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Learn about Permian Health's innovative approach to improving air quality in Gambia, using cutting-edge technology to reveal invisible pollutants and safeguard public health.

","content","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 highlights 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 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. The takeaway 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 monitoring; it's about transforming the fabric of public health through the lens of air quality.","contentHtml","

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.\"

\nHighlighting areas of concern: Brikama’s air quality\n

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 highlights 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 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.

The takeaway

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 monitoring; it's about transforming the fabric of public health through the lens of air quality.

","handle","permian-health-air-quality-crusade-in-gambia","id","gid://shopify/Article/634018988110","onlineStoreUrl","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/permian-health-air-quality-crusade-in-gambia","trackingParameters","publishedAt","2025-03-24T17:00:00Z","tags",[14,88,89],"title","Revealing the Invisible: Permian Health’s Air Quality Crusade in Gambia","image",{"_66":79,"_80":81,"_82":83,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/269813416014","altText","Man working on pole","url","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/PermianHealth_Desk_A_e25c0fb4-f682-4892-bbc6-5c8e0d753ac9.jpg?v=1754481444","width",2880,"height",1500,"Featured Contributor","Success Stories","news","name","IQAir Staff Writers",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"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, where vast horizons stretch beneath seemingly clear skies, severe air pollution silently impacts public health and well-being nationwide. Yet, due to a dire lack of data and awareness, the scale of the threat remains largely unseen. 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 15 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.” Pakistan's Air Quality Challenge 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. Rolling Out Pakistan’s Air Quality Network WWF-Pakistan’s initiative, which involves installing a total of air quality sensors in 15 key cities across the country, marks a critical step in Pakistan’s battle against air pollution. All 15 stations are currently up and running. 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. Air Quality Data in Action 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. Vision For the Future 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.” Beyond their air quality monitoring project, the WWF-Pakistan team oversees more than 70 active environmental protection initiatives in FY 2024 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 data, technology, and collective will in addressing one of today’s most pressing challenges. 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, where vast horizons stretch beneath seemingly clear skies, severe air pollution silently impacts public health and well-being nationwide. Yet, due to a dire lack of data and awareness, the scale of the threat remains largely unseen.

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 15 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.”

Pakistan's Air Quality Challenge

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.

Rolling Out Pakistan’s Air Quality Network

WWF-Pakistan’s initiative, which involves installing a total of air quality sensors in 15 key cities across the country, marks a critical step in Pakistan’s battle against air pollution. All 15 stations are currently up and running.

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.

Air Quality Data in Action

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.

Vision For the Future

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.”

Beyond their air quality monitoring project, the WWF-Pakistan team oversees more than 70 active environmental protection initiatives in FY 2024 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 data, technology, and collective will in addressing one of today’s most pressing challenges. 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/634659078222","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/revealing-the-invisible-wwf-pakistan","2025-11-12T17:43:22Z",[14,88,89],"Revealing the Invisible: WWF-Pakistan’s mission for clean air",{"_66":106,"_80":107,"_82":108,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/270766047310","WWF Team standing Next to Solar Panel","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/AQL_PakistanContributor_Desk_A_1ed3d785-94f0-4a6f-af87-5d895532bd30.jpg?v=1762969405",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"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/634090586190","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/revealing-the-invisible-kenya","2025-12-01T13:00:00Z",[88,89],"Revealing the Invisible: Boosting air quality awareness in Kenya",{"_66":122,"_80":123,"_82":124,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/273486184526","Nairobi-city-smog","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/AQL_Revamp_Kenya_Clean_Air_Desktop_cd749b43-0150-45f4-a731-3aaad86eb4f3.jpg?v=1779905052",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"A Detroit childcare center is prioritizing clean air technology in early childhood education. Discover how air quality awareness is changing lives and influencing the next generation.","

A Detroit childcare center is prioritizing clean air technology in early childhood education. Discover how air quality awareness is changing lives and influencing the next generation.

","Air quality awareness and clean air environments are all too often a second thought within busy classrooms, where immediate challenges and childcare obstacles take over. However, in Detroit, Michigan, an early education center is reshaping their air quality concerns and the well-being of their students. Founded by Sentra Johnson-Smith, Sent Loves the Kids Development Center has meshed early education with air quality awareness and data collection through the installation of clean air technology. In partnership with IQAir and the Clean Air for Kids initiative, the Michigan childcare center is leading the charge in bringing pollution awareness through air quality monitoring and filtration to the early childhood education space. Children need clean, safe learning environments Sent Loves the Kids was born from Johnson-Smith's natural connection to children and her desire to holistically shape their early developmental stages. She aims to provide foundational education alongside physical and mental well-being for her students through comprehensive childcare and community connections (1). “Sent Loves The Kids was founded out of my deep love for children and my strong desire to be part of their educational journey,” said Johnson-Smith. “My goal is to nurture and educate the whole child—mind, body, and soul.” In Detroit and other large populous cities alike, these childcare facilities face unique environmental challenges. From urban air pollution to possible lead exposure in water supplies, harmful pollutants can go undetected and sneak into indoor spaces from outside environments. Especially in fast-paced childcare settings, air pollution and environmental concerns can go unnoticed or overshadowed by immediate demands. “Before receiving [an] air monitor, air quality wasn’t on my mind,” Johnson-Smith admitted. “When managing the day-to-day demands of running a facility, air quality was at the bottom of the list.” However, after partnering with IQAir and receiving air quality technology, Johnson-Smith has created a clean air environment for her students and reformed early education learning to encompass air quality awareness. Clean air environments in educational spaces Safe environments and clean air quality are essential to providing a productive learning space for students to thrive in. For children with asthma or allergies, air quality is a daily concern. By employing the Atem X air purifier, the Sent Loves the Kids facility can actively airborne pollutants and produce clean air for students to feel comfortable and safe. “By monitoring the air quality more closely, we can take immediate action when needed, such as adjusting indoor activities or ensuring that children with respiratory conditions are not exposed to triggers,” Johnson-Smith said. Multiple studies have shown children and infants to be among the most vulnerable populations affected by poor air quality. Childhood exposure to long-term air pollution can lead to harmful chronic impacts related to lung development, respiratory health, and asthma (2)(3). However, the utilization of air purifiers and air cleaning tools can drastically lower these risks and improve symptoms. With support from IQAir and the Clean Air for Kids Initiative, Sent Loves the Kids now provides a safe environment for teachers, students, and faculty alike through clean air technology and monitoring. Early education meets air quality awareness With access to real-time air quality monitors that detail various air pollutants and air quality levels, what once was invisible has become impossible to ignore for the Sent Loves the Kids facility. Data collection and air quality monitoring has allowed Johnson-Smith to build safeguards around child healthcare and create immersive lesson plans surrounding local air quality environments. Sent Loves the Kids takes air quality awareness a step further, teaching the next generation about environmental impact and air quality safety. According to Johnson-Smith, “incorporating air quality awareness into our educational programming not only aligns with our mission to provide a nurturing and safe environment but also helps children understand the importance of caring for their health and the planet.” After setting up the AirVisual Pro Indoor Monitor, Johnson-Smith noticed more air quality events and pollutant concerns, modifying school schedules and activities to maintain a safe environment for children and faculty alike. With the combination of clean air filtration and monitoring, Sent Loves the Kids has become a safe breathing and learning environment for students and teachers alike. Conclusion Sent Loves the Kids proves that meaningful childcare changes doesn’t require a large facility or financial burdens. Through air quality monitoring, filtration, and environmental education, Johnson-Smith is laying the groundwork for the next generation to breathe easier and healthier. With the support of IQAir science-backed air quality technology and a passionate mission, any childcare provider or community facility can make an impactful difference in lives of children, families, and the broader local community.","

Air quality awareness and clean air environments are all too often a second thought within busy classrooms, where immediate challenges and childcare obstacles take over. However, in Detroit, Michigan, an early education center is reshaping their air quality concerns and the well-being of their students.

Founded by Sentra Johnson-Smith, Sent Loves the Kids Development Center has meshed early education with air quality awareness and data collection through the installation of clean air technology. In partnership with IQAir and the Clean Air for Kids initiative, the Michigan childcare center is leading the charge in bringing pollution awareness through air quality monitoring and filtration to the early childhood education space.

Children need clean, safe learning environments

Sent Loves the Kids was born from Johnson-Smith's natural connection to children and her desire to holistically shape their early developmental stages. She aims to provide foundational education alongside physical and mental well-being for her students through comprehensive childcare and community connections (1).

“Sent Loves The Kids was founded out of my deep love for children and my strong desire to be part of their educational journey,” said Johnson-Smith. “My goal is to nurture and educate the whole child—mind, body, and soul.”

In Detroit and other large populous cities alike, these childcare facilities face unique environmental challenges. From urban air pollution to possible lead exposure in water supplies, harmful pollutants can go undetected and sneak into indoor spaces from outside environments. Especially in fast-paced childcare settings, air pollution and environmental concerns can go unnoticed or overshadowed by immediate demands.

“Before receiving [an] air monitor, air quality wasn’t on my mind,” Johnson-Smith admitted. “When managing the day-to-day demands of running a facility, air quality was at the bottom of the list.”

However, after partnering with IQAir and receiving air quality technology, Johnson-Smith has created a clean air environment for her students and reformed early education learning to encompass air quality awareness.

Clean air environments in educational spaces

Safe environments and clean air quality are essential to providing a productive learning space for students to thrive in. For children with asthma or allergies, air quality is a daily concern. By employing the Atem X air purifier, the Sent Loves the Kids facility can actively airborne pollutants and produce clean air for students to feel comfortable and safe.

“By monitoring the air quality more closely, we can take immediate action when needed, such as adjusting indoor activities or ensuring that children with respiratory conditions are not exposed to triggers,” Johnson-Smith said.

Multiple studies have shown children and infants to be among the most vulnerable populations affected by poor air quality. Childhood exposure to long-term air pollution can lead to harmful chronic impacts related to lung development, respiratory health, and asthma (2)(3). However, the utilization of air purifiers and air cleaning tools can drastically lower these risks and improve symptoms.

With support from IQAir and the Clean Air for Kids Initiative, Sent Loves the Kids now provides a safe environment for teachers, students, and faculty alike through clean air technology and monitoring.

Early education meets air quality awareness

With access to real-time air quality monitors that detail various air pollutants and air quality levels, what once was invisible has become impossible to ignore for the Sent Loves the Kids facility.

Data collection and air quality monitoring has allowed Johnson-Smith to build safeguards around child healthcare and create immersive lesson plans surrounding local air quality environments. Sent Loves the Kids takes air quality awareness a step further, teaching the next generation about environmental impact and air quality safety.

According to Johnson-Smith, “incorporating air quality awareness into our educational programming not only aligns with our mission to provide a nurturing and safe environment but also helps children understand the importance of caring for their health and the planet.”

After setting up the AirVisual Pro Indoor Monitor, Johnson-Smith noticed more air quality events and pollutant concerns, modifying school schedules and activities to maintain a safe environment for children and faculty alike. With the combination of clean air filtration and monitoring, Sent Loves the Kids has become a safe breathing and learning environment for students and teachers alike.

Conclusion

Sent Loves the Kids proves that meaningful childcare changes doesn’t require a large facility or financial burdens. Through air quality monitoring, filtration, and environmental education, Johnson-Smith is laying the groundwork for the next generation to breathe easier and healthier.

With the support of IQAir science-backed air quality technology and a passionate mission, any childcare provider or community facility can make an impactful difference in lives of children, families, and the broader local community.

","detroit-childcare-center-embraces-clean-air","gid://shopify/Article/641902870606","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/detroit-childcare-center-embraces-clean-air","2026-07-20T17:10:02Z",[14,89],"Detroit childcare center achieves clean air and data monitoring awareness",{"_66":138,"_80":-5,"_82":139,"_84":140,"_86":141},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/274616647758","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/A_53a90991-5f39-4284-a91b-6473a61b97bb.jpg?v=1786554677",839,674,{"_51":52,"_53":195,"_11":196,"_56":197,"_58":197,"_60":198,"_62":199,"_64":200,"_66":201,"_68":202,"_70":-5,"_71":203,"_73":204,"_75":205,"_77":206},{"_51":52,"_53":179,"_11":180,"_56":181,"_58":181,"_60":182,"_62":183,"_64":184,"_66":185,"_68":186,"_70":-5,"_71":187,"_73":188,"_75":189,"_77":190},{"_51":52,"_53":163,"_11":164,"_56":165,"_58":165,"_60":166,"_62":167,"_64":168,"_66":169,"_68":170,"_70":-5,"_71":171,"_73":172,"_75":173,"_77":174},{"_51":52,"_53":146,"_11":147,"_56":148,"_58":148,"_60":149,"_62":150,"_64":151,"_66":152,"_68":153,"_70":-5,"_71":154,"_73":155,"_75":156,"_77":157},{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"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/564925464654","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/hidden-dangers-scented-candles","2016-12-04T22:35:53Z",[161,162],"The hidden dangers of scented candles",{"_66":158,"_80":159,"_82":160,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/269279461454","Two lit candles","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/49_scented_desktop_RE_8f4a0295-45a8-421d-870a-900787fa96cc.jpg?v=1749633122","Health and Wellness","Popular articles",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"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/564925366350","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/himalayan-salt-lamp-debunked","2019-06-17T13:49:29Z",[178,161,162],"Himalayan salt lamps: Worth their salt?",{"_66":175,"_80":176,"_82":177,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/269475545166","Why are Himalayan salt lamps bad for air quality?","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/AQL_HimalayanSalt_061419_750_0b979b61-4b6f-4eeb-8061-88996d52278e.jpg?v=1751543619","Air Quality",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"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/564925431886","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/do-air-purifiers-work-air-purifier-myths-and-facts-debunked","2022-01-02T14:14:32Z",[194,161,162],"Do air purifiers work? Air purifier myths and facts debunked",{"_66":191,"_80":192,"_82":193,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/270220755022","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/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/AQL_misconceptions-about-air-purifiers_993189ad-b0e5-4283-84af-8cf2c530fc4d.jpg?v=1758212556","Air Cleaning Technology",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

How wildfire smoke behaves

Many factors affect wildfire smoke behavior, such as:

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

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

$\"placeholder$

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

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

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

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

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

Wildfire safety tips

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

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

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

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

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

The takeaway

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

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

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

","how-to-protect-yourself-from-wildfire-smoke","gid://shopify/Article/564925399118","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/how-to-protect-yourself-from-wildfire-smoke","2022-12-29T21:46:38Z",[178,210,162,211],"How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke",{"_66":207,"_80":208,"_82":209,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/273488543822","Wildfire at night in hills","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/AQL_21_WildfireDesktop_a_a8a07ca3-c3c0-4315-854e-f2a5aa9b0f22.jpg?v=1779917272","Climate","Wildfires",{"_51":52,"_53":297,"_11":298,"_56":299,"_58":300,"_60":301,"_62":302,"_64":303,"_66":304,"_68":305,"_70":-5,"_71":306,"_73":307,"_75":308,"_77":309},{"_51":52,"_53":281,"_11":282,"_56":283,"_58":284,"_60":285,"_62":286,"_64":287,"_66":288,"_68":289,"_70":-5,"_71":290,"_73":291,"_75":292,"_77":293},{"_51":52,"_53":266,"_11":267,"_56":268,"_58":269,"_60":270,"_62":271,"_64":272,"_66":273,"_68":274,"_70":-5,"_71":275,"_73":276,"_75":277,"_77":278},{"_51":52,"_53":251,"_11":252,"_56":253,"_58":254,"_60":255,"_62":256,"_64":257,"_66":258,"_68":259,"_70":-5,"_71":260,"_73":261,"_75":262,"_77":263},{"_51":52,"_53":235,"_11":236,"_56":237,"_58":238,"_60":239,"_62":240,"_64":241,"_66":242,"_68":243,"_70":-5,"_71":244,"_73":245,"_75":246,"_77":247},{"_51":52,"_53":218,"_11":219,"_56":220,"_58":221,"_60":222,"_62":223,"_64":224,"_66":225,"_68":226,"_70":-5,"_71":227,"_73":228,"_75":229,"_77":230},{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"Find out more about the Bug and Stallion fires and their impacts across northern Nevada and nearby California.","

Find out more about the Bug and Stallion fires and their impacts across northern Nevada and nearby California.

","What are the names and locations of the wildfires? As of August 16, 2026, the Bug Fire is burning across Washoe County in Nevada and Lassen and Sierra Counties in California. It began northwest of Cold Springs along U.S. Route 395 near the Nevada-California state line and has merged with the Fred Mountain Fire. The fire now extends east toward Winnemucca Ranch Road (1). The Stallion Fire is burning separately in Washoe County, Nevada, south of Pyramid Lake. The fire has spread near State Routes 445 and 446, affecting communities between Pyramid Lake and the Reno-Sparks area (2). Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfires? The cities and areas affected by the Bug and Stallion fires include: Antelope Valley Canyon Hills Cold Springs Dogskin Mountains Hungry Valley Lemmon Valley Moon Rocks Nixon North Spanish Springs Palomino Valley Pyramid Lake Rancho Haven Silver Knolls Sutcliffe Wadsworth White Lake Winnemucca Ranch Road What is the current containment status of the wildfires? As of August 16, 2026, the Bug Fire has burned approximately 94,105 acres and is 84% contained, while the Stallion Fire has burned approximately 40,691 acres and remains 81% contained. Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place? Level 3 “Go” evacuation orders and Level 2 “Set” evacuation warnings remain in effect in parts of Washoe County. Lassen County has also issued an evacuation warning for Zone LAS-671-B. More than 4,000 people have been displaced, and evacuation zones may change as fire conditions evolve. Residents should monitor official evacuation maps and local emergency notifications for the latest updates. 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 August 16, 2026, the Bug Fire is 84% contained, while the Stallion Fire is 81% contained.","

What are the names and locations of the wildfires?

