How to Measure Air Pollution?

Long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to serious health problems. Moreover, smog and other pollutants such as ground-level ozone have a tremendous impact on the atmosphere, plants, and animals. This is why it’s important to learn how to measure air pollution and use available tools to limit one’s exposure to harmful substances.

Why is air pollution dangerous?

There are many reasons why air pollution is dangerous. It has a negative impact on the atmosphere, destroys the ozone layer, hinders plant growth and contributes to global warming. However, as human beings we’re usually most concerned about the impact of air pollution on our health and well-being.

Unfortunately, it turns out that long-term exposure to harmful substances such as smog, carbon dioxide, PM 2.5, PM 10, PM 1, SO2, and NO2 can lead to serious health conditions including:

• asthma,
• respiratory and circulatory problems,
• heart attacks,
• problems with concentration,
• low weight of newborns,
• nausea,
• strokes,
• infertility,
• allergies,
• cancer,
• or even premature death.

These are only a few of the most dangerous side effects of living in a polluted area. Is there anything we can do make informed decisions and monitor air quality?

3 ways to measure air pollution

The market abounds in solutions that make it possible to measure air pollution. The most popular tools and devices include:

• sensors – these are small devices that collect comprehensive data on the concentration of key gas pollutants such as NO2, O3, SO2, and CO. Sensors offered by Airly measure air pollution with the use of the laser and electrochemical method. Thanks to two cells installed in the gas module, devices are able to take readings and emit special diode signals informing about the air quality.
• air pollution map – this solution is available for free. Moreover, you don’t need to have any knowledge to use an air pollution map. Once you enter the website, you’ll see a map of your region or country (provided that you have location settings on). The map will be filled with green, orange, or red spots. As you may guess, the green colour indicates good air quality, orange means that the pollution level isn’t the best, but it can be acceptable, whereas red denotes that it’s better to stay home and avoid outdoor activities like walking. It’s worth checking the air pollution map on a regular basis to limit your exposure to harmful substances whenever possible, or bring a special smog mask with you when you need to do out on days when your city is marked in red.
• mobile application – this is a very convenient option also available for free. You can download the mobile app on your phone and measure air quality whenever you have time to do it. The app works similarly to the map mentioned above. It’s very intuitive and provides vital information about PM 2.5, PM 10 parameters, temperature, humidity, and many other important parameters that have an impact on our well-being.

Households and individuals: when the free app is enough

The three methods above are not interchangeable. Picking the right one depends on who is asking, what the data is for, and how often a decision needs to be made. The wrong choice wastes money or produces data nobody uses.

For an individual checking whether to take their child for a walk, the Airly mobile app is the obvious choice: free, immediate, and tied to a specific location. There is no real reason for a household to buy hardware when live community data already covers most cities. The map and app cover the question “is it safe right now” better than any DIY sensor would, and for most homes, that question is the whole reason for monitoring in the first place.

Schools, clinics, and small businesses: when a dedicated sensor pays off

Schools, clinics, and small businesses sit in a middle category. A school near a busy junction may benefit from its own sensor, not because the public network is wrong, but because indoor readings matter for the children in the classroom and microclimates differ block by block.

The cost has dropped to the point where a single dedicated device is now within reach of a parent council, not just a city budget. Battery-powered and solar-powered models also make it possible to monitor temporary events, such as construction sites or summer festivals, without permanent infrastructure.

Local governments: when only a sensor network will do

Local governments operate on a different scale. They need dense sensor networks, certified accuracy and historical data archived for years. A city deciding where to add a low-emission zone cannot rely on a single mobile-app reading; it needs a continuous data stream across districts, validated against reference stations.

This is where Airly’s hardware sits, and where the rest of the platform, including dashboards and alerts, starts to matter as much as the sensors themselves. The question of how to communicate the data is just as important as how to measure it. Cities that invest in sensor networks but never share the readings with residents tend to see complaints rise rather than fall; for a deeper look at this dynamic, see how municipalities use the Airly App to build public trust through transparent reporting of air quality data.

The takeaway

Learning how to measure air quality at home will help you make better decisions and limit your exposure to harmful substances. It’s important to mention that Airly offers a number of quality tools such as mobile applications and maps that are available for free.

Are you wondering where smog comes from and what it is? Check out our blog!