Air Pollution Check: Monthly Monitoring For Better Insights

Air pollution is a serious issue that affects people worldwide, with nearly half of the US population residing in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution. To address this, various organizations and websites provide tools and resources to help individuals monitor and understand the air quality in their specific locations. These tools enable people to access real-time and historical data on air pollution levels, helping them make informed decisions to protect their health and support clean-up efforts. Websites like AirNow.gov, WAQI.info, and Airly Map offer interactive maps, sensors, and calculators that provide detailed information about air pollution by month, including the Air Quality Index (AQI) and the levels of specific pollutants such as PM2.5 and ozone. By utilizing these resources, individuals can stay informed about the air quality in their areas and take necessary actions to breathe cleaner and healthier air.

Real-time air pollution maps

There are several online tools that provide real-time air pollution maps, which can be used to check air pollution by month. These maps typically provide a visual representation of air quality data from various locations around the world, allowing users to understand the current air quality in their area or in other regions of interest.

One such tool is the World Air Quality Index project (WAQI), which offers a real-time air pollution map on its website, waqi.info. This map displays air quality information for over 10,000 stations in more than 80 countries. It uses the Air Quality Index (AQI) to indicate the level of air pollution, with measurements based on particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), Ozone (O3), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), and Carbon Monoxide (CO) emissions. The GAIA air quality monitor, featured on the WAQI website, is easy to set up and provides real-time air pollution levels for specific locations.

Another resource for real-time air pollution maps is BreezoMeter, which provides live and forecast pollution data. BreezoMeter integrates with Google Maps, offering a familiar and dynamic interface for users. The platform includes various features, such as customisable maps, 360-degree panoramas, and route planning with real-time traffic information. Additionally, BreezoMeter provides insights into environmental conditions, pollen levels, and weather forecasts, making it a versatile tool for users concerned about air quality.

AirNow.gov is another website that offers real-time air quality information. It provides interactive maps, particularly useful during wildfire events, to help users understand the air quality in their specific locations. The site also includes resources like the Air Quality and Health Activity Guides, which offer advice for teachers, students, and health professionals on managing the impacts of air pollution.

These real-time air pollution maps are valuable tools for individuals seeking to monitor and improve their exposure to air pollution. By utilising these resources, users can access up-to-date information about air quality in their areas and make informed decisions to protect their health and well-being.

Air quality data tools

There are several air quality data tools available online that can help you check air pollution by month. Here are some popular options:

AirNow.gov

AirNow.gov is a website that provides air quality information for locations across the United States. It offers various tools, such as an interactive map, a mobile app, and email alerts, to help users access current and forecast air quality data. The site also provides educational resources related to air quality, including information on particle pollution, wildfires, and health impacts. Additionally, users can explore past data by city and monitor, allowing for a more detailed analysis of air pollution trends over time.

World Air Quality Index (WAQI.info)

The World Air Quality Index project offers a real-time air quality map that covers more than 10,000 stations in over 80 countries. It provides a visual representation of air pollution levels, allowing users to hover over specific locations to obtain detailed information. The GAIA air quality monitor, featured on the website, measures PM2.5 and PM10 particle pollution, two of the most harmful air pollutants, using laser particle sensors. The project utilizes data from worldwide Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) and adheres to the latest US EPA standards for air quality indexing.

OpenAQ

OpenAQ is an open-source data platform that aggregates air quality data from hundreds of sources worldwide. It provides harmonized measurements, ensuring consistency and comparability across different data sets. The platform has been utilized by researchers and for the development of air pollution prediction models, such as the Predicting What We Breathe (PWWB) model for Los Angeles County. OpenAQ's data is accessible to the public, fostering transparency and collaboration in addressing air quality issues.

US EPA Air Data

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) maintains a website that provides access to air quality data collected at outdoor monitors across the US, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Users can explore current and historical data through tools such as the daily air quality tracker and multiyear tile plots. The site allows users to download, output, view, and visualize the data, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of air pollution trends and patterns.

These tools offer a wealth of information on air quality and pollution levels, enabling users to make informed decisions, conduct research, and stay updated on the environmental conditions in their areas. Each platform provides unique features and data sources, contributing to a broader perspective on global air quality.