As of August 16, 2026, the Bug Fire is burning across Washoe County in Nevada and Lassen and Sierra Counties in California. It began northwest of Cold Springs along U.S. Route 395 near the Nevada-California state line and has merged with the Fred Mountain Fire. The fire now extends east toward Winnemucca Ranch Road (1).

The Stallion Fire is burning separately in Washoe County, Nevada, south of Pyramid Lake. The fire has spread near State Routes 445 and 446, affecting communities between Pyramid Lake and the Reno-Sparks area (2).

Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfires?

The cities and areas affected by the Bug and Stallion fires include:

Antelope Valley
Canyon Hills
\nCold Springs
\n
Dogskin Mountains
Hungry Valley
Lemmon Valley
Moon Rocks
\nNixon
\n
North Spanish Springs
Palomino Valley
Pyramid Lake
Rancho Haven
Silver Knolls
\nSutcliffe
\n
\nWadsworth
\n
White Lake
Winnemucca Ranch Road

What is the current containment status of the wildfires?

As of August 16, 2026, the Bug Fire has burned approximately 94,105 acres and is 84% contained, while the Stallion Fire has burned approximately 40,691 acres and remains 81% contained.

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

Level 3 “Go” evacuation orders and Level 2 “Set” evacuation warnings remain in effect in parts of Washoe County. Lassen County has also issued an evacuation warning for Zone LAS-671-B.

More than 4,000 people have been displaced, and evacuation zones may change as fire conditions evolve. Residents should monitor official evacuation maps and local emergency notifications for the latest updates.

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.
\nContribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
\n
Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
\n

As of August 16, 2026, the Bug Fire is 84% contained, while the Stallion Fire is 81% contained.

","wildfire-map-spotlight-bug-and-stallion-fires-nevada","gid://shopify/Article/642074968142","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/wildfire-map-spotlight-bug-and-stallion-fires-nevada","2026-08-16T06:04:18Z",[178,210,211],"Wildfire Map Spotlight: Bug and Stallion Fires, Nevada",{"_66":231,"_80":232,"_82":233,"_84":234,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/274661179470","Wildfire at night.","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/Wildfire3Desktop_c89f355d-b173-44eb-8562-5e78854e3026.jpg?v=1786860266",2800,{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"Find out more about the Wrights Spring Fire, including its location, containment status, affected areas, and active evacuation orders.","

Find out more about the Wrights Spring Fire, including its location, containment status, affected areas, and active evacuation orders.

","What is the name and location of the wildfire? As of August 16, 2026, the Wrights Spring Fire is burning in Klamath County in southern Oregon. The fire is located within the Fremont-Winema National Forests, approximately two miles west of Sprague River and southeast of Chiloquin. Fire activity has extended toward Bliss Road, Bly Mountain, Swan Lake Rim, and nearby rural communities (1). Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire? The cities and areas affected by the Wrights Spring Fire include: Bliss Road area Bly Mountain Chiloquin Flat Lake Horton Reservoir Saddle Mountain Sprague River Swan Lake Rim Yonna Woods What is the current containment status of the Wrights Spring Fire? As of August 16, 2026, the Wrights Spring Fire has burned 53,388 acres and is 47% contained. Firefighters are reinforcing established fire lines, constructing contingency lines southeast of the fire, and securing areas around Bliss Road, Flat Lake, Saddle Mountain, and Swan Lake Rim. Structure protection remains a priority around Yonna Woods and Bly Mountain. Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place? Level 3 Go Now evacuation orders, Level 2 Be Set evacuation warnings, and Level 1 Be Ready notices remain in effect for numerous evacuation zones in Klamath County. Residents should monitor instructions from local authorities because evacuation levels may change as fire conditions develop (2). Red Cross emergency shelters are open at Chiloquin Elementary School, located at 548 South 2nd Avenue in Chiloquin, and Living Springs Fellowship, located at 31897 Mission Street in Bonanza. The Klamath County Fairgrounds at 3531 South 6th Street in Klamath Falls is available as a large-animal shelter. 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 August 16, 2026, this fire is 47% contained.","

What is the name and location of the wildfire?

As of August 16, 2026, the Wrights Spring Fire is burning in Klamath County in southern Oregon.

The fire is located within the Fremont-Winema National Forests, approximately two miles west of Sprague River and southeast of Chiloquin. Fire activity has extended toward Bliss Road, Bly Mountain, Swan Lake Rim, and nearby rural communities (1).

Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire?

The cities and areas affected by the Wrights Spring Fire include:

Bliss Road area
Bly Mountain
Chiloquin
Flat Lake
Horton Reservoir
Saddle Mountain
Sprague River
Swan Lake Rim
Yonna Woods

What is the current containment status of the Wrights Spring Fire?

As of August 16, 2026, the Wrights Spring Fire has burned 53,388 acres and is 47% contained.

Firefighters are reinforcing established fire lines, constructing contingency lines southeast of the fire, and securing areas around Bliss Road, Flat Lake, Saddle Mountain, and Swan Lake Rim. Structure protection remains a priority around Yonna Woods and Bly Mountain.

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

Level 3 Go Now evacuation orders, Level 2 Be Set evacuation warnings, and Level 1 Be Ready notices remain in effect for numerous evacuation zones in Klamath County. Residents should monitor instructions from local authorities because evacuation levels may change as fire conditions develop (2).

Red Cross emergency shelters are open at Chiloquin Elementary School, located at 548 South 2nd Avenue in Chiloquin, and Living Springs Fellowship, located at 31897 Mission Street in Bonanza. The Klamath County Fairgrounds at 3531 South 6th Street in Klamath Falls is available as a large-animal shelter.

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 August 16, 2026, this fire is 47% contained.

","wildfire-map-spotlight-wrights-spring-fire-oregon","gid://shopify/Article/642087125070","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/wildfire-map-spotlight-wrights-spring-fire-oregon","2026-08-16T06:06:11Z",[178,210,211],"Wildfire Map Spotlight: Wrights Spring Fire, Oregon",{"_66":248,"_80":249,"_82":250,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/274661245006","Wildfire on a mountain.","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/Wildfire2Desktop_bc71afd0-8d1e-47ba-b5f7-8285a4e4b218.jpg?v=1786860378",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"Find out more about the major wildfires burning across Oregon, including current fire activity, affected communities, and evacuation information.","

Find out more about the major wildfires burning across Oregon, including current fire activity, affected communities, and evacuation information.

","What are the names and locations of the wildfires? As of August 16, 2026, multiple large wildfires are actively burning across North-Central and Eastern Oregon, prompting evacuation orders, threatening communities, and drawing a significant multi-agency firefighting response. The largest incidents are burning across Gilliam, Wheeler, Wasco, Crook, Jefferson, and Umatilla counties, while several additional fires remain active throughout the state. Oregon remains under heightened wildfire activity because of hot, dry weather, gusty winds, and dry vegetation. The Hay Creek Complex, formerly known as the Lower Rock Creek and Hoag Fires, burned in Gilliam County near Lower and Middle Rock Creek Roads, west of Highway 19 (1). The Rowe Creek Complex is burning southwest of Fossil in Wheeler County near Highway 218 and approximately one mile east of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (2). The Akawa Butte Fire is burning across Deschutes and Jefferson counties in central Oregon near Akawa Butte and Henkle Butte (3). The Coyote Fire is burning in Crook County, Oregon, southeast of Prineville and near the communities of Post and Paulina (4). The Henry Fire is burning in Crook County, Oregon, approximately 2 miles south of Paulina (5). The Bench Fire is burning in Jefferson County, Oregon, near Warm Springs, the Deschutes River, Lake Billy Chinook, Pelton Dam, and Highway 26. The Bench and Beachcomb fires have merged and are now managed as the Bench Fire (6). The Shingle Fire is burning across Crook, Grant, and Wheeler counties in central Oregon. Fire activity has expanded toward Highway 26, Cottonwood Creek, Dayville, and surrounding ranchlands (7). The Grasshopper Fire is burning across Clackamas, Hood River, and Wasco Counties in north-central Oregon. The lightning-caused fire began on July 23 on the eastern side of the Mt. Hood National Forest and has burned through much of the Badger Creek Wilderness (8). In addition to these major incidents, numerous other notable fires are burning across Oregon, including the Austin Fire, Bologna Fire, Olive Butte, Burnt Creek, Hagen, and Powder River Fires. Numerous smaller wildfires are also active across the state as firefighters continue responding to rapidly changing fire conditions. Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire? The cities and areas affected by the Oregon wildfires include: Hay Creek Complex Gilliam County Sherman County Wasco County Rowe Creek Complex Condon Wasco County Wheeler County Brewer Reservoir Crook County Grizzly Mountain Jefferson County Madras Akawa Butte Fire Akawa Butte Deschutes County Henkle Butte Jefferson County Coyote Fire Paulina Post Prineville Southern Crook County Wiley Flat burn scar area Henry Fire Paulina Prineville Southern Crook County Bench Fire Dry Hollow Lake Simtustus Madras Pelton Dam Warm Springs Shingle Fire Dayville Paulina Prineville Antone Ranch Rattlesnake Creek Grasshopper Fire Dufur Government Camp Hood River Parkdale Pine Hollow Rhododendron The Dalles Wamic What is the current containment status of the wildfires? As of August 16, 2026, containment remains limited across many of Oregon's largest wildfires. Several fires continue to exhibit active fire behavior under dry weather conditions, while firefighters focus on protecting homes, strengthening containment lines, and limiting additional fire growth. The Hay Creek Complex has burned approximately 200,292 acres and is at 100% containment. The Rowe Creek Complex has burned 373,783 acres and remains at 89% containment. The Akawa Butte Fire has grown to approximately 27,491 acres. It is 99% contained. The Coyote Fire has burned approximately 17,459.3 acres and is 88% contained. The Henry Fire has burned approximately 29,888.5 acres and is 97% contained. The Bench Fire has burned approximately 67,079.5 acres and remains 86% contained. The Shingle Fire has burned approximately 73,179 acres and is 89% contained. The Grasshopper Fire has burned approximately 87,819.4 acres and is 37% contained. Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place? Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect for multiple wildfire incidents across Oregon. Emergency management officials continue to update evacuation zones as fire conditions change, and residents are encouraged to monitor official alerts and leave immediately if directed to do so. Residents living near any active wildfire should remain prepared to evacuate immediately if conditions deteriorate and should continue monitoring local emergency management agencies for updated evacuation information. 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 August 16, 2026, the Hay Creek Complex is 100% contained.The Rowe Creek Complex is 89% contained.The Akawa Butte Fire is 99% contained.The Coyote Fire is 88% contained.The Henry Fire is 97% contained.The Bench Fire is 86% contained.The Shingle Fire is 89% contained.The Grasshopper is 37% contained.","

What are the names and locations of the wildfires?

As of August 16, 2026, multiple large wildfires are actively burning across North-Central and Eastern Oregon, prompting evacuation orders, threatening communities, and drawing a significant multi-agency firefighting response.

The largest incidents are burning across Gilliam, Wheeler, Wasco, Crook, Jefferson, and Umatilla counties, while several additional fires remain active throughout the state. Oregon remains under heightened wildfire activity because of hot, dry weather, gusty winds, and dry vegetation.

The Hay Creek Complex, formerly known as the Lower Rock Creek and Hoag Fires, burned in Gilliam County near Lower and Middle Rock Creek Roads, west of Highway 19 (1).

The Rowe Creek Complex is burning southwest of Fossil in Wheeler County near Highway 218 and approximately one mile east of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (2).

The Akawa Butte Fire is burning across Deschutes and Jefferson counties in central Oregon near Akawa Butte and Henkle Butte (3).

The Coyote Fire is burning in Crook County, Oregon, southeast of Prineville and near the communities of Post and Paulina (4).

The Henry Fire is burning in Crook County, Oregon, approximately 2 miles south of Paulina (5).

The Bench Fire is burning in Jefferson County, Oregon, near Warm Springs, the Deschutes River, Lake Billy Chinook, Pelton Dam, and Highway 26. The Bench and Beachcomb fires have merged and are now managed as the Bench Fire (6).

The Shingle Fire is burning across Crook, Grant, and Wheeler counties in central Oregon. Fire activity has expanded toward Highway 26, Cottonwood Creek, Dayville, and surrounding ranchlands (7).

The Grasshopper Fire is burning across Clackamas, Hood River, and Wasco Counties in north-central Oregon. The lightning-caused fire began on July 23 on the eastern side of the Mt. Hood National Forest and has burned through much of the Badger Creek Wilderness (8).

In addition to these major incidents, numerous other notable fires are burning across Oregon, including the Austin Fire, Bologna Fire, Olive Butte, Burnt Creek, Hagen, and Powder River Fires. Numerous smaller wildfires are also active across the state as firefighters continue responding to rapidly changing fire conditions.

Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire?

The cities and areas affected by the Oregon wildfires include:

Hay Creek Complex

Gilliam County
Sherman County
Wasco County

Rowe Creek Complex

\nCondon
\n
Wasco County
Wheeler County
Brewer Reservoir
Crook County
Grizzly Mountain
\nJefferson County
\n
Madras

Akawa Butte Fire

Akawa Butte
\nDeschutes County
\n
Henkle Butte
Jefferson County

Coyote Fire

Paulina
Post
Prineville
Southern Crook County
Wiley Flat burn scar area

Henry Fire

Paulina
Prineville
Southern Crook County

Bench Fire

Dry Hollow
Lake Simtustus
\nMadras
\n
Pelton Dam
\nWarm Springs
\n

Shingle Fire

\nDayville
\n
Paulina
Prineville
Antone Ranch
Rattlesnake Creek

Grasshopper Fire

Dufur
Government Camp
Hood River
Parkdale
Pine Hollow
\nRhododendron
\n
\nThe Dalles
\n
Wamic

What is the current containment status of the wildfires?

As of August 16, 2026, containment remains limited across many of Oregon's largest wildfires. Several fires continue to exhibit active fire behavior under dry weather conditions, while firefighters focus on protecting homes, strengthening containment lines, and limiting additional fire growth.

The Hay Creek Complex has burned approximately 200,292 acres and is at 100% containment.

The Rowe Creek Complex has burned 373,783 acres and remains at 89% containment.

The Akawa Butte Fire has grown to approximately 27,491 acres. It is 99% contained.

The Coyote Fire has burned approximately 17,459.3 acres and is 88% contained.

The Henry Fire has burned approximately 29,888.5 acres and is 97% contained.

The Bench Fire has burned approximately 67,079.5 acres and remains 86% contained.

The Shingle Fire has burned approximately 73,179 acres and is 89% contained.

The Grasshopper Fire has burned approximately 87,819.4 acres and is 37% contained.

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect for multiple wildfire incidents across Oregon. Emergency management officials continue to update evacuation zones as fire conditions change, and residents are encouraged to monitor official alerts and leave immediately if directed to do so.

Residents living near any active wildfire should remain prepared to evacuate immediately if conditions deteriorate and should continue monitoring local emergency management agencies for updated evacuation information.

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.
\nContribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
\n
Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
\n

As of August 16, 2026, the Hay Creek Complex is 100% contained.
The Rowe Creek Complex is 89% contained.
The Akawa Butte Fire is 99% contained.
The Coyote Fire is 88% contained.
The Henry Fire is 97% contained.
The Bench Fire is 86% contained.
The Shingle Fire is 89% contained.
The Grasshopper is 37% contained.

","wildfire-map-spotlight-north-central-oregon-wildfires","gid://shopify/Article/641901199438","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/wildfire-map-spotlight-north-central-oregon-wildfires","2026-08-16T08:16:11Z",[178,210,211],"Wildfire Map Spotlight: North-Central and Eastern Oregon Wildfires",{"_66":264,"_80":-5,"_82":265,"_84":140,"_86":141},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/274661900366","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/Wildfire13Desktop_dd116e4b-ad32-44ed-a989-55b4100e4ad3.jpg?v=1786869148",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"Find out more about the major wildfires affecting communities across Washington.","

Find out more about the major wildfires affecting communities across Washington.

