Air Aware Labs have today launched a new app called AirTrack which provides hyper-local, time-specific information on air quality.
The app is an extension of the website which was launched on the UN’s International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies last year. The website was aimed at sports people, especially runners, providing them with a platform to help understand their personal exposure to air pollutants.
AirTrack is already used by more than 1,100 people in 170 countries, with more than 110,000 activities recorded across 26 sports.
Air quality is known to affect sporting performances, with research published at the end of last year showing that poor air quality leads to slower marathon running times.
The team from the Brown University School of Public Health found that each 1 µg/m³ increase in PM2.5 during a race was associated with 32 second slower average finish times for men and 25 second slower average finish times among women. The faster than average runners were found to be affected more.
AirTrack’s dashboard allows users to access personalised data and maps which are specifically tailored to their activities and locations. It is available in free and Premium versions.
MJ, an AirTrack user, shared: ‘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.’
To celebrate the launch of the AirTrack app, Air Aware Labs is offering free premium-level data to any user who records their activity within the AirTrack app or via Apple Health or Google Health Connect.
Air Aware Labs’ CEO and co-founder, Louise Thomas, said: ‘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.’
Air Aware Labs’ Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder, Dr Will Hicks, said: ‘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.’