As wildfire smoke from Canada continued to drift through the United States, creating unhealthy air quality, air quality alerts were posted in many places across the country on Thursday.
Following those warnings is important for staying safe, but monitoring air quality can also help you decide when it’s safe to go outside. (Air quality levels can shift throughout the day depending on the time of day and how much smoke there is in an area.)
These apps can help you track air quality levels.
AirNow mobile app
The AirNow Mobile App, available on iPhones and Android phones, was created by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, which monitors air quality across the country.
The app allows users to enter their zip code or city to get the most up-to-date information on air quality levels. The app also has a fire and smoke map that allows users to see where the thickest layers of smoke have landed.
IQAir AirVisual | Air quality app
The IQAir AirVisual | The Air Quality app, which is also available for iPhone or Android users, provides the latest air quality levels, as well as useful context about how bad the air quality is in a particular region.
IQAir has a real-time ranking showing which cities have the worst air pollution. This week, New York City had some of the worst air quality levels in the world at times.
IQAir’s app also shares health recommendations. For example, when air quality reaches unhealthy levels, IQAir recommends wearing a mask outdoors, using an air purifier at home, closing windows, and avoiding outdoor activities.
Plum Labs
For those looking for detailed information, the Plume Labs app shares comprehensive maps of pollution hotspots. The app also has an hourly air quality forecast, as levels often shift throughout the day.
The app, available for iPhones and Android phones, can also send alerts when air quality deteriorates.
AirCare
The AirCare app shares air quality information along with helpful guidance. If the air quality is healthy, the app will say, “You can breathe freely.”
The app includes a tracker that monitors allergens such as tree, grass, and ragweed pollen. The app also tracks the UV index and provides recommendations such as “avoid the sun around noon, find shade and use sunscreen”, when the sun’s UV radiation is high.
Other useful places for air quality information
Several weather apps, such as those made by Apple, The Weather Channel, and AccuWeather, all provide air quality levels, in addition to weather forecasts.
The National Weather Service also provides air quality information online, along with air quality safety resources.