","What are the names and locations of the wildfires? As of August 16, 2026, multiple active wildfires are burning across Washington, prompting evacuations and affecting communities across the state. The Ptarmigan Fire is burning in Okanogan County, Washington. The fire is active in the Pasayten Wilderness near the Pasayten Airstrip and the Middle Fork Pasayten River drainage, north of the Methow Valley (1). The Sinlahekin Fire is burning northwest of Sinlahekin Campground near Tonasket in Okanogan County. The fire has spread toward Palmer Mountain, Rattlesnake Peak, South Pine Creek, and areas west of the Okanogan River (2). The Little Giant Fire is burning across Chelan and Okanogan counties. It extends through remote terrain around the Entiat River, Chiwawa River, Glacier Peak Wilderness, and Lake Chelan (3). The Modrite Fire is burning across Ferry and Stevens counties near Inchelium. The fire remains west of Lake Roosevelt and south of Bridge Creek Road (4). The Autumn Lane Fire is burning across Spokane and Stevens counties. Active areas include Suncrest, Swenson Road, Barney Coker Canyon, and Indian Painted Rocks (5). The Old Trails Fire is burning in Spokane County. The fire has affected areas around Nine Mile Road, West Francis Avenue, Five Mile, and neighborhoods northwest of Spokane (6). The Fairview Fire burned near Mead in Spokane County. It began near North Fairview Road and East Piper Road and burned through brush and grass, threatening nearby homes, power lines, and timber (7). Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfires? The cities and areas affected by the Washington wildfires include: Ptarmigan Fire Harts Pass Methow Valley Middle Fork Pasayten River drainage Pasayten Airstrip Pasayten Wilderness Sinlahekin Fire Aeneas Mountain Loomis area Oroville area Palmer Mountain Pine Creek area Rattlesnake Peak Tonasket Little Giant Fire Chiwawa River area Entiat River corridor Glacier Peak Wilderness Lake Chelan south shore Manson side of Lake Chelan Modrite Fire Bridge Creek Road area Inchelium Kewa-Meteor Road area Seylor Valley Stranger Creek area Western Lake Roosevelt area Autumn Lane Fire Barney Coker Canyon Indian Painted Rocks North Dorset Road area North Riverbluff Lane area Suncrest Swenson Road area Old Trails Fire Five Mile area Nine Mile Road area Northwestern Spokane West Euclid Avenue area West Francis Avenue area West Strong Road area Fairview Fire Mead Mount Spokane Park Drive area Orchard Road area Peone Road area Pleasant Prairie area What is the current containment status of the wildfires? As of August 16, 2026, the Ptarmigan Fire has burned 24,515.8 acres and is 40% contained. The Sinlahekin Fire has burned 152,682 acres and is 44% contained. The Little Giant Fire has burned approximately 132,351 acres and is 10% contained. The Modrite Fire has burned 57,664.9 acres and is 83% contained. The Autumn Lane Fire has burned 5,764 acres and is 97% contained. The Old Trails Fire has burned 3,175.9 acres and is 97% contained. Fire activity has moderated, although gusty winds remain a concern. The Fairview Fire has burned approximately 992.5 acres and is 100% contained. Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place? Evacuation orders and warnings are in effect around most of the wildfires, particularly near Lake Chelan, Tonasket, Inchelium, Mead, and the Spokane area. Ptarmigan Fire: Harts Pass Road and the Pacific Crest Trail near the Pasayten Wilderness remain partially closed. Sinlahekin Fire: Level 3 evacuation orders cover areas west of the Okanogan River north toward Oroville. Level 2 evacuation warnings are in effect in Tonasket and nearby areas. Little Giant Fire: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 notices cover parts of the Lake Chelan south shore and the Manson side of the lake. Modrite Fire: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 notices cover mapped areas of Ferry County near Inchelium. Level 1 notices are also in effect in parts of Stevens County. Autumn Lane Fire: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 notices cover areas around Suncrest, Highway 291, Swenson Road, Wildrose, Ridgeway, and Woolard Road. Old Trails Fire: Level 2 and Level 3 notices cover areas around Five Mile, Nine Mile Road, and northwestern Spokane. Fairview Fire: Level 2 and Level 3 notices cover areas near Mead, Mount Spokane Park Drive, Peone Road, Market Street, and Pleasant Prairie. 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 August 16, 2026, The Ptarmigan Fire is 40% contained.The Sinlahekin Fire is 44% contained.The Little Giant Fire is 10% contained.The Modrite Fire is 83% contained.The Autumn Lane Fire is 97% contained.The Old Trails Fire is 97% contained.The Fairview Fire is 100% contained.","

What are the names and locations of the wildfires?

As of August 16, 2026, multiple active wildfires are burning across Washington, prompting evacuations and affecting communities across the state.

The Ptarmigan Fire is burning in Okanogan County, Washington. The fire is active in the Pasayten Wilderness near the Pasayten Airstrip and the Middle Fork Pasayten River drainage, north of the Methow Valley (1).

The Sinlahekin Fire is burning northwest of Sinlahekin Campground near Tonasket in Okanogan County. The fire has spread toward Palmer Mountain, Rattlesnake Peak, South Pine Creek, and areas west of the Okanogan River (2).

The Little Giant Fire is burning across Chelan and Okanogan counties. It extends through remote terrain around the Entiat River, Chiwawa River, Glacier Peak Wilderness, and Lake Chelan (3).

The Modrite Fire is burning across Ferry and Stevens counties near Inchelium. The fire remains west of Lake Roosevelt and south of Bridge Creek Road (4).

The Autumn Lane Fire is burning across Spokane and Stevens counties. Active areas include Suncrest, Swenson Road, Barney Coker Canyon, and Indian Painted Rocks (5).

The Old Trails Fire is burning in Spokane County. The fire has affected areas around Nine Mile Road, West Francis Avenue, Five Mile, and neighborhoods northwest of Spokane (6).

The Fairview Fire burned near Mead in Spokane County. It began near North Fairview Road and East Piper Road and burned through brush and grass, threatening nearby homes, power lines, and timber (7).

Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfires?

The cities and areas affected by the Washington wildfires include:

Ptarmigan Fire

Harts Pass
Methow Valley
Middle Fork Pasayten River drainage
Pasayten Airstrip
Pasayten Wilderness

Sinlahekin Fire

Aeneas Mountain
Loomis area
Oroville area
Palmer Mountain
Pine Creek area
Rattlesnake Peak
\nTonasket
\n

Little Giant Fire

Chiwawa River area
Entiat River corridor
Glacier Peak Wilderness
Lake Chelan south shore
\nManson side of Lake Chelan

Modrite Fire

Bridge Creek Road area
\nInchelium
\n
Kewa-Meteor Road area
Seylor Valley
Stranger Creek area
Western Lake Roosevelt area

Autumn Lane Fire

Barney Coker Canyon
Indian Painted Rocks
North Dorset Road area
North Riverbluff Lane area
\nSuncrest
\n
Swenson Road area

Old Trails Fire

Five Mile area
Nine Mile Road area
Northwestern Spokane
\n
West Euclid Avenue area
West Francis Avenue area
West Strong Road area

Fairview Fire

\nMead
\n
Mount Spokane Park Drive area
Orchard Road area
Peone Road area
Pleasant Prairie area

What is the current containment status of the wildfires?

As of August 16, 2026, the Ptarmigan Fire has burned 24,515.8 acres and is 40% contained.

The Sinlahekin Fire has burned 152,682 acres and is 44% contained.

The Little Giant Fire has burned approximately 132,351 acres and is 10% contained.

The Modrite Fire has burned 57,664.9 acres and is 83% contained.

The Autumn Lane Fire has burned 5,764 acres and is 97% contained.

The Old Trails Fire has burned 3,175.9 acres and is 97% contained. Fire activity has moderated, although gusty winds remain a concern.

The Fairview Fire has burned approximately 992.5 acres and is 100% contained.

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

Evacuation orders and warnings are in effect around most of the wildfires, particularly near Lake Chelan, Tonasket, Inchelium, Mead, and the Spokane area.

Ptarmigan Fire: Harts Pass Road and the Pacific Crest Trail near the Pasayten Wilderness remain partially closed.
Sinlahekin Fire: Level 3 evacuation orders cover areas west of the Okanogan River north toward Oroville. Level 2 evacuation warnings are in effect in Tonasket and nearby areas.
Little Giant Fire: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 notices cover parts of the Lake Chelan south shore and the Manson side of the lake.
Modrite Fire: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 notices cover mapped areas of Ferry County near Inchelium. Level 1 notices are also in effect in parts of Stevens County.
Autumn Lane Fire: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 notices cover areas around Suncrest, Highway 291, Swenson Road, Wildrose, Ridgeway, and Woolard Road.
Old Trails Fire: Level 2 and Level 3 notices cover areas around Five Mile, Nine Mile Road, and northwestern Spokane.
Fairview Fire: Level 2 and Level 3 notices cover areas near Mead, Mount Spokane Park Drive, Peone Road, Market Street, and Pleasant Prairie.

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.
\nContribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
\n
Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
\n

As of August 16, 2026, The Ptarmigan Fire is 40% contained.
The Sinlahekin Fire is 44% contained.
The Little Giant Fire is 10% contained.
The Modrite Fire is 83% contained.
The Autumn Lane Fire is 97% contained.
The Old Trails Fire is 97% contained.
The Fairview Fire is 100% contained.

","wildfire-map-spotlight-washington-wildfires","gid://shopify/Article/642000420942","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/wildfire-map-spotlight-washington-wildfires","2026-08-16T08:20:13Z",[178,210,211],"Wildfire Map Spotlight: Washington Wildfires",{"_66":279,"_80":-5,"_82":280,"_84":140,"_86":141},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/274661834830","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/Wildfire8Desktop_4c1e0ce4-ce55-4dae-b57d-d37d3a5af2b2.jpg?v=1786869147",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"The Widemouth 2 Fire remains active in central Utah, prompting ongoing evacuation orders. Find out more about the Widemouth 2 Fire.","

The Widemouth 2 Fire remains active in central Utah, prompting ongoing evacuation orders. Find out more about the Widemouth 2 Fire.

","What is the name and location of the wildfire? As of August 16, 2026, the Widemouth 2 Fire is burning across Millard and Sevier Counties in central Utah. The fire is affecting areas near Fillmore, Kanosh, Meadow, Joseph Peak, and the Fillmore Ranger District of Fishlake National Forest. Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire? The cities and areas affected by the Widemouth 2 Fire include: Chalk Creek Fillmore Fillmore Ranger District Joseph Peak Kanosh Meadow Millard County Sevier County What is the current containment status of the wildfire? As of August 16, 2026, the Widemouth 2 Fire has burned approximately 129,741 acres and is 80% contained. Firefighters are strengthening containment lines near local communities while working to slow the fire's spread through steep and rugged terrain (1). Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place? Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect for several communities near the Widemouth 2 Fire in Millard and Sevier Counties. Level 3 Go evacuation orders are in effect for the following areas. Residents in these locations should evacuate immediately: Kanosh, south of 300 S Turkey Track Lane and Cemetery Road Meadow, from 4400 S to Reservation Road Private properties near Joseph Peak. Level 2 Set evacuation warnings are in effect for the following areas. Residents should be prepared to evacuate: Kanosh, north of 300 S Fillmore, from 500 S to Reservation Road Areas extending west and south from 500 S and Baker Lane, including eastern portions of Highway 99 south to just beyond the Great Lakes Cheese Plant Meadow, from Meadow Canyon Road south to 4400 S An evacuation shelter is available at the Fillmore LDS Stake Center, located at 25 S 300 W St, Fillmore, Utah. Residents should monitor updates from the Millard County Sheriff's Office and the Sevier County Sheriff's Office. Those placed under a Level 3 evacuation order may receive emergency phone alerts and door-to-door notifications. Public access restrictions also remain in effect for designated lands, roads, and trails in the Fillmore Ranger District of Fishlake National Forest. Additional closures apply to certain Bureau of Land Management areas in Millard County. 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 August 16, 2026, this fire is 80% contained.","

What is the name and location of the wildfire?

As of August 16, 2026, the Widemouth 2 Fire is burning across Millard and Sevier Counties in central Utah.

The fire is affecting areas near Fillmore, Kanosh, Meadow, Joseph Peak, and the Fillmore Ranger District of Fishlake National Forest.

Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire?

The cities and areas affected by the Widemouth 2 Fire include:

Chalk Creek
Fillmore
Fillmore Ranger District
Joseph Peak
Kanosh
Meadow
Millard County
Sevier County

What is the current containment status of the wildfire?

As of August 16, 2026, the Widemouth 2 Fire has burned approximately 129,741 acres and is 80% contained.

Firefighters are strengthening containment lines near local communities while working to slow the fire's spread through steep and rugged terrain (1).

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect for several communities near the Widemouth 2 Fire in Millard and Sevier Counties.

Level 3 Go evacuation orders are in effect for the following areas. Residents in these locations should evacuate immediately:

Kanosh, south of 300 S
Turkey Track Lane and Cemetery Road
Meadow, from 4400 S to Reservation Road
Private properties near Joseph Peak.

Level 2 Set evacuation warnings are in effect for the following areas. Residents should be prepared to evacuate:

Kanosh, north of 300 S
Fillmore, from 500 S to Reservation Road
Areas extending west and south from 500 S and Baker Lane, including eastern portions of Highway 99 south to just beyond the Great Lakes Cheese Plant
Meadow, from Meadow Canyon Road south to 4400 S

An evacuation shelter is available at the Fillmore LDS Stake Center, located at 25 S 300 W St, Fillmore, Utah. Residents should monitor updates from the Millard County Sheriff's Office and the Sevier County Sheriff's Office. Those placed under a Level 3 evacuation order may receive emergency phone alerts and door-to-door notifications.

Public access restrictions also remain in effect for designated lands, roads, and trails in the Fillmore Ranger District of Fishlake National Forest. Additional closures apply to certain Bureau of Land Management areas in Millard County.

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 August 16, 2026, this fire is 80% contained.

","wildfire-map-spotlight-widemouth-2-fire-utah","gid://shopify/Article/642035351630","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/wildfire-map-spotlight-widemouth-2-fire-utah","2026-08-16T08:26:36Z",[178,210,211],"Wildfire Map Spotlight: Widemouth 2 Fire, Utah",{"_66":294,"_80":295,"_82":296,"_84":140,"_86":141},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/274661867598","Intense forest fire.","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/Wildfire10Desktop_c91a8720-b5af-493c-9f72-d019bf5b4d16.jpg?v=1786869148",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"Find out more about the historic Indiana flooding.","

Find out more about the historic Indiana flooding.

","What is the location of the flooding? As of August 16, 2026, historic flooding is affecting central, eastern, and southeastern Indiana following several days of storms that began on August 11. The South Central Indiana Flooding event covers areas within Marion, Madison, Delaware, Shelby, Fayette, Franklin, and Dearborn counties (1). Flooding is concentrated along the White River, Mississinewa River, Big Blue River, Whitewater River, West Fork of the Whitewater River, East Fork White River, Driftwood River, Flatrock River, and portions of the Wabash River (2). At least six people have died across Indiana, while flooding along the White River has caused extensive damage and evacuations in Indianapolis and surrounding communities (3). Which cities or areas are affected by the flooding? The affected cities, towns, and locations include: Dearborn County, Indiana West Harrison Delaware County, Indiana Albany Ball State University, Muncie Daleville Eaton Gaston Muncie Prairie Creek Reservoir Selma Yorktown Fayette County, Indiana Alpine Connersville East Connersville neighborhoods Neuman Lake Road area Nulltown Ott Road area Park Road area, Connersville Robinson's Whitewater Campground Shelton's Plat Waterloo Road area Franklin County, Indiana Brookville Cedar Grove Laurel Metamora New Trenton Stavetown Hamilton County, Indiana Noblesville Madison County, Indiana Anderson Chesterfield Marion County, Indiana Broad Ripple, Indianapolis Hi-Acre neighborhood, Indianapolis Indianapolis Indy Lakes Campground, Indianapolis Ravenswood, Indianapolis River Road Apartments, Indianapolis Rocky Ripple Southport Road area, Indianapolis Sunshine Gardens, Indianapolis Wicker Road and Tibbs Avenue area, Indianapolis Shelby County, Indiana Johnson's Camp, Shelbyville Lee's Camp, Shelbyville Shelbyville Walnut Grove, Shelbyville Tipton County, Indiana Senior mobile home community north of Indianapolis Hamilton County, Ohio Harrison Emergency officials reported serious flooding in Muncie and warned that nearby communities along the White River and Mississinewa River could also be affected. Flooding and flood warnings extended from Laurel and Brookville to West Harrison and Harrison, Ohio, along the Whitewater River system (4). What is the current containment status of the flooding? As of August 16, 2026, flooding remains ongoing, although water levels have begun receding in several communities. The White River peaked in Indianapolis early Sunday, and the Indianapolis Department of Public Works began reopening some flood gates while continuing to inspect levees, gates, and other flood-control infrastructure (5). Flooding continued along the White River in Anderson, where the river reached a record level of approximately 24.9 feet. Flooding was also expected to continue along the Wabash River and East Fork White River (6). Crews are clearing debris, inspecting damaged roads and bridges, conducting rescues, and monitoring flood-control systems. Shelters remain available, and additional rainfall could slow recovery or cause renewed flooding in already affected areas (7). Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place? Evacuation orders, warnings, and travel restrictions have been issued across several affected communities: Marion County: Residents of affected River Road Apartments buildings were urged to evacuate immediately because erosion and the washout of River Road created a risk of structural failure. Residents of Rocky Ripple and Ravenswood were also strongly advised to evacuate (8). Madison County: Previous evacuation orders in Anderson were lifted for properties where floodwaters had receded. Residents were advised not to return until floodwaters had receded from their properties (9). Muncie: A Level 3 Go evacuation order covered the area from Madison Street east to Hackley Street and from Memorial Drive south to 18th Street. Shelbyville: Residents of Lee's Camp, Johnson's Camp, and Walnut Grove were placed under a Level 2 Set evacuation warning and strongly encouraged to leave before access roads flooded. Fayette County: Residents in flood-prone portions of Connersville, East Connersville, Nulltown, Alpine, and nearby areas along the Whitewater River were told to evacuate. An Orange travel watch limited travel to essential trips. Franklin County: Flood warnings covered Laurel, Metamora, Brookville, Cedar Grove, New Trenton, and other low-lying communities near the Whitewater River system. Officials previously reported more than 350 evacuations in Delaware County, while a senior mobile home community in Tipton County was also evacuated (10). Reported emergency shelter locations include: 44 Banquet Hall, 100 N. Main St., Glenwood Bam Fitness, 832 N. Eastern Ave., Connersville Connersville High School, 1100 Spartan Dr., Connersville Crosspointe Biker Church, 1130 Baseline Rd., Connersville Expo Hall, 2691 N. Park Rd., Connersville Grace Baptist Church, 6401 W. River Rd., Muncie Laurel Community Center, 218 N. Clay St., Laurel Metamora Community Center, 19162 US-52, Metamora Noble Center, 2406 N. Tibbs Ave., Indianapolis Schilling Center, 900 Mill St., Brookville Washington Township Adult Center, 8401 Westfield Blvd., Indianapolis How can I protect myself from mold after flooding? It’s important to take steps to prevent mold after a flood. Before entering a flooded area, make sure it is safe and free from electrical hazards or structural damage. Use protective gear: wear gloves, goggles, and a KN95/FFP2 mask to minimize exposure to mold spores. If there is still standing water, remove it as quickly as possible. Use pumps, wet-dry vacuums, or buckets to extract the water. Open windows and doors to facilitate air circulation and use fans, dehumidifiers, and HVAC systems to help dry the space. This step is crucial within the first 24-48 hours after flooding to prevent mold growth. Remove and discard any items that have been severely damaged by floodwater and cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. This includes carpets, upholstered furniture, mattresses, and any other porous materials. Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces with a detergent or cleaner suitable for mold remediation. Use a solution of 1.5 cups of bleach mixed with one gallon of water to disinfect nonporous surfaces. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products, as the fumes are toxic. Maintain an indoor relative humidity (RH) of 35-50%. High humidity promotes mold growth, so consider using dehumidifiers in damp areas. Run a high-performance air purifier for mold, both during and after the mold removal work. If the flooding and mold damage are extensive, consider contacting professionals specializing in mold remediation to ensure proper cleanup and restoration. Remember, mold can pose health risks, so it's important to take these steps promptly and thoroughly. If you experience persistent mold-related health issues or have concerns about extensive mold growth, consult with a medical professional or a mold remediation specialist.","

What is the location of the flooding?

