Northern Ireland’s first real-time air quality app launched

A new air quality app providing real-time data that can help protect people’s health has been launched by the Environment Minister Edwin Poots.

The free Air App is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and provides tailored, air quality information to help people to make more informed and immediate decisions about their outdoor activities.

Launching the app which is suitable for android and iphones, Minister Poots said: “Interest in the quality of the air we breathe has grown massively over recent years, and this new app allows people with underlying health issues such as heart and lung conditions, or asthma to get more localised information when they need it.

“If you’ve any breathing difficulties, this app provides free critical information allowing you to take necessary preventative measures to avoid air pollution and protect your health when at home or on-the-go.

“The creation of this app recognises the importance of clean air to the health of each and every one of us. It also demonstrates how seriously my Department takes issues such as air quality, and this is never more important than in the current pandemic,” Minister Poots added.

The Air App empowers users by allowing them to set up their own data rich air quality notifications, see five-day air pollution forecasts and drill down to their local council levels.

The public can also access valuable health advice on the impacts of reduced air quality, enabling them to make more informed decisions about their activities on days when air quality is poor. 

There is an option for a push notification service which sends a notification to the user’s mobile phone when levels of elevated pollutants are detected or the air quality forecast has identified elevated levels of pollutants. 

The launch of the app coincides with the publication of the Air Pollution in Northern Ireland 2018 Report by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. 

The Report, which covers 2018 calendar year, takes a broad overview of air quality issues in Northern Ireland, and provides information on compliance with both the EU and Air Quality Strategy objectives. The report also considers the recent update of the Northern Ireland Air website and the development of the new air quality app.

Notes to editors: 

1. This Northern Ireland Air App is available to download free of charge from both android and iPhone stores. 
2. iOS - App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/northern-ireland-air/id1511164132
3. Android - Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.uk.airqualityni
4. Copies of the report can be found at https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/DAERA_Air_Pollution_in_NI_2018 or https://www.airqualityni.co.uk/
5. The main sections of this report cover air quality monitoring results for 2018, long term trends in air pollution, the redesign of the Northern Ireland Air Website and the development of the Northern Ireland Air Quality App.
6. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office via pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer on 028 9037 8110.
7. Follow DAERA on Twitter @daera_ni and Facebook

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