Press Release
Air Quality
Air Nogales provides instant access to real-time outdoor air quality information as easy to understand as weather

ADEQ officials announced today the launch of Air Nogales, a free smartphone mobile app to help Nogales area residents, visitors, caregivers, healthcare providers, parents and teachers protect their health and learn simple actions they can take to improve the quality of our air. Air Nogales keeps users informed about regional outdoor air quality conditions and how unhealthy air can affect how we live and breathe. Air Nogales gives smartphone users instant access to real-time outdoor air quality information as easy to understand as weather forecasts.

Surrounded by mountains, terrain plays a large role in Nogales’ air quality, as the area serves as a natural sink for local particle pollution from burning, traffic, driving on dirt roads, construction activities, windblown dust and stagnation, particularly during cooler months, including holidays. Particle pollution is a health concern in the Nogales area because levels can accumulate enough to exceed the federal health standards both for fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ), also known as soot, and for coarse particulate matter (PM10), also known as dust.

People with heart or lung diseases, children and older adults are most likely to experience health effects from high levels of particle pollution. Breathing particles can affect lung function and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. Fine particles in the PM2.5 -size range are able to travel deeply into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs, and can cause short-term health effects such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. Coarse particles in the PM10- size range are still tiny enough to travel into the respiratory tract where they can cause similar effects.

 

“As Arizona continues to face increasing challenges from international air pollution, it’s important to keep our border communities informed so they can take appropriate action to protect their health,” said Timothy S. Franquist, ADEQ’s Air Quality Division Director. “Air Nogales increases convenient access to this valuable information for area schools and health organizations that participate in our nation’s leading Air Quality Flag Program, helping the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality protect and enhance public health and the environment for this community.”

Available from the Apple Store (for iPhone devices) and Google Play (for Android devices), the Air Nogales smartphone mobile app provides users with:

  • Information about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI), particle pollution and how Nogales area air quality measures up
  • Alerts for ADEQ particle pollution Health Watches and High Pollution Advisories for PM2.5 and PM10
  • Current weather, air quality conditions and a two-day air quality forecast for the Nogales region air quality
  • Air quality tips and health suggestions for activities such as wood burning and off-highway vehicle use
  • Basic meteorological data, such as regional wind speed, direction and ambient temperatures 
  • One-touch links to additional ADEQ resources
In consultation with regional stakeholders, ADEQ developed the free smartphone app using performance grant funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Act grant. Download the Air Nogales smartphone mobile app today: 

 

 

Apple iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/air-nogales/id1128511726?ls=1&mt=8 
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.adeq.nogales&hl=en