As of August 16, 2026, historic flooding is affecting central, eastern, and southeastern Indiana following several days of storms that began on August 11.

The South Central Indiana Flooding event covers areas within Marion, Madison, Delaware, Shelby, Fayette, Franklin, and Dearborn counties (1).

Flooding is concentrated along the White River, Mississinewa River, Big Blue River, Whitewater River, West Fork of the Whitewater River, East Fork White River, Driftwood River, Flatrock River, and portions of the Wabash River (2).

At least six people have died across Indiana, while flooding along the White River has caused extensive damage and evacuations in Indianapolis and surrounding communities (3).

Which cities or areas are affected by the flooding?

The affected cities, towns, and locations include:

Dearborn County, Indiana

West Harrison

Delaware County, Indiana

\nAlbany
\n
Ball State University, Muncie
\n
\nDaleville
\n
\nEaton
\n
Gaston
\nMuncie
\n
Prairie Creek Reservoir
Selma
\nYorktown
\n

Fayette County, Indiana

Alpine
\nConnersville
\n
East Connersville neighborhoods
Neuman Lake Road area
Nulltown
Ott Road area
Park Road area, Connersville
\n
Robinson's Whitewater Campground
Shelton's Plat
Waterloo Road area

Franklin County, Indiana

\nBrookville
\n
Cedar Grove
Laurel
Metamora
New Trenton
Stavetown

Hamilton County, Indiana

\nNoblesville
\n

Madison County, Indiana

\nAnderson
\n
\nChesterfield
\n

Marion County, Indiana

Broad Ripple, Indianapolis
Hi-Acre neighborhood, Indianapolis
\nIndianapolis
\n
Indy Lakes Campground, Indianapolis
Ravenswood, Indianapolis
River Road Apartments, Indianapolis
Rocky Ripple
Southport Road area, Indianapolis
Sunshine Gardens, Indianapolis
Wicker Road and Tibbs Avenue area, Indianapolis

Shelby County, Indiana

Johnson's Camp, Shelbyville
Lee's Camp, Shelbyville
\nShelbyville
\n
Walnut Grove, Shelbyville

Tipton County, Indiana

Senior mobile home community north of Indianapolis

Hamilton County, Ohio

Harrison

Emergency officials reported serious flooding in Muncie and warned that nearby communities along the White River and Mississinewa River could also be affected.

Flooding and flood warnings extended from Laurel and Brookville to West Harrison and Harrison, Ohio, along the Whitewater River system (4).

What is the current containment status of the flooding?

As of August 16, 2026, flooding remains ongoing, although water levels have begun receding in several communities. The White River peaked in Indianapolis early Sunday, and the Indianapolis Department of Public Works began reopening some flood gates while continuing to inspect levees, gates, and other flood-control infrastructure (5).

Flooding continued along the White River in Anderson, where the river reached a record level of approximately 24.9 feet. Flooding was also expected to continue along the Wabash River and East Fork White River (6).

Crews are clearing debris, inspecting damaged roads and bridges, conducting rescues, and monitoring flood-control systems. Shelters remain available, and additional rainfall could slow recovery or cause renewed flooding in already affected areas (7).

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

Evacuation orders, warnings, and travel restrictions have been issued across several affected communities:

\nMarion County: Residents of affected River Road Apartments buildings were urged to evacuate immediately because erosion and the washout of River Road created a risk of structural failure. Residents of Rocky Ripple and Ravenswood were also strongly advised to evacuate (8).
\nMadison County: Previous evacuation orders in Anderson were lifted for properties where floodwaters had receded. Residents were advised not to return until floodwaters had receded from their properties (9).
\nMuncie: A Level 3 Go evacuation order covered the area from Madison Street east to Hackley Street and from Memorial Drive south to 18th Street.
\nShelbyville: Residents of Lee's Camp, Johnson's Camp, and Walnut Grove were placed under a Level 2 Set evacuation warning and strongly encouraged to leave before access roads flooded.
\nFayette County: Residents in flood-prone portions of Connersville, East Connersville, Nulltown, Alpine, and nearby areas along the Whitewater River were told to evacuate. An Orange travel watch limited travel to essential trips.
\nFranklin County: Flood warnings covered Laurel, Metamora, Brookville, Cedar Grove, New Trenton, and other low-lying communities near the Whitewater River system.

Officials previously reported more than 350 evacuations in Delaware County, while a senior mobile home community in Tipton County was also evacuated (10).

Reported emergency shelter locations include:

44 Banquet Hall, 100 N. Main St., Glenwood
Bam Fitness, 832 N. Eastern Ave., Connersville
Connersville High School, 1100 Spartan Dr., Connersville
Crosspointe Biker Church, 1130 Baseline Rd., Connersville
Expo Hall, 2691 N. Park Rd., Connersville
Grace Baptist Church, 6401 W. River Rd., Muncie
Laurel Community Center, 218 N. Clay St., Laurel
Metamora Community Center, 19162 US-52, Metamora
Noble Center, 2406 N. Tibbs Ave., Indianapolis
Schilling Center, 900 Mill St., Brookville
Washington Township Adult Center, 8401 Westfield Blvd., Indianapolis

How can I protect myself from mold after flooding?

It’s important to take steps to prevent mold after a flood.

Before entering a flooded area, make sure it is safe and free from electrical hazards or structural damage.
Use protective gear: wear gloves, goggles, and a KN95/FFP2 mask to minimize exposure to mold spores.
If there is still standing water, remove it as quickly as possible. Use pumps, wet-dry vacuums, or buckets to extract the water.
Open windows and doors to facilitate air circulation and use fans, dehumidifiers, and HVAC systems to help dry the space. This step is crucial within the first 24-48 hours after flooding to prevent mold growth.
Remove and discard any items that have been severely damaged by floodwater and cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. This includes carpets, upholstered furniture, mattresses, and any other porous materials.
Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces with a detergent or cleaner suitable for mold remediation. Use a solution of 1.5 cups of bleach mixed with one gallon of water to disinfect nonporous surfaces. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products, as the fumes are toxic.
Maintain an indoor relative humidity (RH) of 35-50%. High humidity promotes mold growth, so consider using dehumidifiers in damp areas.
\nRun a high-performance air purifier for mold, both during and after the mold removal work.
If the flooding and mold damage are extensive, consider contacting professionals specializing in mold remediation to ensure proper cleanup and restoration.

Remember, mold can pose health risks, so it's important to take these steps promptly and thoroughly. If you experience persistent mold-related health issues or have concerns about extensive mold growth, consult with a medical professional or a mold remediation specialist.

","indoor-air-quality-alert-indiana-flooding","gid://shopify/Article/642103672910","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/indoor-air-quality-alert-indiana-flooding","2026-08-16T23:38:13Z",[178,210,313],"Indoor Air Quality Alert: Indiana Flooding",{"_66":310,"_80":311,"_82":312,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/274665242702","Flooded road.","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/Flooding3Desktop_c3d3e33f-16e4-4c84-b096-61d9381dd556.jpg?v=1786924529","Molds",{"_51":52,"_53":332,"_11":333,"_56":334,"_58":335,"_60":336,"_62":337,"_64":338,"_66":339,"_68":340,"_70":-5,"_71":341,"_73":342,"_75":343,"_77":344},{"_51":52,"_53":316,"_11":317,"_56":318,"_58":319,"_60":320,"_62":321,"_64":322,"_66":323,"_68":324,"_70":-5,"_71":325,"_73":326,"_75":327,"_77":328},{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"Air purification technology and smart monitoring integration are becoming increasingly popular in Asia. Learn about how effective smart air technology can be for busy households.","

Air purification technology and smart monitoring integration are becoming increasingly popular in Asia. Learn about how effective smart air technology can be for busy households.

","Home to numerous unhealthy air quality regions and some of the most polluted cities in the world, many Asian countries are reforming healthy breathing environments and monitoring through smart technology integration. The 2025 World Air Quality Report measured unhealthy PM2.5 concentrations up to 10 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended safe breathing levels in countries such as China and India. However, recent studies credit Asia Pacific as the fastest-growing air quality monitoring market in the world, thanks in part to smart cities, industrial automation, and sustainability initiatives (1). Depending on urban construction, traffic infrastructure, and industrial pollution, some environments may experience indoor air quality 2 to 5 times more unhealthy than outdoor air (2). To combat these environmental factors, air purification combined with smart technology integration can promote highly air-conscious ecosystems, especially in Asia’s rapidly growing population centers. Asia is ground zero for air technology Asia offers a unique landscape with numerous community factors that can influence clean indoor air quality, including a rising middle-class population, pre-existing smart home connectivity, and persistent outdoor urbanization (3). Growth in disposable income within Asian countries and households with smartphone access has paved the way for automated clean air technology. Smart air purifier and residential air quality monitor industries are expected to expand by about 14% from 2026 to 2031, with India and China projected to experience the greatest increase (4)(5). Smart home integration is increasing in households globally for day-to-day convenience, but advanced air cleaning technology and automated monitoring specifically targets indoor pollutants, actively decreasing medical risks and harmful exposure levels. Standalone monitors to connected ecosystems The most common standard clean air technology for homes typically comes in the form of air purifiers and basic PM2.5 monitors. However, in the age of automation, these devices have developed further to include in-app features, timed runtimes, and smart monitoring systems to create a digitally controlled, air-conscious lifestyle. From smart technology to real-time global monitoring, air quality devices have expanded to fit seamlessly into daily schedules, such as: Indoor and outdoor air quality monitors: Interconnected monitoring devices that can detect common airborne pollutants, such as PM2.5, PM10, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Smart automated air purifiers: Standalone air purification devices, often fitted with advanced filtration, automated runtimes, or in-app remote control access. Mobile apps and remote services: Integrated air quality phone applications to monitor city-wide air quality, receive localized air quality alerts, and control at-home air purification devices while away. Whole house air cleaning optimization: Air purification systems that can connect to pre-existing HVAC air ducts for optimized filtration between every enclosed room. As smart home integration becomes increasingly adopted in homes worldwide, optimized air quality technology is offering reduced health risks while contributing to a digital automation future. Where smart monitoring and air technology converge Despite housing some of the top ranked countries for unhealthy PM2.5 concentrations, Asia is projected to experience some of the greatest sales growth within the air quality product industry. Combined with widespread urbanization and growing middle-class populations, smart home air quality integration is finding its way into many homes within Asia as disposable incomes and demands for cleaner air increase. ChinaInfluenced by ongoing urbanization and widespread industrial pollution, China developed city-wide air cleaning technology, building the “world’s largest air purifier” tower in the northern city of Xian in 2018 (6). Hotels and office buildings have also implemented smart air purification and monitoring to provide a safe environment for consumers (7). Optimized technological advances are reflected on the consumer scale as well, through in-app controlled air purifiers and automated runtime features. Increased middle-class populations and disposable incomes in China over recent years have also set the stage for air purification to become a household necessity instead of an extraneous luxury (8). South KoreaIn South Korea, AI-driven electrical systems are being embedded into new home construction designs, building completely automated, robot-friendly spaces (9). With air quality automation and monitoring built directly into a home’s infrastructure, clean air can be provided with real-time pollutant measurements and without secondary obstacles. In partnership with large-scale apartment developers, these spaces are set to be mass produced to create easily manageable homes (10). JapanWith many air quality monitors already in place, communities in Japan focused on relocating and recalibrating various air quality measurement devices to create more sustainable electrical usage. Stationed near busy train stations and highways, these air quality monitors were reduced in numbers and moved to high-traffic locations to optimally capture shifting PM2.5 concentrations while limiting electrical utilization (11). Japan’s growing software environment and sustained electrical usage has influenced an increasing trend towards at-home automations and air quality optimization. Combined with pre-existing precise air quality sensors, the country is creating an emphasis on data collection through digital automation. IndiaAs the middle-class population expands in India, smart air purification adoption and increased monitoring is shifting from a luxurious service to a medical necessity. Experiencing historically poor air quality levels through traffic emissions and urbanization, India implemented systemic air quality changes through new electrical vehicle laws and road regulations (12). With many homes located near busy intersections, indoor air purification and monitoring are becoming increasingly adopted to limit harmful pollutant exposures. Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asian countries, such as Singapore, are investing in fully automated government offices and commercial buildings with built-in air quality monitoring and automatic ventilation. Like South Korea, environmental Singaporean initiatives are pushing to harvest the country’s unique digital infrastructure for low-energy, smart technology buildings to create healthy spaces away from systemic urbanization (13). Cultural crop burnings, wildfire smoke, and summertime smog are also common air quality events in Southeast Asia that often lead to elevated PM2.5 concentrations. Air purification and automated air quality monitoring can be in high demand during summer crop burning seasons to combat these events. What’s driving innovation For many Asian countries, ongoing industrialization and urbanization combined with persistent traffic emissions have influenced individuals to start investing in air quality technology. However, with the rise of artificial intelligence in recent years, air quality devices are becoming self-sufficient and maximize automation features to defend against daily pollutant obstacles. In China, South Korea, and Singapore, AI-driven smart home integration and automated air quality devices are becoming the new standard for pollutant-free homes and public spaces. These countries contain highly digitized infrastructures that help air quality technologies stay low-energy and sustainable. With in-app controlled air purifiers and real-time PM2.5 monitoring, air quality protection is finding its way into non-digital homes as well through innovative filtration products and maximized features. As air quality technology expands, the need for reliable air quality data increases. Accurate, real-time AQI readings and remote in-app monitoring can be essential for automated air cleaning systems to function properly and plan daily runtime schedules. Gaps and challenges Despite the technological advances and projected boom in the air quality industry in Asia, many air cleaning products remain inaccessible to a wide range of consumers and countries. From financial limitations to accessibility, gaps within the industry could prevent individuals and certain locations from receiving healthy air quality, such as: Affordability: Pricier, automated air purification systems could be inaccessible for those on tighter budgets, widening the air quality gap. Device maintenance: Filter replacements and consistent costly maintenance of automated devices could become inefficient or hard to keep up with for busy schedules. Urban vs rural locations: Non-digitized homes or spaces located in rural environments may experience difficulties in providing connection or optimized WiFi service for automated air quality devices. By focusing on affordability and data accessibility for air quality devices, healthy breathing environments can shift from a sought-out luxury to an accessible source of clean air and medical safety. Conclusion Asia's smart home boom and its air pollution challenges are converging into a fast-growing, tech-driven response. With the rise of air monitoring integration and automated purifiers, air quality innovation is bringing healthy breathing spaces to communities with city-wide urbanization and elevated pollution issues. However, for widespread clean air quality across all socioeconomic communities, a collaboration between affordable air purification technology and accessible air quality monitoring data is key. As smart homes get smarter, the real measure of success will be whether air-conscious living becomes standard and accessible — not just a premium feature.","

Home to numerous unhealthy air quality regions and some of the most polluted cities in the world, many Asian countries are reforming healthy breathing environments and monitoring through smart technology integration.

The 2025 World Air Quality Report measured unhealthy PM2.5 concentrations up to 10 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended safe breathing levels in countries such as China and India. However, recent studies credit Asia Pacific as the fastest-growing air quality monitoring market in the world, thanks in part to smart cities, industrial automation, and sustainability initiatives (1).

Depending on urban construction, traffic infrastructure, and industrial pollution, some environments may experience indoor air quality 2 to 5 times more unhealthy than outdoor air (2). To combat these environmental factors, air purification combined with smart technology integration can promote highly air-conscious ecosystems, especially in Asia’s rapidly growing population centers.

Asia is ground zero for air technology

Asia offers a unique landscape with numerous community factors that can influence clean indoor air quality, including a rising middle-class population, pre-existing smart home connectivity, and persistent outdoor urbanization (3).

Growth in disposable income within Asian countries and households with smartphone access has paved the way for automated clean air technology. Smart air purifier and residential air quality monitor industries are expected to expand by about 14% from 2026 to 2031, with India and China projected to experience the greatest increase (4)(5).

Smart home integration is increasing in households globally for day-to-day convenience, but advanced air cleaning technology and automated monitoring specifically targets indoor pollutants, actively decreasing medical risks and harmful exposure levels.

Standalone monitors to connected ecosystems

The most common standard clean air technology for homes typically comes in the form of air purifiers and basic PM2.5 monitors. However, in the age of automation, these devices have developed further to include in-app features, timed runtimes, and smart monitoring systems to create a digitally controlled, air-conscious lifestyle. From smart technology to real-time global monitoring, air quality devices have expanded to fit seamlessly into daily schedules, such as:

\nIndoor and outdoor air quality monitors: Interconnected monitoring devices that can detect common airborne pollutants, such as PM2.5, PM10, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
\nSmart automated air purifiers: Standalone air purification devices, often fitted with advanced filtration, automated runtimes, or in-app remote control access.
\nMobile apps and remote services: Integrated air quality phone applications to monitor city-wide air quality, receive localized air quality alerts, and control at-home air purification devices while away.
\nWhole house air cleaning optimization: Air purification systems that can connect to pre-existing HVAC air ducts for optimized filtration between every enclosed room.

As smart home integration becomes increasingly adopted in homes worldwide, optimized air quality technology is offering reduced health risks while contributing to a digital automation future.

