The Air Quality Index Boom

Published 03 March 2025

Authors
Adam Speight
Nienke Creemers
2 min read

Air pollution remains one of the world’s major environmental health risks, causing more than eight million deaths annually (Statista, 2025). This impact is particularly severe in low- and middle-income countries, where more than 90% of all global pollution-related deaths occur (Statista, 2024). New monitoring solutions are helping address environmental challenges affecting both outdoor and indoor air quality.

  • Local Monitoring: Google’s Air View+ system brings detailed air quality information to communities across India. Its network of sensors, placed throughout 150 cities, measure harmful particles and gases in the air at regular intervals. The sensors track multiple pollutants (PM10/PM2.5, CO2, NO2, ozone and volatile organic compounds), plus temperature and humidity. When residents open Google Maps, they can see their neighbourhood’s current air quality. This data helps officials identify areas with poor air quality and develop improvement strategies.

    Meanwhile, Polish-American company Airly has developed a system that transforms technical air quality measurements into clear, accessible reports. Its AI-driven Fact Sheets help schools and local authorities communicate air quality information in straightforward language, explaining pollution sources, health impacts and trends without using jargon.

  • Consumer-Driven Solutions: New tools are emerging to allow consumers to monitor air quality themselves. US-based PurpleAir Touch uses a colour-coded LED display to indicate indoor air quality: green for clean, yellow for moderate and red for poor air. The device provides minute-by-minute analysis for real-time updates, helping people without technical expertise to understand their indoor environment.

    For mobile users, the Breathable app from US-based developer Karbon provides air quality information across various Apple devices. Users can check conditions anywhere in the world by selecting a location on a map or entering an address. It draws data from established monitoring networks, such as IQAir (global) and AirNow (US), aiming to help people make informed decisions about their daily activities and travel plans.

    For more, see Advancing Air Quality Tech.

Google

Airly

Google

Airly

PurpleAir

Breathable

PurpleAir

Breathable