DRAPER, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PurpleAir, the highly accurate, low cost air quality sensor network, today announced it has surpassed 30,000 citizen scientists whose sensors power the PurpleAir Map. Publically available to all, PurpleAir’s affordable sensors crowdsource air quality data worldwide, providing real-time, hyper-local and accurate readings of the air people are breathing – simply based on their address. In this era of climate change and frequent forest fires, PurpleAir’s network is skyrocketing as air quality becomes must-have information for millions of people.
We’re currently in the midst of another record-breaking wildfire season, with over 4.5 million acres burned in the U.S. so far this year alone. The fires raging throughout the nation, most notably on the West coast, have led to alarming air quality levels, in many cases reaching hazardous or highly dangerous levels. As concerns about air quality and its correlation to our personal health and wellbeing increase at a faster rate than ever before, it’s critical that we have reliable solutions to help protect ourselves.
While resources for viewing air quality in general areas currently exist, there is limited access to hyper-local data. With PurpleAir, communities, municipalities and individuals have access to real-time insights from high-quality sensors about the air they are breathing. PurpleAir’s reliable readings have several use cases for everyday life, whether it be families organizing outdoor activities, schools wanting to inform class schedules or businesses working to ensure a safe work environment.
“When I started PurpleAir, I set out to create a solution for a common concern among many people regarding the air we breathe. Unfortunately, back in 2015, sensors that were affordable without sacrificing accuracy didn’t exist,” said Adrian Dybwad, CEO of PurpleAir. “Between the rise in wildfires and concerns around COVID-19, there has been a heightened interest in air quality. PurpleAir is giving people peace of mind to better understand the air quality in their area and make more informed decisions that enable them to respond to potential threatening events in real-time.”
Created for both indoor and outdoor use, PurpleAir’s WiFi-enabled devices measure fine particle pollution levels in real time, and report them through the Air Quality Index (AQI) – an air quality measurement standard developed by the EPA. These sensors work by reflecting light from fine-tuned laser beams off of particulate matter floating in the air, and onto a detection plate. The size and number of these particles are determined by the intensity and number of the reflections, respectively. The sensors then convert these figures into an estimated mass of particulate matter – at a fraction of the cost of traditional, regulatory-grade sensors. With access to so much crowdsourced data surrounding air quality, users can feel confident in these readings given the sheer volume of numbers available for firsthand viewing on PurpleAir’s real-time map.
About PurpleAir
The company’s growing worldwide network of approximately 30,000 citizen scientists rely on PurpleAir’s unrivaled network of air quality sensors to provide the most accurate, localized air quality readings in real-time. Hyper local and real-time data ensures users are not just able to view air quality in their general area, but more precisely right where they breathe. PurpleAir’s industry leading sensors are priced at a fraction of the cost of traditional commercial sensors, with easy installation and seamless connectivity to WiFi. In addition to its crowdsourced map, you can see Purple Air’s data in action on the EPA’s Fire and Smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov and a multitude of popular air quality applications and websites. Learn more about PurpleAir’s sensors and the air quality in your area on the real-time map at https://www.purpleair.com. Cleaner air begins with you.