Air Quality
Air Quality Monitoring for Our City
The City of Madison has created a city-wide network of air quality sensors to help understand air pollution in our community. These sensors measure particulate matter pollution - small particles that can cause heart and breathing problems. Air quality data from the network helps our community understand the amount, location, and potential sources of particulate matter pollution. Better information about air quality helps us know when to take action to protect our health and help our community develop strategies to reduce pollution.
View Air Quality in Your Neighborhood
Madison has joined the Love My Air Wisconsin Network, a collaboration with the Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin and the City of Denver. Visit Love My Air Wisconsin to view real-time local air quality, and click on any sensor to see more detailed information.
Madison's sensor network has been created in partnership with The Foundation for Black Women's Wellness, Latino Health Council of Dane County, The Hmong Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Public Health Madison and Dane County. The project was funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
What is particulate matter?
Particulate matter, or PM, is tiny pieces of dust, dirt, and other materials in the air we breathe. Particulate matter pollution comes from a variety of sources. It can be emitted directly into the air from sources like wood stoves, forest fires, or blowing dust. It can also be created when other pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), organic carbon or ammonia chemically react to form fine particles. Sources of these precursor pollutants include fossil fuel combustion in vehicles and power plants, as well as some industrial processes. Most of the time, vehicles are the main source of particulate matter in Madison.
How does particulate matter impact my health?
Fine particles, those 2.5 microns or less (PM 2.5), are particularly dangerous to our health. When inhaled, these small particles can travel deep into our lungs and some may even enter the bloodstream, where they affect our lungs and heart. Exposure to fine particles can cause short-term health effects like eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. Long term exposure affects lung function and worsens medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease.
While air quality impacts everyone, people in sensitive groups are at much greater health risk of negative impacts. Sensitive groups include:
- Children and teens whose lungs are still developing
- Older adults (65 years and older)
- People with heat diseases
- People with lung diseases (like asthma and COPD)
- People with diabetes
- Pregnant people
- Outdoor workers/people who spend a lot of time outdoors
What can I do when air quality is bad?
We encourage everyone to take steps to make a plan and prepare for poor air quality in advance. Check out Public Heath Madison and Dane County 's Emergency Preparedness & Response guidance for info on how to plan for various events, including poor air quality.
If the Air Quality Index is 100 (orange) or above, the air is unhealthy to breathe. Take the following steps to stay safe:
- Stay inside as much as possible, and take steps to keep your indoor air clean.
- Keep windows closed.
- Avoid frying food or burning candles.
- Run air conditioning on recirculate if possible.
- Use an air purifier if available
- If you have to go outside, take precautions.
- Wear a tightfitting mask like an N95 or KN95.
- Don't engage in strenuous activity.
- Change your clothes when you get home.
- Monitor your health.
- If you have a respiratory condition, like asthma, watch out for difficulty breathing or intense coughing.
- If you use an inhaler, keep it with you.
- Follow your doctor's directions about taking your medicines and following your asthma management plan. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.
- Know the warning signs of heart attack and stroke(opens in a new window)(link is external)PDF. If you feel symptoms, even if they go away, stop your activity and seek medical help immediately!
Where can I get more information about air quality?
Visit EPA's AirNow Tool to check air quality in your area. It ranks local air quality based on the Air Quality Index, or AQI. This color-coded scale ranks air quality from 0 (good) to 300+ (hazardous). You can download the AIRNow App on your phone.
The State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also has a New Air Quality Map with additional resources.