Air quality is a growing concern in the US. Outdoor pollution from cars and machinery can easily enter the home and cause many health problems when inhaled. According to the WHO, an estimated 4.2 million deaths per year is attributed to health conditions where poor air quality can be a major factor.
Air pollution is often worse in urban cities, where there are fewer trees and plants to decrease harmful pollutants in the air. However, there are several rural areas that can be affected by poor air quality as well. This can be due to being downwind from an urban city.
To help people monitor the air quality where they live. PurpleAir has begun the task of mapping a network of air quality sensors to see where pollution is at its highest and lowest across the country.
(Above) A look at the PurpleAir Map broadcast of air quality in different city regions of the US.
According to their website, PurpleAir states that they are creating “an air quality monitoring network built on a new generation of Laser particle counters. PurpleAir Sensors use WiFi to report local air quality in real time to the PurpleAir Map.”
As you can see above, the readings range from green (good) to deep purple (hazardous). Keep in mind that these readings of the AQI (Air Quality Index) are real-time and often can vary between Good and Moderate or Warning and Unhealthy for example.
They also provide charts to show the change over hours and days among other information you can check out on their website.
As you might have guessed, air quality below yellow (moderate) can be harmful to your health. In times like these, it may be a good idea to call an hvac repair in Denver or anywhere near your house. Many conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and even lung cancer are associated with bad air quality due to pollutants entering your lungs.
If you notice the air quality in your area is not always in the green you may want to invest in an air purifier or air conditioning unit (https://npmheatingandcooling.com/air-conditioning-services/) as these can decrease the number of pollutants that you breathe in your home. There are also several houseplants that you can introduce to your home that can absorb pollutants for you.
The picture right now is incomplete as they are still adding sensors to their network. With each sensor they add, they often see readings are often in the yellow (moderate) zone, though when they are in a major city they often see red (unhealthy) and beyond.
PurpleAir has the ability for you to purchase and register your own PA-II Dual Laser Air Quality Sensor to contribute to the data that is being reported in real-time through the network of sensors.
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