Whether you are interested For wildfire smoke from Canada or other pollutants that make the air less breathable, you should always check the air quality index on your phone. Yes, it’s one more thing to do as you grab your keys and rush out the door, but knowledge can help you decide if those little tidbits can wait until things are a little clearer. little or not.
It’s scary to look out the window and see a otherworldly orange fog, but particles that you can’t see can also negatively impact your health. Here’s some important information about what the air quality index really is, how to see how close you are, and some tips for taking care of yourself when outdoor air contains high levels of pollutants.
What is the Air Quality Index?
AQI is a scale from I have to go to school every day ranges from 0 to 500 based on the level of air pollution in a city. The core pollutants tracked by the AQI are sulfur dioxide, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate pollution. For wildfire smoke, it is especially important to monitor the amount of particulate pollution in the air.
Urban centers are required to measure and report pollution levels daily to the EPA. If you live in a more rural area, extensive air quality data may not be available to you. Check with local leaders to see what information is being measured and available in your town.
How do these AQI numbers break down? An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered a good baseline when breathing air with few health risks. A score of 51 to 100 means there is more pollution in the air and it can affect sensitive people.
From 101 to 150, children and the elderly need to be careful and limit leaving the house. When it reaches between 151 and 200, high levels of pollution have the potential to adversely affect people. An AQI above 200 signals even more serious pollution, and a reading above 300 is considered dangerous.
How do I test it on my phone?
There are many free apps that you can download to monitor the AQI. One option favored by members of the WIRED team is an app called take care of the planeand it’s pretty simple to set up.
First, download the app to your smartphone. Once done, open the app and allow it to have access to your location data. The main screen of the app will show an AQI number based on the pollution near you.
Click on this number to see a breakdown of why the AQI is that score. For example, the AQI in San Francisco at the time of this writing is 48. Taking a closer look at the data, I can see that ozone levels are the main pollutant contributing to this score.
Curious what the air quality is like elsewhere? Use the search bar at the top of the app to view the AQI in other locations. When I checked the New York City AQI, it came in at a staggering 152. The ozone level was similar to the SF measurements, but the amount of fine particulate matter from the wildfires was dangerously high.
My lungs are very important! What steps can I take?
The New York State Department of Health People are advised to wear masks to cover their mouth and nose when going out when the air quality is poor. While you may have had some cloth masks around your home from the height of the coronavirus pandemic, significantly more protection against wildfire smoke is required.
According to Centers for Disease ControlA cloth face mask stops the spread of droplets from your respiratory tract, but it doesn’t stop all the tiny particles from wildfire smoke from reaching your lungs when you breathe in contaminated air. One of your best options is a snug fit N95. Need more high-quality masks? This is our compilation of where to buy N95 online.
It is important to stay home, with all windows closed, whenever possible during times of high air pollution. Consider running an air purifier to keep the air inside clean. My household uses Pure Blueair 411 automatic. Check out our checklist of best air purifier to explore options that work well in your home.