Where smart monitoring and air technology converge

Despite housing some of the top ranked countries for unhealthy PM2.5 concentrations, Asia is projected to experience some of the greatest sales growth within the air quality product industry. Combined with widespread urbanization and growing middle-class populations, smart home air quality integration is finding its way into many homes within Asia as disposable incomes and demands for cleaner air increase.

China
Influenced by ongoing urbanization and widespread industrial pollution, China developed city-wide air cleaning technology, building the “world’s largest air purifier” tower in the northern city of Xian in 2018 (6). Hotels and office buildings have also implemented smart air purification and monitoring to provide a safe environment for consumers (7).

Optimized technological advances are reflected on the consumer scale as well, through in-app controlled air purifiers and automated runtime features. Increased middle-class populations and disposable incomes in China over recent years have also set the stage for air purification to become a household necessity instead of an extraneous luxury (8).

South Korea
In South Korea, AI-driven electrical systems are being embedded into new home construction designs, building completely automated, robot-friendly spaces (9).

With air quality automation and monitoring built directly into a home’s infrastructure, clean air can be provided with real-time pollutant measurements and without secondary obstacles. In partnership with large-scale apartment developers, these spaces are set to be mass produced to create easily manageable homes (10).

Japan
With many air quality monitors already in place, communities in Japan focused on relocating and recalibrating various air quality measurement devices to create more sustainable electrical usage. Stationed near busy train stations and highways, these air quality monitors were reduced in numbers and moved to high-traffic locations to optimally capture shifting PM2.5 concentrations while limiting electrical utilization (11).

Japan’s growing software environment and sustained electrical usage has influenced an increasing trend towards at-home automations and air quality optimization. Combined with pre-existing precise air quality sensors, the country is creating an emphasis on data collection through digital automation.

India
As the middle-class population expands in India, smart air purification adoption and increased monitoring is shifting from a luxurious service to a medical necessity.

Experiencing historically poor air quality levels through traffic emissions and urbanization, India implemented systemic air quality changes through new electrical vehicle laws and road regulations (12). With many homes located near busy intersections, indoor air purification and monitoring are becoming increasingly adopted to limit harmful pollutant exposures.

Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian countries, such as Singapore, are investing in fully automated government offices and commercial buildings with built-in air quality monitoring and automatic ventilation. Like South Korea, environmental Singaporean initiatives are pushing to harvest the country’s unique digital infrastructure for low-energy, smart technology buildings to create healthy spaces away from systemic urbanization (13).

Cultural crop burnings, wildfire smoke, and summertime smog are also common air quality events in Southeast Asia that often lead to elevated PM2.5 concentrations. Air purification and automated air quality monitoring can be in high demand during summer crop burning seasons to combat these events.

What’s driving innovation

For many Asian countries, ongoing industrialization and urbanization combined with persistent traffic emissions have influenced individuals to start investing in air quality technology. However, with the rise of artificial intelligence in recent years, air quality devices are becoming self-sufficient and maximize automation features to defend against daily pollutant obstacles.

In China, South Korea, and Singapore, AI-driven smart home integration and automated air quality devices are becoming the new standard for pollutant-free homes and public spaces. These countries contain highly digitized infrastructures that help air quality technologies stay low-energy and sustainable. With in-app controlled air purifiers and real-time PM2.5 monitoring, air quality protection is finding its way into non-digital homes as well through innovative filtration products and maximized features.

As air quality technology expands, the need for reliable air quality data increases. Accurate, real-time AQI readings and remote in-app monitoring can be essential for automated air cleaning systems to function properly and plan daily runtime schedules.

Gaps and challenges

Despite the technological advances and projected boom in the air quality industry in Asia, many air cleaning products remain inaccessible to a wide range of consumers and countries. From financial limitations to accessibility, gaps within the industry could prevent individuals and certain locations from receiving healthy air quality, such as:

\nAffordability: Pricier, automated air purification systems could be inaccessible for those on tighter budgets, widening the air quality gap.
\nDevice maintenance: Filter replacements and consistent costly maintenance of automated devices could become inefficient or hard to keep up with for busy schedules.
\nUrban vs rural locations: Non-digitized homes or spaces located in rural environments may experience difficulties in providing connection or optimized WiFi service for automated air quality devices.

By focusing on affordability and data accessibility for air quality devices, healthy breathing environments can shift from a sought-out luxury to an accessible source of clean air and medical safety.

Conclusion

Asia's smart home boom and its air pollution challenges are converging into a fast-growing, tech-driven response. With the rise of air monitoring integration and automated purifiers, air quality innovation is bringing healthy breathing spaces to communities with city-wide urbanization and elevated pollution issues.

However, for widespread clean air quality across all socioeconomic communities, a collaboration between affordable air purification technology and accessible air quality monitoring data is key.

As smart homes get smarter, the real measure of success will be whether air-conscious living becomes standard and accessible — not just a premium feature.

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Air changes per hour – why should this matter to you? Read and find out before you invest in an air purifier.

","Air changes per hour (ACH) is a ventilation metric that measures how frequently indoor air is replaced and filtered within a 60-minute time period. When choosing an air purifier, ACH values can play an important role in determining air cleaning efficiency and filtration power. Understanding ACH values, metric calculations, and associated symptom relief is key to guarantee maximum air quality protection and fast filtration efficiency within indoor spaces. What does ACH mean? Air changes per hour is a metric system utilized to measure how often indoor air particles are cleaned and filtered within one hour in a controlled indoor space, meaning an ACH value of 2 equals to air particles being replaced 2 times in an hour. ACH values commonly range on a scale of 1-6; however, exceptional air quality filtering and ventilation can produce higher ACH levels (1). For air purifiers, the higher the ACH calculated value, the higher the indication that air particles within a room have been replaced through filter circulation. Low ACH values could determine stagnant air or a lack of proper ventilation in an enclosed space. Therefore, by calculating ACH levels for air purifiers or air cleaning systems, families and homeowners can gain a better understanding of the air filtration efficiency surrounding them. How do you measure ACH? Air changes per hour is calculated through a simple equation combining system airflow in cubic feet per minute (CFM) with timespan divided by the room dimensions. Check product packaging to see manufacturer labeled ACH values or calculate at home through personal measurements. To measure air changes per hour, utilize the equation: Measuring ACH levels not only allows for an in-depth understanding of the surrounding ventilation and filtration efficiency in a space, but also ensures health symptoms are alleviated and clean air quality is maintained through quantitative data. Most manufacturers provide ACH only for the highest speed setting. Therefore, it’s important to understand ACH, so that you are aware how to determine ACH on the speed setting that you will use the air purifier. You will need the CFM for each speed setting to determine this. It’s important to have at least two air changes per hour to make an acceptable difference in air quality in a room or space. What does ACH help with? Air changes per hour measures differences in air quality and pertain associated benefits with higher ACH values that help alleviate health conditions and symptoms. According to a recent study, higher ACH levels have been found to be associated with respiratory symptom relief, reduced allergies, and healthier breathing by eliminating infectious aerosols (2). Rooms with high activity may require higher ACH levels to properly address elevated airborne pollutant activity. Contrastingly, large rooms with low activity or occupancy may not require high ACH levels to sufficiently provide clean air ventilation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an ACH level of 7 or higher for the “best” ventilation efficiency, labeling an ACH value of 4 as “good” and a 6 as “better” (3). Why does ACH matter when choosing an air purifier? Air changes per hour is an important measurement tool and scale for determining air filtration efficiency, ensuring proper circulation and ventilation is actively cleaning the air. Selecting an air purifier with a high ACH value ensures maximum filtration efficiency while improving health conditions and symptoms. By utilizing ACH values to choose clean air systems, efficient ventilation and filtration power can be guaranteed for indoor spaces. Individuals with asthma, eczema, and respiratory difficulties also experienced an improvement of symptoms through ACH measurements and stability. Elevated ACH levels can substantially reduce the time to remove airborne pollutants, creating a high-filtration-efficiency environment and limiting exposure to harmful particles. Check for “Shortcutting” in air purifier design In air purification, \"shortcutting\" is an airflow design flaw where an air cleaner's intake and exhaust are too close, causing freshly filtered air to re-enter the machine immediately instead of circulating through the room. IQAir systems prevents shortcutting by placing intakes and outputs at opposite ends with its Swiss Design and manufacturing. Understanding Shortcutting: The Problem: Poorly designed purifiers pull clean air right back in, wasting energy and reducing effective room cleaning. The IQAir Design: Units like the HealthPro series separate intake (bottom) and outflow (top/opposite ends) to force complete room air mixing. Result: Maximizes air changes per hour (ACH) without recycling already-purified air. How to increase ACH levels Air changes per hour values are not set in stone and are influenced by the actual speed setting being used and if the air purifier is designed to prevent shortcutting. High ACH levels have been linked to allergen symptom relief, the dilution of indoor airborne pollutants, and reduced exposure to harmful particles. ACH levels can be elevated within indoor spaces through additional air cleaning technology and daily ventilation practices, such as: Air cleaning technology: Utilize multiple HyperHEPA air purifiers in high activity spaces, rely on HVAC filtration to increase airflow, and install an air quality monitor to know when outdoor ventilation is safe Daily practices: Open windows during periods of low outdoor activity, employ fans to increase air circulation throughout rooms, and routinely clean surfaces to limit airborne pollutants Employing additional air quality metrics could help further contextualize the filtration and ventilation efficiency within indoor air, such as CADR and CCM. The Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) measures how fast an air purifier can produce clean air, while Cumulative Clean Mass (CCM) determines how much pollutants an air purifier can capture before losing efficiency. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Is ACH important?Yes, air changes per hour (ACH) is an important metric system for determining clean air ventilation and filtration efficiency. ACH measures how often an air cleaning system can clean and replace the air particles in a room. Specific ACH values detail how efficiently and effectively an air purifier system functions within the hour timeframe. By quantifying performance results, the air purifier selection process is simplified and ensures the most optimal decision can be made. Where can I find my ACH level?Check the air cleaning device’s product packaging for a listed ACH value or ranking. If no ACH value is listed, utilize the ACH equation to calculate at home and determine a device’s ventilation efficiency. What does ACH stand for?ACH is an acronym for air changes per hour, meaning this metric measures how many times air particles can be replaced within an hour in an indoor space. How do CCM and CADR relate to ACH?Cumulative Clean Mass (CCM), Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR), and Air Changes per Hour (ACH) are all metrics measuring specific aspects of clean air quality, such as ventilation, filtration, and healthy particle production. These metrics help quantify air purifier capabilities to find the best air cleaning results through proven data collection. Employ CCM, CADR, and ACH calculations to ensure maximum pollutant protection and filtration efficiency is achieved between every air cleaning device. Conclusion Air changes per hour (ACH) is an essential metric tool that allows us to understand ventilation efficiency, symptom relief, and clean air filtration through quantitative, tangible data values and levels. Without understanding ACH, health risks and invisible pollutants may unknowingly prevail within indoor spaces. Employ clean air technology and filtration practices to achieve high ACH levels for maximum ventilation efficiency and harmful pollutant reduction.","

Air changes per hour (ACH) is a ventilation metric that measures how frequently indoor air is replaced and filtered within a 60-minute time period. When choosing an air purifier, ACH values can play an important role in determining air cleaning efficiency and filtration power.

Understanding ACH values, metric calculations, and associated symptom relief is key to guarantee maximum air quality protection and fast filtration efficiency within indoor spaces.

What does ACH mean?

Air changes per hour is a metric system utilized to measure how often indoor air particles are cleaned and filtered within one hour in a controlled indoor space, meaning an ACH value of 2 equals to air particles being replaced 2 times in an hour. ACH values commonly range on a scale of 1-6; however, exceptional air quality filtering and ventilation can produce higher ACH levels (1).

For air purifiers, the higher the ACH calculated value, the higher the indication that air particles within a room have been replaced through filter circulation. Low ACH values could determine stagnant air or a lack of proper ventilation in an enclosed space.

Therefore, by calculating ACH levels for air purifiers or air cleaning systems, families and homeowners can gain a better understanding of the air filtration efficiency surrounding them.

How do you measure ACH?

Air changes per hour is calculated through a simple equation combining system airflow in cubic feet per minute (CFM) with timespan divided by the room dimensions. Check product packaging to see manufacturer labeled ACH values or calculate at home through personal measurements. To measure air changes per hour, utilize the equation:
$\"\"$

Measuring ACH levels not only allows for an in-depth understanding of the surrounding ventilation and filtration efficiency in a space, but also ensures health symptoms are alleviated and clean air quality is maintained through quantitative data.

Most manufacturers provide ACH only for the highest speed setting. Therefore, it’s important to understand ACH, so that you are aware how to determine ACH on the speed setting that you will use the air purifier. You will need the CFM for each speed setting to determine this. It’s important to have at least two air changes per hour to make an acceptable difference in air quality in a room or space.

What does ACH help with?

Air changes per hour measures differences in air quality and pertain associated benefits with higher ACH values that help alleviate health conditions and symptoms.

According to a recent study, higher ACH levels have been found to be associated with respiratory symptom relief, reduced allergies, and healthier breathing by eliminating infectious aerosols (2). Rooms with high activity may require higher ACH levels to properly address elevated airborne pollutant activity. Contrastingly, large rooms with low activity or occupancy may not require high ACH levels to sufficiently provide clean air ventilation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an ACH level of 7 or higher for the “best” ventilation efficiency, labeling an ACH value of 4 as “good” and a 6 as “better” (3).

Why does ACH matter when choosing an air purifier?

Air changes per hour is an important measurement tool and scale for determining air filtration efficiency, ensuring proper circulation and ventilation is actively cleaning the air. Selecting an air purifier with a high ACH value ensures maximum filtration efficiency while improving health conditions and symptoms. By utilizing ACH values to choose clean air systems, efficient ventilation and filtration power can be guaranteed for indoor spaces.

Individuals with asthma, eczema, and respiratory difficulties also experienced an improvement of symptoms through ACH measurements and stability. Elevated ACH levels can substantially reduce the time to remove airborne pollutants, creating a high-filtration-efficiency environment and limiting exposure to harmful particles.

Check for “Shortcutting” in air purifier design

In air purification, \"shortcutting\" is an airflow design flaw where an air cleaner's intake and exhaust are too close, causing freshly filtered air to re-enter the machine immediately instead of circulating through the room.

IQAir systems prevents shortcutting by placing intakes and outputs at opposite ends with its Swiss Design and manufacturing.

Understanding Shortcutting:

The Problem: Poorly designed purifiers pull clean air right back in, wasting energy and reducing effective room cleaning.
The IQAir Design: Units like the HealthPro series separate intake (bottom) and outflow (top/opposite ends) to force complete room air mixing.
Result: Maximizes air changes per hour (ACH) without recycling already-purified air.

How to increase ACH levels

Air changes per hour values are not set in stone and are influenced by the actual speed setting being used and if the air purifier is designed to prevent shortcutting. High ACH levels have been linked to allergen symptom relief, the dilution of indoor airborne pollutants, and reduced exposure to harmful particles. ACH levels can be elevated within indoor spaces through additional air cleaning technology and daily ventilation practices, such as:

Air cleaning technology: Utilize multiple HyperHEPA air purifiers in high activity spaces, rely on HVAC filtration to increase airflow, and install an air quality monitor to know when outdoor ventilation is safe
Daily practices: Open windows during periods of low outdoor activity, employ fans to increase air circulation throughout rooms, and routinely clean surfaces to limit airborne pollutants

Employing additional air quality metrics could help further contextualize the filtration and ventilation efficiency within indoor air, such as CADR and CCM. The Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) measures how fast an air purifier can produce clean air, while Cumulative Clean Mass (CCM) determines how much pollutants an air purifier can capture before losing efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is ACH important?
Yes, air changes per hour (ACH) is an important metric system for determining clean air ventilation and filtration efficiency. ACH measures how often an air cleaning system can clean and replace the air particles in a room. Specific ACH values detail how efficiently and effectively an air purifier system functions within the hour timeframe.

By quantifying performance results, the air purifier selection process is simplified and ensures the most optimal decision can be made.

Where can I find my ACH level?
Check the air cleaning device’s product packaging for a listed ACH value or ranking. If no ACH value is listed, utilize the ACH equation to calculate at home and determine a device’s ventilation efficiency.

What does ACH stand for?
ACH is an acronym for air changes per hour, meaning this metric measures how many times air particles can be replaced within an hour in an indoor space.

How do CCM and CADR relate to ACH?
Cumulative Clean Mass (CCM), Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR), and Air Changes per Hour (ACH) are all metrics measuring specific aspects of clean air quality, such as ventilation, filtration, and healthy particle production. These metrics help quantify air purifier capabilities to find the best air cleaning results through proven data collection.

Employ CCM, CADR, and ACH calculations to ensure maximum pollutant protection and filtration efficiency is achieved between every air cleaning device.

Conclusion

Air changes per hour (ACH) is an essential metric tool that allows us to understand ventilation efficiency, symptom relief, and clean air filtration through quantitative, tangible data values and levels. Without understanding ACH, health risks and invisible pollutants may unknowingly prevail within indoor spaces.

Employ clean air technology and filtration practices to achieve high ACH levels for maximum ventilation efficiency and harmful pollutant reduction.

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On August 29, 2019, the Trump administration in the United States announced plans to roll back air pollution regulations placed on the oil and gas industry during the administration of President Barack Obama.¹

These regulations, which were previously enacted to mitigate the industry’s effects on air pollution and climate change, urged companies to install controls in several places, including drilling and production operations, pipelines, and storage facilities, in order to monitor and curb methane emissions.

