The vocabulary of the Air Quality API

The 8 fields and concepts you'll meet in the response — defined in plain English, each with a real example value.

8 terms
General8

AQI

Air Quality Index - a standardized scale from 0-500 measuring how clean or polluted the air is.

PM2.5

Fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, small enough to enter the bloodstream.

PM10

Coarse particulate matter between 2.5-10 micrometers, including dust and pollen.

Ozone

Ground-level O3 formed when vehicle and industrial emissions react with sunlight.

Temperature Inversion

Weather condition where warm air traps cold air near the ground, concentrating pollutants.

HEPA

High Efficiency Particulate Air - filter standard that captures 99.97% of 0.3 micron particles.

VOC

Volatile Organic Compounds - gases emitted from paints, cleaning products, and fuels that contribute to ozone formation.

Sensitive Groups

People more vulnerable to air pollution: children, elderly, those with respiratory or heart conditions.

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