Tag: WHO

Can an Air Expert Escape Air Pollution? A 2-Month, 6-Month, and Year-Long Experiment in Personal Air Quality

Sotirios Papathanasiou3 Comments

Air pollution is an invisible threat, silently impacting our health. But what if you knew exactly where it lurked, both indoors and outdoors? Could an air quality expert, armed with this knowledge and personal equipment, achieve the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines for extended periods?

This is the question I, Sotirios Papathanasiou, an air quality expert,  will try to figure out over the next year. Starting July 1st, 2024, I embarked on a unique experiment, tracking my personal air quality for a full year. I am monitoring two key air quality metrics: Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and PM2.5 (fine particulate matter). However, PM2.5 data will be excluded when relative humidity surpasses 70% because the limitations of low-cost sensors. I will be carrying an Atmotube Pro and an AIRVALENT everywhere I go.

I am your human guinea pig, carrying these portable air quality monitors everywhere – from my bedroom to my gym, from my kitchen while cooking to the beach on a weekend getaway. This comprehensive data will allow us to see if, despite my expertise in pollution sources and protective measures, I can consistently meet the WHO’s air quality guidelines.

Read More »

Saving Lives, Breath by Breath: Learn about WHO AirQ+ (Free Software)

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

Air pollution hangs heavy over many parts of the world, silently claiming millions of lives each year. Researchers and policymakers are locked in a crucial battle against this invisible enemy, and WHO AirQ+ software serves as a powerful weapon in their arsenal. Available for macOS, MS Windows, and Linux in English, French, German, Russian and Spanish.

This free, user-friendly software, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), quantifies the health impacts of air pollution. It’s not just about measuring harmful particles or gases; it translates those numbers into real-world consequences, shedding light on the human cost of poor air quality.

How AirQ+ Works:

  • Estimates Health Effects: Enter air pollution data for a specific location, and AirQ+ calculates the burden of diseases attributed to various pollutants like particulate matter (PM), ozone, and nitrogen dioxide. This includes premature deaths, respiratory illnesses, and other health problems.
  • Short-Term & Long-Term Impact: Analyze both immediate effects from spikes in pollution and the accumulated burden from chronic exposure.
  • Future Scenarios: Model the potential health benefits of interventions like reducing emissions or switching to cleaner fuels. Imagine thousands of lives saved, just by seeing the numbers.
Read More »