Andrew Wheeler, former energy lobbyist and current head of the EPA, claims that since methane is valuable, the industry is naturally incentivized to minimize leaks. As a result, he stated that current regulations are “unnecessary and duplicative.”²

According to the Agency, the new proposals will allow the oil and gas industry to save $17 million to $19 million a year, or up to $123 million by 2025.³

Consequently, however, the EPA will be removed of any authority to regulate operations as they pertain to VOC emissions, the largest source of methane from the sector.⁴

A new study published by the Imperial College London and Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for Air estimated that air pollution has caused 30,000 American deaths in a single year.⁵ Recent moves by the EPA to rollback United States air quality regulations raise concerns that even more American lives may be threatened for the sake of industry profits.
\n\n

","epa-moves-to-overturn-obama-air-quality-regulations","gid://shopify/Article/564860911694","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/epa-moves-to-overturn-obama-air-quality-regulations","2019-09-12T14:59:49Z",[178,14],"Selling our health? EPA moves to overturn Obama-Era air quality regulations",{"_66":396,"_80":397,"_82":398,"_84":85,"_86":399},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/269419806798","EPA logo superimposed over a smokestack.","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/EPA-1440_12190280-2941-46ae-94a6-5481e1c2d3a3.jpg?v=1751015881",1000,{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"Learn to recognize how microplastics affect your air and what you can do about it.","You’ve probably heard of microplastics – tiny, nearly invisible plastic particles that have seeped into our global ecosystem.And while you may have heard about the damage that microplastics have caused to the oceans, experts are starting to find pieces of plastic in air pollution, too.In fact, you may be inhaling up to 16.2 plastic bits from your own clothes and plastic debris every hour. That can add up to breathing in the equivalent of an entire credit card every week.1You may be inhaling up to 16.2 bits of plastic every hour – the equivalent of an entire credit card every week.That’s according to a breakthrough 2019 study by a research team in Denmark who opened the floodgates to the idea that microplastics are everywhere – including the air.So let’s focus on how microplastics affect air pollution – we’ll cover: where microplastics come from how microplastics get into the air you breathe what effects microplastics have on your body when they’re inhaled what you can do to protect yourself from inhaling microplastics how to reduce the amount that gets into the air in the first place What exactly are microplastics?According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), microplastics are chunks of plastic pollution that measure less than five millimeters (mm) across.2NOAA researchers have found microplastics in both the air and water, including: drinking water oceans (including the deep sea) lakes snowfall rainfall This is because microplastics are small enough to get transferred from water to air and back again in the evaporation and precipitation parts of the water cycle.3NOAA researchers have found microplastics in both the air and water, including oceans, lakes, snowfall, and rainfall.Microplastics are also produced as a byproduct of sewage treatment. This can send wastewater containing microplastics into the ocean, where microplastics then evaporate into the atmosphere in huge volumes.4These microplastics can originate from a huge number of possible sources, including:5 synthetic materials washed off clothes during laundry cycles, such as polyester and polypropylene abrasions to vehicle tires or brake componentsduring transporton the road that cause tiny tire shreds or brake wear particles to fly off abrasions to everyday plastic or synthetic objects, like the soles of shoes and cooking utensils runoff from plastic components used to develop and mark roads coatings used on marine equipment and infrastructure, such as container ships plastic components used in personal care products, such as plastic microdermabrasion beads in face wash plastic pellets used in manufacturing Are microplastics bad for you?Many microplastics are small enough to be inhaled straight into your lungs.Like other foreign objects, microplastics can be harmful when they get into your airways. They can cause swelling and damage to your windpipe and to the tissue of your lungs, making you feel mild chest pain or shortness of breath.Over time, microplastics can build up and damage the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs. This can increase your risk of developing lung conditions like emphysema and lung cancer.6,7Microplastics can build up and damage the air sacs in your lungs. This can increase your risk of developing emphysema and lung cancer.Some of the smallest microplastics can even get into your bloodstream.A 2020 review article in Science of the Total Environment found that one of the most common microplastics, synthetic fibers used in textile manufacturing, range in size from 1-5 microns.8 This is small enough to enter your respiratory system and pass through the lungs into the bloodstream.Combined with arterial plaque and other pollutant particles like PM2.5 building up in your bloodstream, microplastics can contribute to hardening of your arteries (atherosclerosis) and blockages that lead to coronary artery disease and heart attacks.9Many airborne microplastics also carry other dangerous pollutants on their surface.In big cities with the highest concentrations of microplastics, many of these particles adsorb pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that originate from:10 production of chemicals smoking cigarettes burning fuel in cars or factories Inhaling pollutant-covered microplastics has also been linked to other human health effects, such as:11,12 eye irritation trouble breathing nausea vomiting feeling disoriented kidney and liver damage cataracts jaundice infertility cancer of the skin, lungs, bladder, liver, or stomach How do microplastics get into the air?Although some microplastics get into the atmosphere when water containing microplastics evaporates, that’s not the only source.Microplastics can also get into the air when any plastic object gets damaged, scraped, abraded, and so on.Here are a couple of examples to illustrate: When you drive a car, your tires are slowly wearing down due to friction and heat. This is because millions of tiny microscopic pieces of rubber and plastic used to make tires fly off the tire and into the air. Many pieces of clothing made of polyester contain tiny plastic components that are added during production. When you rub the surface of polyester clothing, thousands of tiny fibers are released into the air (think of when you itch your skin and tons of skin cells flake off into the air). In both cases, microplastics can become airborne and be breathed in by anyone who happens to take a breath of air containing those microplastics.Once they become airborne, microplastics can also travel for thousands of miles through the planet’s atmosphere. A 2020 study in Nature Communications found that a combined 3,082 kilotonnes of tire shreds and brake wear particles contributed significantly microplastics in global air pollution.13Microplastics can travel on wind and weather patterns from North America, Europe, and Asia as far away as the North Atlantic and the Arctic, especially during winter and spring.Estimating a lifespan of about 28 days for PM2.5-sized tire shred particles in particular, the study suggests that microplastics can travel on wind and weather patterns from emission sources in North America, Europe, and Asia as far away as the North Atlantic and the Arctic, especially during the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) in winter and spring.What does the research say?The study by that research team in Denmark we mentioned earlier, published in 2019 in Scientific Reports, illustrates this idea well.The researchers built a mannequin (like the kind you see in clothing stores modeling clothes) that was designed to mimic a human body, complete with a breathing system made of glass and aluminum to accurately show how microplastics affect the human respiratory tract. (They even created a heating system so that the mannequin had the same 98.6°F body temperatures as a real human!)Then, they set the breathing mannequin to inhale indoor air at three different apartments in the city of Aarhus, Denmark, each for 24 hours straight. Here’s what they found: up to 4 percentof the total air volume of each apartment over 24 hours was contaminated with airborne microplastics – meaning that you’d inhale at least some microplastics with every breath in one of these environments the amount of microplastics in the air could vary widely between different areas in the same environment – one part of the environment could hold air containing up to a 77 percent concentration of microplastics, while other areas may have as low as a 24 percent concentration the vast majority of airborne microplastics came from synthetic polymers common in clothing, manufactured furniture, and plastic goods most airborne microplastics were much smaller than other airborne pollutants like skin flakes, making them more likely to get into your airways So microplastics may be present in 4-77 percent of the air you breathe on a regular basis.Microplastics may be present in 4-77% of the air you breathe on a regular basis.Many other studies have corroborated these findings.A 2020 study in Environment International from a research team in London, England found 575 to 1008 microplastics per square meter of air in every air sample collected from the top of a 9-story building twice a week for a month.14A 2019 study in Science Advances found high levels of microplastics, especially varnish particles and nitrile rubber shreds, in snowfall around the world as far as the Alps and the Arctic. Even locations as remote as Greenland and Svalbard (a tiny, isolated island close to the Arctic in Norway) contained as much as 1,760 microplastics per liter of air. This further illustrates that microplastics can travel throughout the upper atmosphere and get deposited anywhere in the world.15And another 2019 study from researchers at the Université Paris-Est found that plastic fibers – the most common source of airborne microplastics – make up 60 billion kilograms of the world’s plastic production.16 These microplastics can also carry other air pollutants, such as chemicals, on their surfaces resulting in widespread health effects like lung inflammation as well as increasing risk of infertility and cancer.How can I protect myself from microplastics air pollution?Microplastics are becoming a significant air quality problem across the world.A 2020 review article in Earth-Science Reviews found that microplastics in air pollution may be the biggest contributor to microplastics pollution around the world, especially in remote regions like the Arctic and in most of the planet’s oceans.17But there’s plenty you can do to start protecting yourself from the health impacts of microplastics pollution and reducing microplastics produced by your lifestyle.Buy everyday objects that are compostable or biodegradablePlastic objects are made of synthetic components that can take thousands of years to fully break down.Products that are labeled as compostable can be broken down in the soil, and products that are biodegradable can be consumed by microorganisms and contribute more sustainably to the ecosystem.Look for a label that indicates that the product is compostable – almost everything you could think of buying has a biodegradable or compostable alternatives.A 2009 study looked into the best alternatives to plastic and suggested the following materials that break down the fastest:18 starch-based polymers plant-based silvergrass wood fiber coconut fiber But while it’s good to minimize single-use plastic products like sealed bags and grocery bags, some substitutes can do more harm than good, such as:19 “biodegradable” single-use plastic water bottles or plastic bags: this type of plastic can still take many years to biodegrade and introduce harmful chemicals into the environment bamboo-based products like straws or silverware: bamboo sources may not be sustainable if scaled up for mass consumption and could threaten bamboo forest ecosystems clothes or shoes made of “recovered” plastic: re-used plastic still keeps plastic in the manufacturing and consumption cycle, leading to further environmental pollution by microplastics Consider eco-friendly, sustainable plastic alternativesThe 21st century has experienced growth in industries that are striving to move away from plastics as a key ingredient in their products.Many businesses offer alternatives to plastic, like glass or stainless steel, that are much sturdier and longer-lasting than plastic versions. They may cost a bit more, but a glass or steel plate, bowl, container, etc. can last for years without generating microplastics.B CorporationsB Corporations are businesses that have committed to reducing their global waste and observing fair hiring and manufacturing processes throughout the global supply chain, including the reduction of materials that generate microplastics.20Just look for a little logo that looks like a B in a circle and consider making more of your purchases from companies that commit to B Corporation sustainability practices.Buy recycled plastic goods – and recycle them accordingly!Cheap, disposable plastic objects are some of the biggest contributors to global microplastics pollution, since we use them once and throw them away immediately.Think about all the single-use plastic things you use every day and multiply that by nearly 8 billion people – that’s more or less how much plastic waste is thrown away every day.Think about all the single-use plastic things you use every day and multiply that by nearly 8 billion people – that’s more or less how much plastic waste is thrown away every day.So try to buy plastic goods that are recyclable – look for that universal recycling logo with the arrows.And look for a number inside the little recycling logo printed or designed into the object – not all recyclable goods can be recycled in the same way.Here’s our quick cheat sheet for recycling:1. PET – Polyethylene Terephthalate Throw it in your recycling bin. Don’t reuse it. This includes water bottles, soda cans, and food packaging. 2. HDPE – High-Density Polyethylene Throw it in your recycling bin Don’t reuse it. Try to avoid buying products with this label. Includes grocery bags and packaging for products like milk and bleach. 3 – PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride Not recyclable, but can be re-made into other products. Avoid buying products with this label. Includes plastic wrap and many outdoor garden hoses. 4. LDPE Low-density Polyethylene Difficult to recycle. Consider reusing products with this label. Includes squeezable bottles and the plastic used to wrap loaves of bread. 5. PP – Polypropylene Throw it in your recycling bin if your local recycling program takes it. Used in many cereal bags, food containers, and diapers. 6. PS – Polystyrene Difficult to recycle. Avoid buying or consider reusing products with this label. Includes foam plates and cups as well as packing peanuts. 7. Other This covers a huge number of plastics – some are recyclable and some are not. Avoid buying products with this label or reuse them often. Use a high-performance air purifierAlthough a significant percentage of airborne microplastics can be as small as 1 micron and pose major health risks, microplastics particles are typically much bigger than most airborne pollutant particles like PM10 and PM2.5.This makes them much easier to capture using ahigh-performance air purifier that filters out particles as small as 0.003 microns, the smallest particles that exist (and thousands of times smaller than even the tiniest microplastics).But keep in mind that because of their size, microplastics are much heavier than typical airborne pollutants and can’t be sucked in by the small, weak motors of most cheap air purifiers.High-performance, centrifugal fans are designed to trap and collect even large, heavy microplastics pollutants.A personal air purifier can help filter microplastics from the air in environments like bedroom or workspaces, where microplastics can be emitted at high levels from clothing, desktop appliances, and containers.A car air purifier can also help filter microplastics from tire and brake wear that enter your vehicle interior, especially on highways or busy roads.The takeawayMicroplastics are a huge problem – but all of us can do our part to decrease how dependent we are on plastic-based products.Consumers have the power of the dollar to stop buying plastic products, especially if you have the means to sacrifice a little disposable income to buy natural, plastic-free products.Multiplied by millions of people, buying sustainable products can help reduce (and someday eliminate) the sheer volume of plastic that chokes the water, the air, and human bodies with pollutants and chemicals.","

You’ve probably heard of microplastics – tiny, nearly invisible plastic particles that have seeped into our global ecosystem.

And while you may have heard about the damage that microplastics have caused to the oceans, experts are starting to find pieces of plastic in air pollution, too.

In fact, you may be inhaling up to 16.2 plastic bits from your own clothes and plastic debris every hour. That can add up to breathing in the equivalent of an entire credit card every week.¹

You may be inhaling up to 16.2 bits of plastic every hour – the equivalent of an entire credit card every week.

That’s according to a breakthrough 2019 study by a research team in Denmark who opened the floodgates to the idea that microplastics are everywhere – including the air.

So let’s focus on how microplastics affect air pollution – we’ll cover:

where microplastics come from
how microplastics get into the air you breathe
what effects microplastics have on your body when they’re inhaled
what you can do to protect yourself from inhaling microplastics
how to reduce the amount that gets into the air in the first place

What exactly are microplastics?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), microplastics are chunks of plastic pollution that measure less than five millimeters (mm) across.²

NOAA researchers have found microplastics in both the air and water, including:

drinking water
oceans (including the deep sea)
lakes
snowfall
rainfall

This is because microplastics are small enough to get transferred from water to air and back again in the evaporation and precipitation parts of the water cycle.³

NOAA researchers have found microplastics in both the air and water, including oceans, lakes, snowfall, and rainfall.

Microplastics are also produced as a byproduct of sewage treatment. This can send wastewater containing microplastics into the ocean, where microplastics then evaporate into the atmosphere in huge volumes.⁴

These microplastics can originate from a huge number of possible sources, including:⁵

\nsynthetic materials washed off clothes during laundry cycles, such as polyester and polypropylene
\nabrasions to vehicle tires or brake componentsduring transporton the road that cause tiny tire shreds or brake wear particles to fly off
\nabrasions to everyday plastic or synthetic objects, like the soles of shoes and cooking utensils
\nrunoff from plastic components used to develop and mark roads
\ncoatings used on marine equipment and infrastructure, such as container ships
\nplastic components used in personal care products, such as plastic microdermabrasion beads in face wash
plastic pellets used in manufacturing

Are microplastics bad for you?

Many microplastics are small enough to be inhaled straight into your lungs.

Like other foreign objects, microplastics can be harmful when they get into your airways. They can cause swelling and damage to your windpipe and to the tissue of your lungs, making you feel mild chest pain or shortness of breath.

Over time, microplastics can build up and damage the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs. This can increase your risk of developing lung conditions like emphysema and lung cancer.^6,7

Microplastics can build up and damage the air sacs in your lungs. This can increase your risk of developing emphysema and lung cancer.

Some of the smallest microplastics can even get into your bloodstream.

A 2020 review article in Science of the Total Environment found that one of the most common microplastics, synthetic fibers used in textile manufacturing, range in size from 1-5 microns.⁸ This is small enough to enter your respiratory system and pass through the lungs into the bloodstream.

Combined with arterial plaque and other pollutant particles like PM2.5 building up in your bloodstream, microplastics can contribute to hardening of your arteries (atherosclerosis) and blockages that lead to coronary artery disease and heart attacks.⁹

Many airborne microplastics also carry other dangerous pollutants on their surface.

In big cities with the highest concentrations of microplastics, many of these particles adsorb pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that originate from:¹⁰

production of chemicals
smoking cigarettes
burning fuel in cars or factories

Inhaling pollutant-covered microplastics has also been linked to other human health effects, such as:^11,12

eye irritation
trouble breathing
nausea
vomiting
feeling disoriented
kidney and liver damage
cataracts
jaundice
infertility
cancer of the skin, lungs, bladder, liver, or stomach

How do microplastics get into the air?

Although some microplastics get into the atmosphere when water containing microplastics evaporates, that’s not the only source.

Microplastics can also get into the air when any plastic object gets damaged, scraped, abraded, and so on.

Here are a couple of examples to illustrate:

When you drive a car, your tires are slowly wearing down due to friction and heat. This is because millions of tiny microscopic pieces of rubber and plastic used to make tires fly off the tire and into the air.
Many pieces of clothing made of polyester contain tiny plastic components that are added during production. When you rub the surface of polyester clothing, thousands of tiny fibers are released into the air (think of when you itch your skin and tons of skin cells flake off into the air).

In both cases, microplastics can become airborne and be breathed in by anyone who happens to take a breath of air containing those microplastics.

Once they become airborne, microplastics can also travel for thousands of miles through the planet’s atmosphere. A 2020 study in Nature Communications found that a combined 3,082 kilotonnes of tire shreds and brake wear particles contributed significantly microplastics in global air pollution.¹³

Microplastics can travel on wind and weather patterns from North America, Europe, and Asia as far away as the North Atlantic and the Arctic, especially during winter and spring.

Estimating a lifespan of about 28 days for PM2.5-sized tire shred particles in particular, the study suggests that microplastics can travel on wind and weather patterns from emission sources in North America, Europe, and Asia as far away as the North Atlantic and the Arctic, especially during the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) in winter and spring.

What does the research say?

