The Air Quality Monitor is a visual indicator that tracks air quality in your area. It sends you conditional clinical warnings based on the air quality in your location and your pre-existing medical conditions, if you have any.

For example, if you are in an at-risk group, such as someone with asthma or COPD, and the air quality in your location is poor, the monitor will send you an advisory notification describing what precautions you need to take to prevent the worsening of your condition.

The Air Quality Monitor is classified as a Class I medical device under UK MDR 2002 regulations for its intended use. It is free for all registered NowPatient users, under a fair usage policy.

Your health can be significantly influenced by the quality of the air you breathe. Exposure to air pollution, laden with harmful particles and gases, can trigger a range of health issues, both immediate and prolonged.

Immediate effects of exposure to polluted air may include eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, fatigue, and dizziness; and worsening of existing conditions such as asthma and allergies, leading to coughing and wheezing.

Sustained exposure to air pollution is associated with severe long-term health consequences, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.

The Air Quality Monitor Service Card is located in the ‘Personalised Insights’ section of your account homepage. To activate it:

At-risk groups are defined as adults and children with heart or lung problems, who are at greater risk of symptoms. Follow your doctor’s usual advice about exercising and managing your condition.

It is possible that very sensitive individuals may experience health effects even on good Air Quality days. Anyone experiencing severe symptoms should seek medical advice.

The following conditions are classified as at-risk for sensitivity to air quality:

Allergies. Asthma. Atrial Fibrillation. Chronic Bronchitis. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Coronary Heart Disease. Heart Attack. Heart Failure. Unstable Angina.

If you have asthma, allergies, COPD, or bronchitis and the air quality is at a concerning level, make an appointment with your doctor if you notice any of the following worsening symptoms:

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is divided into six categories. Each category corresponds to a different level of health concern and a corresponding notification you may receive.

Everything you need to know about the NowPatient Air Quality Monitor — how it works, which health conditions are supported, how to set it up, and how to interpret the Air Quality Index.

The Air Quality Monitor is a free tool that tracks real-time air quality in your area and sends you personalised clinical warnings based on the air quality in your location and your pre-existing health conditions.

Using data from on-ground sensors, remote satellite imagery, and a global proprietary sensor network, it provides live Air Quality Index (AQI) readings and targeted health alerts calibrated to your specific conditions.

Yes. The Air Quality Monitor is a free service available to all registered NowPatient users.

Yes. The Air Quality Monitor is classified as a Class I medical device under UK MDR 2002 regulations for its intended use.

Exposure to air pollution — which contains harmful particles and gases — can trigger a range of immediate health effects including eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, fatigue, and dizziness.

It can also worsen existing conditions such as asthma and allergies, causing coughing and wheezing. Long-term exposure is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.

The Air Quality Monitor Service Card is located in the ‘Personalised Insights’ section of your account homepage. If you have not used it before, the card will be locked — tap the ‘Unlock’ icon to set it up.

To activate the Air Quality Monitor:

Your health profile is how the Air Quality Monitor knows which conditions to monitor for. Without a completed health profile, the tool cannot send you personalised clinical warnings — only generic readings. To receive targeted alerts relevant to your specific conditions, you must update your profile with your health conditions and save.

Location access is required so the monitor can retrieve accurate, real-time air quality data for your specific area. When you activate the Service Card for the first time, you will be prompted to allow the service to access your current location. Please ensure you enable this.

Air quality readings are refreshed each day, giving you up-to-date information about the air quality in your area.

At-risk groups are defined as adults and children with heart or lung problems, who are at greater risk of experiencing symptoms. Follow your doctor’s usual advice about exercising and managing your condition. It is also possible that very sensitive individuals may experience health effects even on good Air Quality days — anyone experiencing severe symptoms should seek medical advice.

The following conditions are classified as at-risk for sensitivity to air quality:

If the AI algorithm identifies a risk based on local air quality and your health conditions, you will receive:

You can also view any warning advisory at any time by selecting the ‘View Warning’ button on the Air Quality Monitor Service Card.

The advice in each warning is tailored to your health conditions and the current AQI level in your area. For example, at moderate AQI levels, at-risk individuals with lung or heart problems who experience symptoms may be advised to reduce strenuous physical activity outdoors. At hazardous levels, at-risk individuals may be advised to avoid strenuous physical activity altogether. See the AQI table below for the full guidance at each level.

If you have asthma, allergies, COPD, or bronchitis and the air quality is at a concerning level, make an appointment with your doctor if you experience any of the following:

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a standardised scale used to communicate how clean or polluted the air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern. The AQI runs from 0 to 301 and above, and is divided into six categories — each with a colour code, a health concern level, and recommended actions for both at-risk individuals and the general population.

The table below sets out the six AQI categories, their index ranges, and the corresponding health guidance:

NowPatient harnesses the power of on-ground sensors, remote satellite imagery, and a global proprietary sensor network to gather credible air quality data from multiple sources. This multi-source approach ensures the readings you receive are accurate and reliable.

Yes. Air quality readings are drawn from multiple credible data sources including on-ground sensors, satellites, and a global proprietary sensor network. Readings are refreshed daily to give you current information about the air quality in your area.