Air pollution by location

There are several online tools that can help you check air pollution by location. Many of these tools provide real-time air pollution data for specific cities.

AirNow.gov

AirNow.gov provides a map of current air quality for ozone or PM, whichever is highest. The website also includes an interactive map with data for each state.

World Air Quality Index (WAQI)

The WAQI website provides a real-time air quality map for over 80 countries and more than 10,000 stations worldwide. The map uses the GAIA air quality monitor, which measures PM2.5 and PM10 particle pollution in real time. You can click on any of the flags on the map to get the full air pollution data for a specific city.

Airly

Airly is a smart air quality monitoring system that includes a network of air quality sensors, a web platform, and Android and iOS applications. The Airly sensors measure the level of outdoor air pollution in real time by reading a series of air parameters (PM1, PM2.5, PM10, temperature, pressure, and humidity) in a particular location. The Airly Map allows you to check the air pollution in your location and add locations to your favorites.

IQAir

IQAir provides air quality data for specific cities, such as Los Angeles. For example, according to the 2019 State of the Air report, Los Angeles had the worst ozone air pollution in the United States. The website also includes information on the health effects of air pollution and the sources of pollution in Los Angeles.

In addition to these websites, there are other real-time air pollution maps available online, such as those provided by aqicn.org and AirVisual. These maps provide air quality data for over 100 countries and allow users to participate by contributing data from their own air quality stations.

Air pollution forecasts

AirNow.gov is a website that provides air quality data and information at the local, state, national, and world levels. It offers an interactive map that allows users to access real-time and historical air quality data, as well as fire and smoke maps for monitoring air quality during fire events. The AirNow map displays the current air quality, represented by the Air Quality Index (AQI), for ozone or particulate matter (PM), whichever is highest. The map also provides forecast information for separate pollutants, with tomorrow's forecast typically available by 4 pm local time.

The AirNow map includes features such as the Time Slider, which enables users to view AQI data for the last 24 hours and the Archive Date picker, allowing users to select specific dates and cycle through months and years to review historical AQI data. The map uses contouring to represent air quality data, and users can read about the interpolation method used to create these contour maps. Additionally, the AirNow website offers tools like the Air Quality Flag Program, EnviroFlash emails, web cameras, and custom map widgets to help users stay informed about air quality.

The World Air Quality Index project (WAQI.info) is another resource for checking air pollution by month. It provides a real-time air quality map covering over 10,000 stations in more than 80 countries. The map uses the US EPA standard and the Instant Cast reporting formula to index real-time pollution data. By hovering over flags on the map, users can access specific city information. The GAIA air quality monitor, which is part of the WAQI project, measures PM2.5 and PM10 particle pollution levels in real-time using laser particle sensors.

Both AirNow.gov and WAQI.info offer interactive maps and tools that provide real-time and historical air quality data, allowing users to check air pollution levels by month and make informed decisions regarding their health and environmental concerns. These resources help users stay updated on air quality forecasts and take necessary precautions, especially during periods of poor air quality.

Annual air pollution reports

The American Lung Association has been releasing an annual air quality report called "State of the Air" for 26 years. The report uses data from official air quality monitors and includes air pollution data from federal, state, local, and Tribal governments. The 2025 report found that 46% of Americans (approximately 156.1 million people) live in areas with failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, which is nearly 25 million more people than the previous year's report.

The World Air Quality Index project provides a real-time air quality map that displays data from over 10,000 stations worldwide. The map uses the Air Quality Index (AQI) to indicate the level of air pollution, with the AQI scale based on the latest US EPA standard. The GAIA air quality monitor, featured on the WAQI website, measures PM2.5 and PM10 particle pollution levels, which are among the most harmful air pollutants.

AirNow.gov, a website brought to you by the EPA, provides tools to access recent and historical air quality data. It offers a daily air quality tracker that allows users to compare recent AQI values with historical data. Additionally, the multiyear tile plot on the website shows long-term changes in air quality.

The "State of the Air" report by the American Lung Association provides valuable insights into air quality trends and the impact of climate change on air pollution. It is essential for individuals to stay informed about air pollution levels in their areas and take necessary precautions to protect their health and support clean-up efforts.

Frequently asked questions