Smoggy Day? Now There's an App for That

Curious about the quality of air you're breathing? Now there's an app for that.

The American Lung Association has released a free smartphone application that provides detailed information about air quality wherever you happen to be.

"More than 90 percent of people in California live in areas where air pollution continues to threaten their health," said Jane Warner, president and CEO of the American Lung Association in California. "The State of the Air app is especially valuable during the summertime, when ozone pollution peaks in many cities with long, hot, sunny days."

The app allows users to enter a ZIP code or use the "geo-locator" function to get up-to-date smog conditions and the next-day air-quality forecast. The app also tracks ozone and particle pollution levels, and alerts users if local air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

The app also enables users to share their local air quality via email, Facebook or Twitter. Users can also sign up to receive information from the association and send emails to members of Congress through the app's "speak up" function.

Available for both Apple and Android cell phones, the application is designed to be helpful for people with lung diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart diseases or diabetes, according to the association.

The app can also be useful for people planning outdoor activities, agency officials said.

The app bases its air quality information on data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, agency officials said.

-- City News Service