":1618},{"_12":1128},{"_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,"_1148":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

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

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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

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