Explore Air Quality in Western Massachusetts
Each circle on the map shows an air monitor located in the Healthy Air Network. The color will change based on measured air quality. You can click on each circle for more information about the monitoring site and what precautions to consider – if any. The grey moving lines show the current wind conditions.
Developed by 3rd Floor Solutions
The air monitoring network measures fine particulate matter in the air. Fine particulate matter (also called PM2.5) small particles that are less than 2.5 µm in size. This small size lets these particles stay suspended in the air for an extend period of time. PM2.5 is made up of many different chemicals that may be released from many sources like vehicles, factories, and wildfires. High levels of PM2.5 in the air can reduce visibility and impact our health.
For each monitoring site in the network, PM2.5 levels are reported together with the air quality index (AQI). The AQI is a national index of air pollution and provides information on how to avoid the health effects of poor air quality. AQI values range from 0 to 500 and is divided into six categories (good, moderate, unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy, very unhealthy, and hazardous). Check this website regularly to see current air quality levels in your neighborhood.
