Air Quality
Live particle pollution readings from our own sensor on Brevard's beachside, explained with the EPA's Air Quality Index.
Right Now
Updated 8:11 PM ET19Air Quality Index
Good
EPA Air Quality Index (0–50) · Short-term reading (the EPA hourly NowCast starts after about 2 hours of data)
Fine particles (PM2.5): 3.4 µg/m³ right now. The EPA’s Good range is 0 to 9.0.
What this means: Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
How it can affect people right now
- Everyone: It’s a great day to be active outside.
Sensitive groups (EPA, for fine particles): People with heart or lung disease; older adults; and children, including teenagers. In addition, some minority groups, people with lower incomes, and outdoor workers may experience higher exposure that can worsen underlying health conditions.
Live readings from The Space Coast Wire’s own air quality sensor, collected locally at the beach in Indian Harbour Beach. PurpleAir sensor with two laser particle counters; values use the U.S. EPA correction for PurpleAir sensors. Low-cost sensor readings are estimates and can differ from official monitors on AirNow. Categories, colors and health advice: U.S. EPA Air Quality Index (2024). Informational only, not medical advice.
The Air Quality Index, Color by Color
The higher the number, the more particle pollution is in the air and the greater the health concern. At 100 or below, air quality is generally thought of as satisfactory.
Good 0–50 · PM2.5 0 to 9.0 µg/m³
Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
Moderate 51–100 · PM2.5 9.1 to 35.4 µg/m³
Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 101–150 · PM2.5 35.5 to 55.4 µg/m³
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.
Unhealthy 151–200 · PM2.5 55.5 to 125.4 µg/m³
Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
Very Unhealthy 201–300 · PM2.5 125.5 to 225.4 µg/m³
Health alert: The risk of health effects is increased for everyone.
Hazardous 301+ · PM2.5 225.5 or more µg/m³
Health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected.
Why Fine Particles Matter
Fine particles (PM2.5) are small enough to get deep into the lungs, and some may even get into the bloodstream. Short-term exposure has been linked to aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, irregular heartbeat, heart attacks, and increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing.
Who is most at risk: People with heart or lung disease; older adults; and children, including teenagers. In addition, some minority groups, people with lower incomes, and outdoor workers may experience higher exposure that can worsen underlying health conditions.
Fine particles come from vehicle exhaust, power plants, industrial processes, wood smoke and wildfires. Haze on a humid day can be mostly water rather than pollution, so it’s worth checking the reading instead of going by how the sky looks.
How We Measure
- Live readings from The Space Coast Wire’s own air quality sensor, collected locally at the beach in Indian Harbour Beach.
- The sensor counts fine particles (PM2.5) with two laser counters every two minutes. We apply the U.S. EPA correction for PurpleAir sensors, and we hide the reading if the two counters disagree.
- The dial uses the EPA’s NowCast, a weighted average of recent hours, because the EPA advises against putting AQI colors on single short readings. The “right now” PM2.5 number is the latest two-minute reading.
- This gauge measures particle pollution only, not ozone or pollen. Readings are estimates from a low-cost sensor; for official readings, see AirNow.
Sources: U.S. EPA, Technical Assistance Document for the Reporting of Daily Air Quality – the Air Quality Index (EPA-454/B-24-002, May 2024); AirNow, AQI Basics.