Mumbai air pollution: How to check air quality levels in your area

There’s a surprising battle going on between two cities in India – Mumbai and Delhi – to see which boasts the worst air quality levels. You may have noticed people discussing the alarming air pollution levels in Mumbai currently. Which is a hint towards bringing out the masks and preferably the air purifiers as well. It is equally important to keep a track of the air quality levels in your surroundings.

Luckily, it is quite easy to track Air Quality Index (AQI) in your area with just a smartphone in hand. The Google Maps app comes with a built-in tool that allows one to check the AQI in their area, so read on to find out how to use it.

How to check the AQI in your area using Google Maps

Here’s how to use the AQI tool on Google Maps, on both, Android and iOS devices.

1. Activate location services on your smartphone via the settings app.

2. Open Google Maps and identify your current location using the target button. You can even search for the location you may be planning to head to.

3. Now, once this is done, tap on the ‘layers’ option present on the top right corner of your screen

4. Here, you will see an option to view the AQI in your area. Click on it and wait for it to load.

You can now view the AQI in the area of your choice. What’s cool, Google Maps also shows you a colour-coded scale to help you better understand just how clean or polluted the air around you is.

In addition to this, it also tells one the source for its data, as well as about the pollutants whose levels are being tracked on the app, if one taps on the “About air quality info” option, which takes them to a separate webpage.

ALSO READ: Navratri parking hassles: How to find your car with Google Maps

Now, tracking the AQI in your area is just one step towards avoiding pollution-related ailments. The next logical step is to invest in an air purifier. While they were viewed as a luxury until a few years ago, they have become a necessity now. Check out these air purifiers you can consider bringing home today.

Air purifiers to consider investing in

1. PHILIPS Series 1000 VitaShield Technology Air Purifier

2. Blue Star Air Purifier (BS-AP300DAI)

3. dyson TP07 Air Multiplier Technology Pure Cool Tower Air Purifier

1. PHILIPS Series 1000 air purifier

The Philips Series 1000 VitaShield air purifier features a clean air delivery rate (CADR) of 260m³ per hour and has a PM 2.5 rating. It can purify the air in rooms of up to 215 sq. ft. and is capable of capturing the H1N1 virus as well as bacteria, along with house dust mites and pollen too. It features a special pre-filter, an activated carbon filter, as well as a true-HEPA filter.

2. Blue Star air purifier (BS-AP300DAI)

This Blue Star air purifier has a high-density pre-filter, an activated carbon filter, and a HEPA filter as well. It features a PM 2.5 rating and has a CADR of 444m³ per hour. What’s more, it has a four-step variable fan speed and a digital timer, with which one can set times for up to eight hours at a stretch.

3. dyson TP07 tower air purifier

The dyson TP07 air purifier features a HEPA and an activated carbon Filter. It is also Wi-Fi enabled and supports Alexa, Siri as well as Google Assistant. Moreover, the screen on the device also shows an updated AQI every 12 seconds, and even a 24-hour AQI graph.

This air purifier is said to purify 95 per cent of allergens and pollutants as tiny as PM 0.1 – such as dust, pollen, mould, and spores. Its backward airflow mode also cleanses PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 in the air.

Well, there you have it. By taking this simple step using your smartphones, and investing in air purifier, you can ensure you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy this festive season.