News

  • Summer is Here – Be Prepared

    by Adrian Dybwad

    Summer’s the time for sun, time off, and playing outside. Summer is also the season when temperatures rise, drought conditions increase, and large wildfires make the news. Especially across Western US states, the warmer weather can open the landscape to wildfire risks. Make sure you know what’s happening with your air quality – at home and beyond. 

     

    Posted in Air quality index, Wildfire

  • PurpleAir Study Showcase: PurpleAir Sensors Used in Environmental Disparity Study Across US

    by Adrian Dybwad
    This study references real-time PurpleAir sensors to examine how air quality impacts different communities differently. Specifically, the study compares regions characterized according to different ethnicities and races. 
    Posted in community, PM2.5

  • Understanding Air Quality: PurpleAir Empowers Community Science

    by Adrian Dybwad
    In this article, we share our in-house rules to guide our editorial decisions. From academic research to work from local communities and governments, we aim to follow and share research projects and Community science initiatives. These studies use PurpleAir sensors to understand air quality impacts through local air quality data.
    Posted in AQI, Community

  • Wildfire season: Emergency action plan checklist

    by Adrian Dybwad
    Every year the world experiences wildfires, and it is always a good idea to have a clear action plan. Be prepared in case unexpected situations arise by following this checklist.
    Posted in wildfire

  • Urban trees that help reduce air pollution

    by Adrian Dybwad
      Since the industrial revolution, cities worldwide have undergone an extensive and neverending transformation. Creating more residential areas, ...
    Posted in AQI, PM2.5

  • Cooking and cleaning generate more indoor pollution than you think

    by Amanda Hawkins

    The World Health Organization stated that 3.8 million people die from exposure to pollution generated in their homes every year. It is impressive that indoor air is not receiving the necessary attention, considering that people spend 90% of their time inside. The most common indoor air pollution source is cooking, especially when roasting and frying. 

    Posted in Indoor, PM2.5

  • Outdoor Pollution: Carbon Monoxide

    by Adrian Dybwad
    CO or Carbon Monoxide is a colorless and oderless gas. If inhaled constantly or the concentrations are too high, it can affect our health severely. Vehicles and other machinery that burns fossil fuels represent the most significant sources of CO.
    Posted in AQI, PM2.5

  • Air quality index guide: What should you do in each level.

    by Adrian Dybwad
    Particle pollution is one of the most common pollutants, and often it is not clear what we can or should do in each air quality index level. There are six levels, from good to hazardous. 
    Posted in AQI, PM2.5

  • Flying RC gliders and the International Hand Launch Glider Festival

    by Adrian Dybwad
    Last week was the International Hand Launch Glider Festival, the largest gathering of radio-control discus launch gliders in North America. No, PurpleAir hasn't pivoted into making RC toys, but it holds a special place in our hearts. This hobby provided me (Adrian Dybwad)  with the building blocks for creating the first air quality sensors that have grown into the PurpleAir we all know and love today.
    Posted in News

  • How a simple question grew into PurpleAir

    by Adrian Dybwad
    Since my teens, I have been striving to design and build electronic gadgets, but PurpleAir did not start as a project like that. With PurpleAir, I did not set out to start a business at all. I set out to answer a question, and once it was realized that answer might be interesting to other people, everything changed. Our origin story is a little different. Here’s how it goes:
    Posted in Community

  • Ultrasonic humidifiers, a source of PM2.5?

    by Amanda Hawkins
    Outdoor air quality is unpredictable. The weather and atmospheric conditions can change from one day to another. Environmental pollution, car density, and even daily activities like smoking and lighting fires can affect the outdoor PM2.5 concentrations. In a sense, indoor air should be easier to maintain clean and breathable. But what if there is a silent enemy inside your home?
    Posted in AQI, PM2.5

  • Indoor AQI during wildfires

    by Adrian Dybwad
    During an ongoing wildfire, the fire itself, the smoke and the ashes can affect your health. The outdoor air has higher than usual particulate matter concentrations and is unhealthy to breathe. This unhealthy air can also come inside houses and buildings, making the indoor air unhealthy to breathe too.
    Posted in AQI, PM2.5