The first personalised air quality tracking app

AIr Aware Labs recently announced the release of AirTrack, a new personalised air quality tracking application. Unlike existing tools that typically provide only generalised, city-wide air quality metrics, AirTrack provides hyper-local, time-specific data that reflects an individual's exposure to air pollution throughout their daily activities.

Air pollution is a significant public health concern, currently responsible for an estimated eight million premature deaths globally each year. It incurs a cost of approximately $3 trillion to the world economy and ranks as the second leading cause of mortality worldwide. In response to this pervasive challenge, Air Aware Labs has developed AirTrack with the objective of personalising air quality data, enabling users to make informed decisions in real-time. Whether commuting, exercising, or performing routine tasks, individuals using the app can monitor pollution levels, adjust their routes, and avoid high-exposure environments.

One user commented: “It’s proper science. The data is so helpful – the visual maps and stats make it easy to see which routes have cleaner air. It’s helped me understand air pollution during my runs and adjust the route or timing to reduce my exposure.”

Since its integration with Strava in April 2024 and the subsequent launch of a dedicated web application in September 2024, AirTrack has garnered a global user base of over 1,100 individuals across 170 countries. To date, over 110,000 activities have been recorded within the platform, spanning 26 different sports. Empirical research supports the utility of such data: for example, a study conducted by Brown University involving 2.5 million marathon runners found that a 1 µg/m³ increase in PM2.5 concentrations was associated with an average performance decline of 25 seconds in female runners and 32 seconds in male runners. These findings underscore the relevance of real-time pollution tracking in enhancing both athletic performance and recovery, while also contributing to improved energy levels and long-term health outcomes.

In conjunction with the app's release, Air Aware Labs is offering complimentary access to premium-level data for users who log their activities through AirTrack or via integrations with Apple Health and Google Health Connect. Louise Thomas, CEO and co-founder of Air Aware Labs, remarked: "It’s incredible to hear directly from our users how AirTrack is influencing their daily choices, helping them to reduce pollution exposure and exercise smarter. Seeing our app empower people actively to improve their health is exactly why we founded Air Aware Labs."

Dr Will Hicks, the company’s Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder, added: "Air pollution is the greatest environmental health challenge of our time. AirTrack empowers us to tackle this by making invisible risks visible, through providing highly accurate, real-time data tailored specifically to individuals, allowing people everywhere to take meaningful action against air pollution.”