Air Quality
Improving Access to Healthy Air
Air pollution is a significant environmental concern, with about 90% of people worldwide exposed to air that does not meet established health standards. Poor air quality can impact physical health, hinder learning, reduce workplace productivity, and disrupt business operations. Some studies have linked air pollution to increased risks during health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Challenges related to air quality often affect certain communities more than others, including those located near industrial areas or major transportation routes. Improving air quality helps support public health, strengthen communities, and foster economic resilience. Many actions that address air quality also contribute to broader environmental goals.
Addressing air pollution on a global scale requires local solutions. Operation Healthy Air aims to help communities reduce exposure to poor air quality by:
- Educating individuals about air quality,
- Expanding the collection of localized air quality data,
- Providing tools
ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s Operation Healthy Air initiative equips participants with the knowledge and tools needed to take action on air quality issues in their own communities. Because air quality varies by location, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s participatory science model emphasizes local engagement. Educational resources help participants understand the relevance of air quality in their daily lives, especially in areas most affected by pollution.
One challenge has been the cost of advanced air quality monitoring equipment. Recent innovations have led to more affordable sensor technologies. ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ collaborates with organizations, schools, and communities to deploy these tools where they are most needed. Local air quality data helps inform strategies for reducing exposure and provides insights for decision-makers.
This program is active in several cities, including Boston and Springfield (Massachusetts), Delhi and Mumbai (India), and major cities in Europe such as Brussels, London, Madrid, and Paris. The program aims to expand to 20 cities globally by 2025.
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Since 2003, nearly 400 Alcoa employees have contributed over 15,000 hours in support of ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s scientific research while also engaging in sustainability training. In 2020, the Alcoa Foundation began supporting Operation Healthy Air. In addition to education programs, eight Alcoa employees were selected to implement action plans with far-reaching community impacts.
ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ launched Operation Healthy Air (OHA) in Southern California with funding from NASA to engage community members in assessing fluctuations in ozone and air temperature around their homes and test whether local landscaping (e.g., trees, gardens, and parks) influences the well-being of their communityÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s Operation Healthy Air initiative equips participants with the knowledge and tools needed to take action on air quality issues in their own communities. Because air quality varies by location, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s participatory science model emphasizes local engagement. Educational resources help participants understand the relevance of air quality in their daily lives, especially in areas most affected by pollution.
ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ expanded Operation Healthy Air (OHA) in 2019 into a more global program. We partner with local community members and institutions to better understand local air quality and to help take action to reduce exposure and emissions. Our programs include deploying low-cost to monitor the particulate matter and using the Earth Challenge 2020 phone app to take snapshots of air pollution. We have active programs across the US in over 30 cities and focused community-based projects in Boston and Southern California as well as Delhi, India, and Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Children spend much of their day in school environments, and monitoring air quality in and around school facilities can help protect student health. Pollution sources—such as nearby traffic, energy facilities, or idling buses—can influence local air quality. By identifying pollution sources and collecting data, schools can take practical steps to reduce student exposure and foster engagement with environmental science.
Read our "Engaging Schools with Air Quality Sensors" Case Study
Climate Change and Air Pollution
Air quality issues are intimately related to climate change. Our resource-intensive lifestyles and systems generate climate-warming greenhouse gases and air pollutants that negatively affect human health. Today, our climate is warming at increased rates. One such culprit is a phenomenon known as the greenhouse effect. When greenhouse gases (think carbon dioxide, methane, etc.) are emitted, the sun’s heat gets trapped, which warms ground-level ozone. Furthermore, as temperatures continue to rise, it increases chemical reactions that accelerate this process. As the climate warms, the Earth experiences more extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, and wildfires that release black carbon into the atmosphere, again further warming the planet and undermining local air quality. The complex interaction between air pollution and climate change presents a major challenge for environmental protection efforts, but it also offers the potential for common solutions.
To learn more about Climate Change and Air Pollution, check out these links:
- United Nations Environment Program:
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- University Corporation for Atmospheric Research:
- US Environmental Protection Agency:
Understanding Air Pollution
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Air pollution consists of a mix of harmful substances from natural and human-related sources. A common type of pollutant is particulate matter (PM), which includes solid and liquid particles suspended in the air. PM2.5—particles less than 2.5 microns in size—can be inhaled and may cause serious health effects. Exposure to such pollutants is widespread and poses a challenge in many parts of the world.
To learn more about Air Pollution and Particulate Matter, check out these links:
- US EPA:
- Natural Resources Defense Council:
- World Health Organization:
The Air Quality Index
Air quality indexes (AQI) are used globally to help people understand local air conditions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developed one of the most widely used AQIs, which classifies air quality into six categories based on health risk:
AQI values that are at or below 100 are generally thought of as satisfactory. When AQI values are above 100, air quality is unhealthy.
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Daily AQI Color |
Levels of Concern |
Values of Index |
Description of Air Quality |
|
Green |
Good |
0 to 50 |
Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk. |
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Yellow |
Moderate |
51 to 100 |
Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution |
|
Orange |
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups |
101 to 500 |
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected. |
|
Red |
Unhealthy |
151 to 200 |
Some members of the general public may experience health effects, members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. |
|
Purple |
Very Unhealthy |
201 to 300 |
Health alert. The risk of health effect is increased for everyone. |
|
Maroon |
Hazardous |
301 and higher |
Health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to affected/ |
Several AQI systems exist around the world that each looks at the concentration and corresponding health impacts. In Canada, it’s called the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI); in Europe, it’s called the Common Air Quality Index (CAQI), and China (mainland) and India both also calculated their own AQI.
To learn more about the Air Quality Index, check out these links:
- US EPA:
- PurpleAir Sensor Map:
- Air Quality standards in different countries:
Air Pollution and Human Health
Poor air quality is linked to various health concerns, especially respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Monitoring and addressing air pollution is essential to improving public health outcomes. By using data to predict air quality patterns and implementing strategies to reduce exposure, individuals and communities can better protect themselves.
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This map displays the variation in air quality within the Pittsburgh metro area. It shows that many communities with a high proportion of vulnerable community members, as defined by the EPA’s EJ Screening tool (the black outline), are located where air pollution is on average worse (red and orange colors) and fewer air sensors are located (green and orange triangles).
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Exploring Air Quality Maps
Sample Air Quality Maps
Global Maps
(Beijing-based nonprofit)
North America
Central America
South America
Israel
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Success Stories
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YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS
ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ depends on donations—above and beyond what we raise from volunteers who participate in our expeditions—to deliver our global conservation mission. In fact, volunteer contributions provide only half of the total resources ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ needs to sustain over 20 global field research expeditions, a wide variety of educational programs, corporate sustainability trainings, and more each year.