The study by that research team in Denmark we mentioned earlier, published in 2019 in Scientific Reports, illustrates this idea well.

The researchers built a mannequin (like the kind you see in clothing stores modeling clothes) that was designed to mimic a human body, complete with a breathing system made of glass and aluminum to accurately show how microplastics affect the human respiratory tract. (They even created a heating system so that the mannequin had the same 98.6°F body temperatures as a real human!)

Then, they set the breathing mannequin to inhale indoor air at three different apartments in the city of Aarhus, Denmark, each for 24 hours straight. Here’s what they found:

\nup to 4 percentof the total air volume of each apartment over 24 hours was contaminated with airborne microplastics – meaning that you’d inhale at least some microplastics with every breath in one of these environments
\nthe amount of microplastics in the air could vary widely between different areas in the same environment – one part of the environment could hold air containing up to a 77 percent concentration of microplastics, while other areas may have as low as a 24 percent concentration
\nthe vast majority of airborne microplastics came from synthetic polymers common in clothing, manufactured furniture, and plastic goods
\nmost airborne microplastics were much smaller than other airborne pollutants like skin flakes, making them more likely to get into your airways

So microplastics may be present in 4-77 percent of the air you breathe on a regular basis.

Microplastics may be present in 4-77% of the air you breathe on a regular basis.

Many other studies have corroborated these findings.

A 2020 study in Environment International from a research team in London, England found 575 to 1008 microplastics per square meter of air in every air sample collected from the top of a 9-story building twice a week for a month.¹⁴

A 2019 study in Science Advances found high levels of microplastics, especially varnish particles and nitrile rubber shreds, in snowfall around the world as far as the Alps and the Arctic. Even locations as remote as Greenland and Svalbard (a tiny, isolated island close to the Arctic in Norway) contained as much as 1,760 microplastics per liter of air. This further illustrates that microplastics can travel throughout the upper atmosphere and get deposited anywhere in the world.¹⁵

And another 2019 study from researchers at the Université Paris-Est found that plastic fibers – the most common source of airborne microplastics – make up 60 billion kilograms of the world’s plastic production.¹⁶ These microplastics can also carry other air pollutants, such as chemicals, on their surfaces resulting in widespread health effects like lung inflammation as well as increasing risk of infertility and cancer.

How can I protect myself from microplastics air pollution?

Microplastics are becoming a significant air quality problem across the world.

A 2020 review article in Earth-Science Reviews found that microplastics in air pollution may be the biggest contributor to microplastics pollution around the world, especially in remote regions like the Arctic and in most of the planet’s oceans.¹⁷

But there’s plenty you can do to start protecting yourself from the health impacts of microplastics pollution and reducing microplastics produced by your lifestyle.

Buy everyday objects that are compostable or biodegradable

Plastic objects are made of synthetic components that can take thousands of years to fully break down.

Products that are labeled as compostable can be broken down in the soil, and products that are biodegradable can be consumed by microorganisms and contribute more sustainably to the ecosystem.

Look for a label that indicates that the product is compostable – almost everything you could think of buying has a biodegradable or compostable alternatives.

A 2009 study looked into the best alternatives to plastic and suggested the following materials that break down the fastest:¹⁸

starch-based polymers
plant-based silvergrass
wood fiber
coconut fiber

But while it’s good to minimize single-use plastic products like sealed bags and grocery bags, some substitutes can do more harm than good, such as:¹⁹

\n“biodegradable” single-use plastic water bottles or plastic bags: this type of plastic can still take many years to biodegrade and introduce harmful chemicals into the environment
\nbamboo-based products like straws or silverware: bamboo sources may not be sustainable if scaled up for mass consumption and could threaten bamboo forest ecosystems
\nclothes or shoes made of “recovered” plastic: re-used plastic still keeps plastic in the manufacturing and consumption cycle, leading to further environmental pollution by microplastics

Consider eco-friendly, sustainable plastic alternatives

The 21st century has experienced growth in industries that are striving to move away from plastics as a key ingredient in their products.

Many businesses offer alternatives to plastic, like glass or stainless steel, that are much sturdier and longer-lasting than plastic versions. They may cost a bit more, but a glass or steel plate, bowl, container, etc. can last for years without generating microplastics.

B Corporations

B Corporations are businesses that have committed to reducing their global waste and observing fair hiring and manufacturing processes throughout the global supply chain, including the reduction of materials that generate microplastics.²⁰

Just look for a little logo that looks like a B in a circle and consider making more of your purchases from companies that commit to B Corporation sustainability practices.

Buy recycled plastic goods – and recycle them accordingly!

Cheap, disposable plastic objects are some of the biggest contributors to global microplastics pollution, since we use them once and throw them away immediately.

Think about all the single-use plastic things you use every day and multiply that by nearly 8 billion people – that’s more or less how much plastic waste is thrown away every day.

Think about all the single-use plastic things you use every day and multiply that by nearly 8 billion people – that’s more or less how much plastic waste is thrown away every day.

So try to buy plastic goods that are recyclable – look for that universal recycling logo with the arrows.

And look for a number inside the little recycling logo printed or designed into the object – not all recyclable goods can be recycled in the same way.

Here’s our quick cheat sheet for recycling:

1. PET – Polyethylene Terephthalate

Throw it in your recycling bin.
Don’t reuse it.
This includes water bottles, soda cans, and food packaging.

2. HDPE – High-Density Polyethylene

Throw it in your recycling bin
Don’t reuse it.
Try to avoid buying products with this label.
Includes grocery bags and packaging for products like milk and bleach.

3 – PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride

Not recyclable, but can be re-made into other products.
Avoid buying products with this label.
Includes plastic wrap and many outdoor garden hoses.

4. LDPE Low-density Polyethylene

Difficult to recycle.
Consider reusing products with this label.
Includes squeezable bottles and the plastic used to wrap loaves of bread.

5. PP – Polypropylene

Throw it in your recycling bin if your local recycling program takes it.
Used in many cereal bags, food containers, and diapers.

6. PS – Polystyrene

Difficult to recycle.
Avoid buying or consider reusing products with this label.
Includes foam plates and cups as well as packing peanuts.

7. Other

This covers a huge number of plastics – some are recyclable and some are not.
Avoid buying products with this label or reuse them often.

Use a high-performance air purifier

Although a significant percentage of airborne microplastics can be as small as 1 micron and pose major health risks, microplastics particles are typically much bigger than most airborne pollutant particles like PM10 and PM2.5.

This makes them much easier to capture using ahigh-performance air purifier that filters out particles as small as 0.003 microns, the smallest particles that exist (and thousands of times smaller than even the tiniest microplastics).

But keep in mind that because of their size, microplastics are much heavier than typical airborne pollutants and can’t be sucked in by the small, weak motors of most cheap air purifiers.

High-performance, centrifugal fans are designed to trap and collect even large, heavy microplastics pollutants.

A personal air purifier can help filter microplastics from the air in environments like bedroom or workspaces, where microplastics can be emitted at high levels from clothing, desktop appliances, and containers.

A car air purifier can also help filter microplastics from tire and brake wear that enter your vehicle interior, especially on highways or busy roads.

The takeaway

Microplastics are a huge problem – but all of us can do our part to decrease how dependent we are on plastic-based products.

Consumers have the power of the dollar to stop buying plastic products, especially if you have the means to sacrifice a little disposable income to buy natural, plastic-free products.

Multiplied by millions of people, buying sustainable products can help reduce (and someday eliminate) the sheer volume of plastic that chokes the water, the air, and human bodies with pollutants and chemicals.

","microplastics-effects-on-air-pollution","gid://shopify/Article/564856946766","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/microplastics-effects-on-air-pollution","2019-12-31T21:39:16Z",[178,14],"How do microplastics get in the air?",{"_66":412,"_80":413,"_82":414,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/269420068942","Microplastics","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/Microplastics_Desktop_b.jpg?v=1751016298",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"NOx pollution doesn’t just come out of a tailpipe — it also results from large-scale fertilizer use. Learn more.","Do you ever wonder what gives smog its grotesque brown hue?The answer: nitrogen oxides.Nitrogen oxides, collectively called NOx, are a family of poisonous, highly reactive gases. Three of the most notorious nitrogen oxides are:1 nitric oxide (NO) nitrogen dioxide (NO2) nitrous oxide (N20) NOx is a powerful oxidizing agent. It plays a significant role in the atmospheric reactions with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that produce smog on hot summer days.2NOx is also a major part of acid rain and contributes considerably to global climate change.Health effects of NOx pollutionNOx pollution isn’t just offensive to look at — it’s also toxic to breathe. Short-term exposure to nitrogen oxides can cause a variety of serious health effects, including:3 irritation of the respiratory system, eyes, and skin aggravation of respiratory diseases, especially asthma coughing and choking nausea headache abdominal pain difficulty breathing Long-term exposure to low levels of NOx can cause asthma and respiratory infections. The health effects from very high concentrations of nitrogen oxides can include: death genetic mutations harm to a developing fetus decreased female fertility spasms swelling of the throat Significant sources of NOx pollutionVolcanoes, oceans, and lightning strikes naturally produce nitrogen oxides. But the prominent presence of this noxious pollutant is largely attributed to man-made sources like vehicle exhaust gases and emissions from electrical power plants.4Most governments concentrate most of their NOx-reducing initiatives on regulating vehicle and industrial emissions because these are traditionally the most significant sources of NOx pollution.But there’s been a flurry of recent research that reveals another huge source of NOx emissions that’s been underreported — agriculture.Agriculture’s role in NOxBig Agriculture (a term for the corporatization of agriculture) regularly gets blowback for employing farming practices that undermine the environment, but its excessive use of fertilizer plays the biggest role in increasing NOx pollution.How does excessive fertilizer use add to NOx pollution?Farmers add fertilizer to their crops (basically a load of nitrates) because plants use nitrogen to produce chlorophyll, which is essential for growth. Microbes in the soil feed on nitrate-rich organic matter in the soil not consumed by plants. These microbes produce NOx during their feeding frenzy that contaminates the air.5This may not seem like a big deal since microbes are microscopic – how much NOx could these tiny soil dwellers possibly produce? Well, multiply the thousands of microbes in the soil by millions of acres of farmland, and the amount of NOx released into the air reaches astounding levels.California’s Central Valley: A breeding ground for NOxNowhere else is this link between NOx pollution and widespread fertilizer application more clear than in California, home to one of the most prosperous agricultural regions in the world.Researchers from the University of California, Davis found that California could have 20% to 51% more NOx pollution than previously thought, thanks to its farmland. That would mean that NOx pollution from farming could result in up to 40% of the total NOx pollution in the Golden State.6This represents a dramatic departure from the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) estimate that only 3.8% of the state’s total NOx pollution derives from farmland soil.7To obtain these figures, the UC Davis research team, funded by the National Science Foundation, took soil samples and flew over cropland on a plane equipped with a gas-sampling tool to take measurements of NOx emissions.The study found that six of the worst air quality districts in the US were found in the area of California covered by the study.8The smog that has such a stranglehold in these areas may help explain why children in the Central Valley suffer the highest rates of asthma in California — and the San Joaquin Valley region within the Central Valley, where one in six children have asthma, has the highest rate in the entire country.9The Central Valley is home to a significant number of underserved communities, which are more acutely impacted by air pollution due to greater levels of exposure than are other communities. Additionally, these communities are also more vulnerable to the health effects of air pollution exposure than other groups at the same levels of exposure.10Excessive fertilizer use is a global air quality issueIrresponsible large-scale fertilizer use doesn’t just affect the air quality in California — approximately 30-40% of all NOx pollution worldwide is a result of excess fertilizer in farm fields.11A study conducted by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley used nitrogen isotope data to find the unmistakable fingerprint of fertilizer use in archived air samples from Antarctica and Tasmania.The air samples showed a long-term trend in isotopic composition that confirms that nitrogen-based fertilizer is mainly responsible for a 20% increase in atmospheric NOx since the Industrial Revolution.12This dramatic rise in global NOx levels proves particularly worrisome for two primary reasons: After carbon dioxide (CO) and methane, nitrous oxide (NO2) is the most potent greenhouse gas, trapping heat and contributing to global warming. NOx destroys stratospheric ozone, which protects our planet from harmful ultraviolet rays. All this to say, fertilizer shouldn’t be vilified — many parts of the world need more of it. The distribution and timing of fertilization on a large scale are what truly need to be overhauled.How the Asthma Impact Model helps Natalie Sua manage her sons’ asthmaUndaunted by the dire statistics around regional NOx pollution in California, the Central California Asthma Collaborative and Clinica Sierra Vista launched a program to help low-income families in the Central Valley take control over their health and well-being.Launched in 2013, the group’s Asthma Impact Model focuses on helping low-income families better manage their children’s asthma, thus avoiding visits to the ER.Witnessing one of her sons struggle to breathe was a disturbingly routine occurrence for Natalie Sua, Fresno mother of six. Three of her six children, all boys, have been diagnosed with asthma.13In the past, when one of her sons suffered a severe asthma attack, Natalie would rush him to the emergency room. But, now, thanks to Fresno’s Asthma Impact Model, Sua has learned how to reduce asthma triggers in her home and effectively manage her son’s asthma through environmental control.A care coordinator with the program paid visits to Natalie’s home and suggested ways to reduce indoor environmental asthma triggers, like pet dander, dust, and mold. Natalie also was given tips on using natural cleaning products and how to remove mold.Since working with the Asthma Impact Model, Natalie has noticed a huge difference in the health of her sons — one has even been able to play flag football for the entire season.Using fertilizer responsiblySince NOx is produced mostly from excess available nitrogen in soils, one way to reduce NOx emissions is to apply fertilizer sensibly — adding just enough at the right place and time to meet crop demands but avoiding excess amount left over. This measure not only decreases fertilizer costs to producers but also reduces the amount of nitrogen that’s lost through excess fertilizer application.Fertilizer can be used more efficiently by:14 adjusting fertilizer rates to coincide with plant needs placing fertilizer near plant roots (but not too deep in the soil) applying fertilizers to certain plants, such as turfgrass, twice or more a year, rather than only once15 using slow-release forms Other farming practices that can sometimes reduce NOx emissions on farms include: using manure efficiently (less NOx is released from manure) using cover crops (sown between successive crops) to remove excess available nitrogen adjusting tillage intensity (occasionally, no-till practices can reduce emissions) Fertilizer isn’t inherently bad for the environment – it’s been used for thousands of years without leaving lasting impacts on the planet.But using it wisely and taking measures to reduce the impact of NOx pollution from fertilizer is key to making sure that fertilizer can continue to support global agricultural efforts without harming our health.And if you’re concerned that local agricultural practices are affecting your community’s air quality, go to local city council meetings and make your voice heard.Individual city governments are often close collaborators with big agricultural companies whose farming practices affect local air pollution, so going straight to the source of your local government’s decision-making can often be the beginning of a huge, positive change.","

Do you ever wonder what gives smog its grotesque brown hue?

The answer: nitrogen oxides.

Nitrogen oxides, collectively called NOx, are a family of poisonous, highly reactive gases. Three of the most notorious nitrogen oxides are:1

nitric oxide (NO)
nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
nitrous oxide (N₂0)

NOx is a powerful oxidizing agent. It plays a significant role in the atmospheric reactions with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that produce smog on hot summer days.²

NOx is also a major part of acid rain and contributes considerably to global climate change.

Health effects of NOx pollution

NOx pollution isn’t just offensive to look at — it’s also toxic to breathe. Short-term exposure to nitrogen oxides can cause a variety of serious health effects, including:³

irritation of the respiratory system, eyes, and skin
aggravation of respiratory diseases, especially asthma\n
coughing and choking
nausea
headache
abdominal pain
difficulty breathing

Long-term exposure to low levels of NOx can cause asthma and respiratory infections. The health effects from very high concentrations of nitrogen oxides can include:

death
genetic mutations
harm to a developing fetus
decreased female fertility
spasms
swelling of the throat

Significant sources of NOx pollution

Volcanoes, oceans, and lightning strikes naturally produce nitrogen oxides. But the prominent presence of this noxious pollutant is largely attributed to man-made sources like vehicle exhaust gases and emissions from electrical power plants.⁴

Most governments concentrate most of their NOx-reducing initiatives on regulating vehicle and industrial emissions because these are traditionally the most significant sources of NOx pollution.

But there’s been a flurry of recent research that reveals another huge source of NOx emissions that’s been underreported — agriculture.

Agriculture’s role in NOx

Big Agriculture (a term for the corporatization of agriculture) regularly gets blowback for employing farming practices that undermine the environment, but its excessive use of fertilizer plays the biggest role in increasing NOx pollution.

How does excessive fertilizer use add to NOx pollution?

Farmers add fertilizer to their crops (basically a load of nitrates) because plants use nitrogen to produce chlorophyll, which is essential for growth. Microbes in the soil feed on nitrate-rich organic matter in the soil not consumed by plants. These microbes produce NOx during their feeding frenzy that contaminates the air.⁵

This may not seem like a big deal since microbes are microscopic – how much NOx could these tiny soil dwellers possibly produce? Well, multiply the thousands of microbes in the soil by millions of acres of farmland, and the amount of NOx released into the air reaches astounding levels.

California’s Central Valley: A breeding ground for NOx

Nowhere else is this link between NOx pollution and widespread fertilizer application more clear than in California, home to one of the most prosperous agricultural regions in the world.

Researchers from the University of California, Davis found that California could have 20% to 51% more NOx pollution than previously thought, thanks to its farmland. That would mean that NOx pollution from farming could result in up to 40% of the total NOx pollution in the Golden State.⁶

This represents a dramatic departure from the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) estimate that only 3.8% of the state’s total NOx pollution derives from farmland soil.⁷

To obtain these figures, the UC Davis research team, funded by the National Science Foundation, took soil samples and flew over cropland on a plane equipped with a gas-sampling tool to take measurements of NOx emissions.

