Why air quality is vital to your health
The air you breathe has a profound impact on your health and well-being. Poor air quality can lead to serious health issues, from allergies and asthma to long-term respiratory diseases. Monitoring the air quality in your surroundings is a proactive way to safeguard your health and that of your loved ones.
How air pollution affects health
Air pollution doesn’t just make the air harder to breathe—it affects nearly every system in the body. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it contributes to an estimated 7 million premature deaths worldwide each year, making it the greatest environmental threat to human health.
Short-term exposure can trigger coughing, eye irritation, and asthma flare-ups. Long-term exposure increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and certain cancers.
Research also links air pollution to reduced cognitive function and diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It can affect pregnancy outcomes, leading to low birth weight and preterm delivery.
How air pollution impacts the planet
Air pollution doesn’t just affect people—it also disrupts Earth’s climate systems and ecosystems.
Burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, releases greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂). These gases trap heat in the atmosphere, driving climate change and contributing to ground-level ozone and particle pollution.
The same combustion processes also create particulate matter (PM), including black carbon and brown carbon, which absorb sunlight and accelerate global warming.
Together, these pollutants trap heat, intensify wildfires, and drive more extreme weather—creating feedback loops that harm both the environment and human health.
The Air Quality Index (AQI)
Understanding air quality and health risk
The Air Quality Index (AQI) simplifies complex air pollution data into a single number that reflects health risk—from Good to Hazardous. Higher numbers mean more pollution. IQAir’s AQI+ tracks six key pollutants to give a complete picture of air quality.
colorless gas that reduces oxygen delivery in the body.
fuel combustion gas that can trigger breathing issues.
Air Quality Index (AQI)
Good | AQI: 0–50
Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
Moderate | AQI: 51–100
Air quality is acceptable, but some pollutants may be a concern for a small number of unusually sensitive individuals.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | AQI: 101–150
People with respiratory or heart conditions, children, and older adults may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.
Unhealthy | AQI: 151–200
Everyone may begin to experience health effects, and sensitive groups may experience more serious symptoms.
Very Unhealthy | AQI: 201–300
Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.
Hazardous | AQI: 301+
Health alert. Everyone may experience serious health effects. Outdoor activities should be avoided.
What’s really in the air you breathe?
Indoor air often contains invisible pollutants, including dust, ultrafine particles, and chemicals released by furniture, cleaning products, or cooking. Find out which pollutants may be in your home or office and how to reduce them for cleaner, healthier air.
VOC’s
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a large group of chemicals that are found in many products we use to build and maintain our homes. Once these chemicals are in our homes, they are released or “off-gas” into the indoor air we breathe. They may or may not be able to be smelled, and smelling is not a good indicator of health risk.
Suitable Products:
HealthPro Plus, HealthPro 250
Find out more about Formaldehyde next and why it should be removed...
Formaldehyde
Consumer products emit formaldehyde
Indoor sources may be combustion processes such as smoking, heating, cooking, or candle or incense burning. However, major sources in non-smoking environments appear to be building materials and consumer products that emit formaldehyde. This applies to new materials and products but can last several months.
Suitable Products:
HealthPro Plus, HealthPro 250
Find out why PM2.5 particles are harmful and why they should be removed...
PM2.5
Particles measure 2.5 microns or less in diameter
EPA is especially concerned about particles that are 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller because these particles are inhalable. Once inhaled, particles can affect the heart and lungs and in some cases cause serious health effects.
Atem Series, HealthPro Plus, HealthPro 250, HealthPro Compact, HealthPro 100
Next find out more about more harmful sources of pollutants like nitrogen dioxide...
NO2
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
Road traffic is the principal outdoor source of nitrogen dioxide. The most important indoor sources include tobacco smoke and gas-, wood-, oil-, kerosene- and coal-burning appliances such as stoves, ovens, space and water heaters and fireplaces, particularly unflued or poorly maintained appliances.
Suitable Products:
Atem Series, HealthPro Plus, HealthPro 250, HealthPro Compact, HealthPro 100
The next pollutant, sulfur dioxide is released into the environment from various sources...
SO2
Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Most of the sulfur dioxide released into the environment comes from electric utilities, especially those that burn coal. Some other sources of sulfur dioxide include petroleum refineries, cement manufacturing, paper pulp manufacturing, and metal smelting and processing facilities.
Suitable Products:
Atem Series, HealthPro Plus, HealthPro 250, HealthPro Compact, HealthPro 100
Our air purifiers remove these and other harmful pollutants from your environment
Why PM2.5 is often the Main Pollutant
PM2.5 often dominates air-quality readings because it is the smallest, most persistent, and most widespread pollutant measured by the Air Quality Index (AQI).
Unlike heavier particles that settle quickly, PM2.5 can remain suspended for days or weeks, traveling across cities and continents. It comes from nearly all major sources—vehicles, industrial combustion, wildfires, agricultural burning, and domestic heating and cooking—making it a universal indicator of poor air quality.
Because PM2.5 is so fine, it infiltrates buildings, bypasses many ventilation systems, and reaches deep into the lungs and bloodstream, driving both short- and long-term health risks. It is frequently listed as the “main pollutant” in AQI reports because it is most likely to exceed safety limits and affect the largest number of people.
What’s a safe level of air pollution?
There’s no completely risk-free level of air pollution.
The World Health Organization (WHO) sets a guideline of ≤ 5 µg/m³ (annual average PM2.5) to minimize long-term harm. Use this benchmark to gauge your long-term risk—short-term spikes still matter, especially for children, older adults, and people with respiratory conditions.
Providing clean air in the classrooms for schools & educators
Creating and maintaining healthful air quality in schools presents a unique challenge. A complex mix of indoor and outdoor air pollutants like bacteria, allergens, asthma triggers, and viruses like SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) can compromise the learning environment and cause concern about the health and comfort of students and staff.
IQAir has extensive experience in providing schools with effective air cleaning solutions to address a wide variety of air pollution issues.
Ready to improve your air?
Once you know what’s in your indoor and outdoor air, you can take action to reduce pollutants and protect your health. Explore air purifiers, ventilation solutions, and other tools to create cleaner, healthier spaces.
Clean air can make guests feel at home and refreshed in hotels and conferences
In recent years, the hospitality industry has dramatically improved its awareness of air quality issues that have a direct impact on guest comfort and health. More customers today are sensitive to poor air quality in hotels. Often the first cause of concern is odors from cleaning agents, tobacco smoke or water damage or renovation. In addition, a growing number of customers are looking for hotel accommodations that cater to their need for an allergy- or asthma-friendly environment.
Want to see what’s in your air?
Understanding the air you breathe is the first step to effective improvement. Use our air quality monitors and app to track pollutants and see when to ventilate, filter, or take action.
Learn More About Air Quality
Want the big picture of air pollution?
We have an app for that, the IQAir AirVisual app.
Historical, real-time, and forecast air pollution data
Receive detailed figures on key air pollutants in more than 5,000 cities in over 100 countries.
7-day air pollution and weather forecasts
Plan your outdoor activities to optimize comfort and health.
Air quality alerts
Get notified when outdoor air quality isn't up to your standards.
Real-time air quality and weather information
Live global coverage of key air pollution and weather parameters.
Air pollution news and educational resources
Stay up to date on air pollution current events, medical findings and breaking news.
Health recommendations
Get personalized recommendations on helping to protect yourself from air pollution.
Track & measure your exposure
