Technology

• Using AI to update predictive air pollution models can improve their accuracy by 17.5% (McKelvey, 2025)
• Use AI to standardise data from the sensors in Africa - generative AI - Large Language Models (LLMs) using Python. Cloud hosting, automated data ingestion, format flexibility, golden copy preservation, cost-effective.  Afri-SET uses sensors to make informed support in Ghana (Topic et al., 2024)
• Tools for tracking pollution and industries: IQAir, World Air Quality Index, OpenAQ, Google Earth Engine, Planet, Global Forest Watch, VesselFinder, Flightradar24, Open Corporates, AirCasting, NASA’s Giovanni, European Space Agency’s Sentinel Hub (Sari, 2025)
• Dynamic Neural Assimilation (DyNA) uses AI for proactive monitoring to provide reliable, efficient, affordable predictions and forecasts because it uses recurrent neural network (RNN) so it does not have to process one piece of info at a time (Bordajandi, 2024)
• Light painting photographic technique measures and depicts air pollution as a collaboration of art and science to increase public engagement and knowledge (Pope et al., 2024)
• Partner with NASA to create CARES to forecast using machine learning AI (Tran, 2024)
• Aurora, Microsoft AI, creates global pollution forecasts for 10 days using machine learning, predicting CO, NO, NO2, SO2, O3 and particulate matter (Wong, 2024)
• Air quality information methods: Balloon Air de Paris, Green Cloud, Living Light, APNEE (Air Pollution Network for early warning and online information Exchange in Europe), SAMEER, Blue map app, EPA AirNow app  (Ravindra et al., 2024)
• Swisens Poleno Jupiter is a real-time pollen analyser, and pollen seasons are starting earlier and lasting longer (Church & Watson, 2024).
• Children wear portable air pollution monitor (Fuller, 2004)
• Behaviour changes more likely if digital access to air quality info. Exposure reducing behaviours (ERB) can reduce hospitalizations during high pollution events. ERB adoption for those with children, specifically asthmatic children when there are air pollution alerts. Difference in access and engagement - need to have access to device/platform then opportunity to engage (Schulte & Hudson, 2023)
• “Unhealthy air quality can be scary, but air quality indexes can tell you about the air quality in your area and help you stay safe.” (DePolo, 2023)
• Researchers at Osaka University looked at mice without the ALDH1A1 enzyme and those with boosted levels and found that those with elevated levels had improved lung function and cilia preservation following pollution exposure (Day, 2025)  
  
  • This research hints that increased study of these protective enzymes could create a remedial air pollution exposure treatment

Filtration

• Monitor air quality (AirTrack), maintain adequate ventilation, replace air filters with higher MERV rating for HVAC, maintain HVAC systems (Camfil USA Air Filters, 2024)
• Solutions: Using N95/N99 respirators, avoiding outdoor time during heavy pollution days, portable air cleaners/air conditioners inside (Varanasi, 2024)
• Air filtration units and N95 respirators linked with improved health (Schulte & Hudson, 2023)
• DIY air purifier using box fan and high-quality filter, which can reduce indoor air pollution by 50-60% (Gammon, 2024)
• Can also wear an N95 mask when outside on bad days - protection is only as good as the fit and willingness to wear it (Gammon, 2024)

Commuting

• Research shows that walking 30 minutes or cycling 20 minutes daily reduces mortality risk by at least 10 percent (WHO, 2022)
• Car pollution potential reductions: (Kuss & Nicholas, 2022)
  
  • Congestion charges/road pricing
  • car-free/car-limited areas
• To reduce TRAP, reduce exhaust emissions ; clean air, low and ultra-low emission zones (LEZ and ULEZ) ; reduce non-exhaust emissions (Fuller et al., 2023)
• PM2.5 real-time exposure planning route used - recommends routes with least PM2.5 exposure - XGBoost model also gives early risk warnings (Jiang et al., 2024)
• In low emission zone for time in womb and first year leads to 13% lower prescriptions for asthma by age of 5 (MCC, 2024)
• Low emission zones create health care cost reduction from asthma medications (as high as 21% - medication costs in 2017 were 30 million euros for meds of children) (MCC, 2024)
• Stop building sports facilities next to major roads and start reducing road traffic (Day, 2024)
• New app, AirMeter, that makes car fume pollution visible, tracking PM2.5 and NO2 (Studio ANRK, 2024)
• Air quality sensor pack on front of bike to measure carbon dioxide, methane, particulate matter, nitrous oxides, temp, humidity, also has GPS and accelerometer to turn it on and off (Colarossi, 2024)
• Need more air quality guidelines, less fossil fuel use, better transport standards with clean fuels, smart infrastructure, and policies for urban design and agriculture for better air quality (World Heart Federation, 2024)
• During bad air quality: limit time outdoors to <30 min, reduce intensity of outdoor activities, wear N95 or KN95 mask, keep windows and doors closed with air conditioned on recirculate setting, use air cleaner with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter (DePolo, 2023)
• Reducing pollutant exposures in urban settings might reduce use of mental health services for people with dementia (Ronaldson et al., 2023)

Policy

• “Independent modelling commissioned by National Energy Action found that government action to meet the UK’s fuel poverty target by 2030 would also remove 24,000 tonnes of harmful NOx air pollution from the air between 2022 and 2030” (Healthy Air Coalition, 2025)
• AQI - air quality index varies significantly between countries, leading to confusion due to differing categories, colour codes, terms, concentration ranges, etc.  An Universal Air Quality Index (UAQI) would support global air quality efforts (Ravindra et al., 2024)
• Simplify consistent communication/understanding, global travelling, global data comparison, youth-driven legacy, policy framework and collaboration, emergency response with UAQI (Ravindra et al., 2024)
• Mitigation strategies (Stock & Clemens, 2017)
  
  • Impractical to avoid air pollution, so need to minimise air pollution in cities - requires governmental action, education, and strategies to reduce pollutant sources (Stock & Clemens, 2017)
  • Ensure good indoor ventilation, especially in kitchen, as well as avoiding scented products (Stock & Clemens, 2017)
• Environmental problems need to be visible, cause and effect relationship understood, problem is reversible, and management of environmental resources result in clear benefits (Pope et al., 2024)

Miscellaneous

• Reducing exposure may lower incidence of dementia (NIH, 2023)
• Controlling nitrogen oxides can reduce ozone formation (Dinneen, 2024)
• Seeing more stable levels of PM2.5 (Wright & Pant, 2024)
• Death rate decreased by 46% since 2000 for neonatal deaths (State of Global Air | 2024)
• Death rate decreased by 53% since 2000 for children under 5 (State of Global Air | 2024)
• Cleaner energy sources (no more burning solid fuels for cooking and heating) (State of Global Air | 2024)
• Photos printed onto posters and postcards with additional info (also put in bus stops and other public places) (Pope et al., 2024)
• Use skincare products with antioxidants, broad-spectrum sunscreen, avoid smoking and second-hand smoke exposure, air filtration (esp HEPA), open windows and doors, exhaust fan while cooking, wear clean clothes, bathe (Rauf & Pribadi, 2024)
• Brassicacea (broccoli and friends) protect collagen in skin with high levels of sulforaphane (Rauf & Pribadi, 2024)
• PM2.5 oxidative stress can be mitigated by monounsaturated fatty acids and melatonin (Zhang, 2024)
• “Measure venue and location air quality before the event … formulate clean transport policy … make air quality a key part of your strategy … look at your venue … work with local authorities” (Campelli, 2020)