The study found that six of the worst air quality districts in the US were found in the area of California covered by the study.⁸

The smog that has such a stranglehold in these areas may help explain why children in the Central Valley suffer the highest rates of asthma in California — and the San Joaquin Valley region within the Central Valley, where one in six children have asthma, has the highest rate in the entire country.⁹

The Central Valley is home to a significant number of underserved communities, which are more acutely impacted by air pollution due to greater levels of exposure than are other communities. Additionally, these communities are also more vulnerable to the health effects of air pollution exposure than other groups at the same levels of exposure.¹⁰

Excessive fertilizer use is a global air quality issue

Irresponsible large-scale fertilizer use doesn’t just affect the air quality in California — approximately 30-40% of all NOx pollution worldwide is a result of excess fertilizer in farm fields.¹¹

A study conducted by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley used nitrogen isotope data to find the unmistakable fingerprint of fertilizer use in archived air samples from Antarctica and Tasmania.

The air samples showed a long-term trend in isotopic composition that confirms that nitrogen-based fertilizer is mainly responsible for a 20% increase in atmospheric NOx since the Industrial Revolution.¹²

This dramatic rise in global NOx levels proves particularly worrisome for two primary reasons:

After carbon dioxide (CO) and methane, nitrous oxide (NO₂) is the most potent greenhouse gas, trapping heat and contributing to global warming.\n
\nNOx destroys stratospheric ozone, which protects our planet from harmful ultraviolet rays.

All this to say, fertilizer shouldn’t be vilified — many parts of the world need more of it. The distribution and timing of fertilization on a large scale are what truly need to be overhauled.

How the Asthma Impact Model helps Natalie Sua manage her sons’ asthma

Undaunted by the dire statistics around regional NOx pollution in California, the Central California Asthma Collaborative and Clinica Sierra Vista launched a program to help low-income families in the Central Valley take control over their health and well-being.

Launched in 2013, the group’s Asthma Impact Model focuses on helping low-income families better manage their children’s asthma, thus avoiding visits to the ER.

Witnessing one of her sons struggle to breathe was a disturbingly routine occurrence for Natalie Sua, Fresno mother of six. Three of her six children, all boys, have been diagnosed with asthma.¹³

In the past, when one of her sons suffered a severe asthma attack, Natalie would rush him to the emergency room. But, now, thanks to Fresno’s Asthma Impact Model, Sua has learned how to reduce asthma triggers in her home and effectively manage her son’s asthma through environmental control.

A care coordinator with the program paid visits to Natalie’s home and suggested ways to reduce indoor environmental asthma triggers, like pet dander, dust, and mold. Natalie also was given tips on using natural cleaning products and how to remove mold.

Since working with the Asthma Impact Model, Natalie has noticed a huge difference in the health of her sons — one has even been able to play flag football for the entire season.

Using fertilizer responsibly

Since NOx is produced mostly from excess available nitrogen in soils, one way to reduce NOx emissions is to apply fertilizer sensibly — adding just enough at the right place and time to meet crop demands but avoiding excess amount left over. This measure not only decreases fertilizer costs to producers but also reduces the amount of nitrogen that’s lost through excess fertilizer application.

Fertilizer can be used more efficiently by:¹⁴

adjusting fertilizer rates to coincide with plant needs
placing fertilizer near plant roots (but not too deep in the soil)
applying fertilizers to certain plants, such as turfgrass, twice or more a year, rather than only once¹⁵\n
using slow-release forms

Other farming practices that can sometimes reduce NOx emissions on farms include:

using manure efficiently (less NOx is released from manure)
using cover crops (sown between successive crops) to remove excess available nitrogen
adjusting tillage intensity (occasionally, no-till practices can reduce emissions)

Fertilizer isn’t inherently bad for the environment – it’s been used for thousands of years without leaving lasting impacts on the planet.

But using it wisely and taking measures to reduce the impact of NOx pollution from fertilizer is key to making sure that fertilizer can continue to support global agricultural efforts without harming our health.

And if you’re concerned that local agricultural practices are affecting your community’s air quality, go to local city council meetings and make your voice heard.

Individual city governments are often close collaborators with big agricultural companies whose farming practices affect local air pollution, so going straight to the source of your local government’s decision-making can often be the beginning of a huge, positive change.
\n\n

","agricultural-fertilizer-use-dirties-our-air","gid://shopify/Article/564857733198","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/agricultural-fertilizer-use-dirties-our-air","2020-01-22T17:05:30Z",[210,14,161],"NOx pollution and agriculture",{"_66":427,"_80":428,"_82":429,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/269464436814","Fertilizer, NOx","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/Fert_Desktop_b_a343d92b-4319-4636-ad05-c5eb673085ce.jpg?v=1751448816",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"See how IQAir air quality data can quantify how much air pollution costs our health and our economies.","On a particularly smoggy day, it’s not hard to imagine the toll that air pollution takes on our health and lives. But what many don’t realize is that the total impact of air pollution on human life and the global economy may be far more severe than previously thought. In response to increased demand for data on the human cost of air pollution, IQAir and Greenpeace Southeast Asia have developed a cost estimator that calculates the health and economic costs of air pollution in some of the world’s biggest cities using the IQAir global air quality database. This estimate is based on an algorithm combining the following data inputs to calculate costs throughout an entire calendar year: real-time data from ground-level air quality sensors managed by the IQAir air quality database, including particulate matter with a diameter size of 2.5 microns or smaller (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) data (where available) scientific risk models population and health data The cost estimator can then automatically calculate deaths and economic impact for many of the world’s major cities, some of which regularly appear on IQAir’s Most Polluted Cities ranking. Mortality and cost estimates are based on the total impact attributable to PM2.5 and NO2 over the preceding 365 days, apportioned day by day according to daily recorded pollutant levels. Inclusion of NO2 is dependent on data availability. 2020: Over 160,000 deaths in top 5 cities In 2020, our counter provided an alarming estimate of the cost of air pollution for the world’s top five most populous cities for the entire year in terms of lives and productivity lost:1 Tokyo, Japan: 40,000 deaths, $43 billion U.S. dollars (USD) (population: 37,000,000) New Delhi, India: 54,000 deaths, $8.1billion USD (population: 30,000,000) Shanghai, China: 39,000 deaths, $19billion USD (population: 27,100,000) Sao Paulo, Brazil: 15,000 deaths, $7.8 billion USD (population: 22,000,000) Mexico City, Mexico: 15,000 deaths, $7billion USD (population: 21,800,000) Total Deaths: 163,000Total Cost: $85.1billion USD That’s over 160,000 lives and $85.1billion USD lost in 2020 alone – in only five cities. And those five cities represent only 1.7% of the world population.2 In the top five most populous cities alone, air pollution caused over 160,000 deaths and cost $85.1billion USD during 2020 – and those five cities represent only 1.7% of the world population. The real cost of air pollution In a single year, major cities around the world lost hundreds of thousands of lives and well into the hundreds of billions of dollars. Data from 2021 already suggests that this alarming trend will continue. Try to imagine what those numbers look like for a world of nearly 8 billion people. It leaves us heavy-hearted. And when it comes to fighting against air pollution, knowledge is power. Data on lives and dollars lost is one of the most powerful tools we have to hold polluters and policy makers to account and change the air pollution story forever. That’s why IQAir and Greenpeace Southeast Asia partnered to produce the Cost of Air Pollution Counter. The Cost of Air Pollution Counter uses the same methodology as a 2020 report by Greenpeace that calculated shocking estimates of the costs of using of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas:3 4.5 million premature deaths each year due to air pollution from fossil fuels US $8 billion (3.3% of the world’s total gross domestic product or GDP) lost each day from reduced life expectancy, premature birth, illnesses that result in hospital visits and missed work, and financial burdens resulting from illnesses 40,000 deaths of children under five every year from PM2.5 exposure from fossil fuels 1.8 billion days of work lost from illnesses related to PM2.5from fossil fuels, resulting in economic losses of US$101 billion Fossil fuels cause 4.5 million premature deaths each year, cost $8 billion every day, cause 40,000 deaths of children younger than 5, and resulted in 1.8 billion days of work lost from illnesses related to PM2.5. The cost of reducing air pollution The cost of reducing air pollution by switching from polluting fuels like coal, oil, and gas to zero-emissions alternative energy sources like wind and solar may seem high. But the health costs and economic costs of air pollution are clearly much higher – and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are actually increasingly cheaper than polluting fossil fuels.4 The cost of reducing air pollution may seem high. But the health costs and economic costs of air pollution are clearly much higher. If nothing changes, the costs will continue to mount as the world population grows and climate change poses new risks that will make global capitalism in its current form untenable. The solutions to the global air pollution problem are in front of us. Renewable energy applications like wind farms and solar panels have already experienced immense growth and investment over the past decade. In the U.S. alone, renewable energy use has grown by 100% since 2000, comprising 17% of net electricity use in 2018.5 Furthermore, renewable energy sources are projected to grow by at least 7% in the coming year and account for nearly 90% of the total increase in global power capacity worldwide, with roughly 150% growth projected from 2010 to 2025 (see Figure 1).6 Figure 1: Projected growth in renewable energy sources, 2010-2025 (Source: International Energy Agency). The takeaway Deaths from air pollution showed alarming trends in 2020 and continue to reflect these trends in 2021. The death toll may be even higher given the lack of air quality data coverage across large swathes of the world, with the estimated death toll thought to be over 500,000 as more cities are accounted for in the algorithm. Fortunately, investment in renewable energy is helping gradually replace deadly and expensive fossil fuels with cheaper, sustainable sources of wind, solar, and other renewables. This means that we are moving in the right direction, but still have a long way to go.","

On a particularly smoggy day, it’s not hard to imagine the toll that air pollution takes on our health and lives. But what many don’t realize is that the total impact of air pollution on human life and the global economy may be far more severe than previously thought.

In response to increased demand for data on the human cost of air pollution, IQAir and Greenpeace Southeast Asia have developed a cost estimator that calculates the health and economic costs of air pollution in some of the world’s biggest cities using the IQAir global air quality database.

This estimate is based on an algorithm combining the following data inputs to calculate costs throughout an entire calendar year:

real-time data from ground-level air quality sensors managed by the IQAir air quality database, including particulate matter with a diameter size of 2.5 microns or smaller (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) data (where available)
scientific risk models
population and health data

The cost estimator can then automatically calculate deaths and economic impact for many of the world’s major cities, some of which regularly appear on IQAir’s Most Polluted Cities ranking.

Mortality and cost estimates are based on the total impact attributable to PM2.5 and NO₂ over the preceding 365 days, apportioned day by day according to daily recorded pollutant levels. Inclusion of NO₂ is dependent on data availability.

2020: Over 160,000 deaths in top 5 cities

In 2020, our counter provided an alarming estimate of the cost of air pollution for the world’s top five most populous cities for the entire year in terms of lives and productivity lost:¹

\nTokyo, Japan: 40,000 deaths, $43 billion U.S. dollars (USD) (population: 37,000,000)
\nNew Delhi, India: 54,000 deaths, $8.1billion USD (population: 30,000,000)
\nShanghai, China: 39,000 deaths, $19billion USD (population: 27,100,000)
\nSao Paulo, Brazil: 15,000 deaths, $7.8 billion USD (population: 22,000,000)
\nMexico City, Mexico: 15,000 deaths, $7billion USD (population: 21,800,000)

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

That’s over 160,000 lives and $85.1billion USD lost in 2020 alone – in only five cities. And those five cities represent only 1.7% of the world population.²

In the top five most populous cities alone, air pollution caused over 160,000 deaths and cost $85.1billion USD during 2020 – and those five cities represent only 1.7% of the world population.

The real cost of air pollution

In a single year, major cities around the world lost hundreds of thousands of lives and well into the hundreds of billions of dollars. Data from 2021 already suggests that this alarming trend will continue.

Try to imagine what those numbers look like for a world of nearly 8 billion people. It leaves us heavy-hearted. And when it comes to fighting against air pollution, knowledge is power. Data on lives and dollars lost is one of the most powerful tools we have to hold polluters and policy makers to account and change the air pollution story forever.

That’s why IQAir and Greenpeace Southeast Asia partnered to produce the Cost of Air Pollution Counter.

The Cost of Air Pollution Counter uses the same methodology as a 2020 report by Greenpeace that calculated shocking estimates of the costs of using of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas:³

\n4.5 million premature deaths each year due to air pollution from fossil fuels
\nUS $8 billion (3.3% of the world’s total gross domestic product or GDP) lost each day from reduced life expectancy, premature birth, illnesses that result in hospital visits and missed work, and financial burdens resulting from illnesses
\n40,000 deaths of children under five every year from PM2.5 exposure from fossil fuels
\n1.8 billion days of work lost from illnesses related to PM2.5from fossil fuels, resulting in economic losses of US$101 billion

Fossil fuels cause 4.5 million premature deaths each year, cost $8 billion every day, cause 40,000 deaths of children younger than 5, and resulted in 1.8 billion days of work lost from illnesses related to PM2.5.

The cost of reducing air pollution

The cost of reducing air pollution by switching from polluting fuels like coal, oil, and gas to zero-emissions alternative energy sources like wind and solar may seem high. But the health costs and economic costs of air pollution are clearly much higher – and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are actually increasingly cheaper than polluting fossil fuels.⁴

The cost of reducing air pollution may seem high. But the health costs and economic costs of air pollution are clearly much higher.

If nothing changes, the costs will continue to mount as the world population grows and climate change poses new risks that will make global capitalism in its current form untenable.

The solutions to the global air pollution problem are in front of us.

Renewable energy applications like wind farms and solar panels have already experienced immense growth and investment over the past decade.

In the U.S. alone, renewable energy use has grown by 100% since 2000, comprising 17% of net electricity use in 2018.⁵ Furthermore, renewable energy sources are projected to grow by at least 7% in the coming year and account for nearly 90% of the total increase in global power capacity worldwide, with roughly 150% growth projected from 2010 to 2025 (see Figure 1).⁶

$\"Projected$

Figure 1: Projected growth in renewable energy sources, 2010-2025 (Source: International Energy Agency).

The takeaway

Deaths from air pollution showed alarming trends in 2020 and continue to reflect these trends in 2021.

The death toll may be even higher given the lack of air quality data coverage across large swathes of the world, with the estimated death toll thought to be over 500,000 as more cities are accounted for in the algorithm.

Fortunately, investment in renewable energy is helping gradually replace deadly and expensive fossil fuels with cheaper, sustainable sources of wind, solar, and other renewables. This means that we are moving in the right direction, but still have a long way to go.

","cost-of-air-pollution","gid://shopify/Article/564856717390","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/cost-of-air-pollution","2020-07-09T19:38:24Z",[178,14,445],"The real cost of air pollution",{"_66":442,"_80":443,"_82":444,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/269530890318","Factory exhaust","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/CostofAir21_Desk_a_c44c9817-1d93-4958-9e88-bc2fa166ccd9.jpg?v=1752058052","Resources",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"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/564856586318","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/how-to-take-the-2020-clean-air-day-pledge","2020-10-02T16:51:43Z",[178,14],"Take the Clean Air Day pledge!",{"_66":458,"_80":459,"_82":460,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/269463650382","Clean Air Day","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/CleanAirDay_Desk_b_13ba3ff9-aab2-4453-94c6-4b36868c9ed6.jpg?v=1751445656",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"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/564856324174","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/poor-air-quality-delhi-lahore-crop-burning","2020-11-13T23:10:14Z",[178,14,211],"Emergency-level air pollution in India and Pakistan",{"_66":473,"_80":474,"_82":475,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/269687160910","Fires in India","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/BreakingNews_DelhiFires_Desk_111620_7678c457-5dc7-4c0a-a32a-4f39227d744d.jpg?v=1753343381",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"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/564856160334","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/the-cost-of-air-pollution-in-2020","2021-02-17T15:44:59Z",[178,14],"The cost of air pollution in 2020",{"_66":488,"_80":489,"_82":490,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/269547896910","City with air pollution","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/AQL_CostOfAirPollution_Desktop_A_415dac79-9e7c-4ac1-ae70-cc9943c92f8e.jpg?v=1752144776",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"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/564856127566","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/iqair-greenpeace-2020-air-pollution-deaths","2021-02-17T22:02:02Z",[178,14,505],"IQAir and Greenpeace report 2020 air pollution deaths",{"_66":503,"_80":489,"_82":504,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/269464502350","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/Greenp_PR_Desk_b_aef94687-ba55-406d-853a-12976a5f9ab1.jpg?v=1751449767","Press Releases",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"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/564855668814","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/dhaka-suffers-record-air-pollution-2021","2021-04-13T22:07:16Z",[178,14],"Dhaka suffers record PM2.5 levels in 2021",{"_66":518,"_80":519,"_82":520,"_84":521,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/269421838414","Air pollution in Dakha affecting citizens","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/pexels-azraq-al-rezoan-3449646-7473234_cropped_1_cropped.jpg?v=1751026562",2878,{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"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 weathers 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 neighbouring 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 weathers 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 neighbouring 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/564854456398","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/thailand-2021-burning-season","2021-05-17T06:00:00Z",[178,14],"New data exposes Thailand’s 2021 “burning season”",{"_66":534,"_80":535,"_82":536,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/269689552974","Sugarcane burned by farmer for pre-harvest in Thailand","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/ThailandBurning_Desktop_09da7689-2660-48f1-a22f-49f0ae8cc7bd.jpg?v=1753353575",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"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/564855013454","https://shop.iqair.cn/en/blogs/news/2021-decision-jakarta-air-pollution-lawsuit","2021-09-16T21:13:59Z",[178,14],"Indonesian court finds president negligent in air quality suit",{"_66":549,"_80":550,"_82":551,"_84":85,"_86":87},"gid://shopify/ArticleImage/269490454606","Jakarta pollution","https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0018/4411/7571/articles/JakartaBR_Desktop_37fa1d27-daca-4ba3-80c5-83ead1f03683.jpg?v=1751626736",{"_91":92},{"_64":90},"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.

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