A new year means a fresh start. At Plume Labs, it’s an opportunity to take stock and remind ourselves of why we set out on our mission to help everyone find clean air.

Air quality is a truly global issue, and the first step towards beating the smog is making sure we know what we’re up against. With that in mind, here’s three reasons why you should care what’s in your air in 2018.

1. Because the numbers are staggering.

Just because pollution is invisible, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have an impact. Estimates say that smog is responsible for 9 million premature deaths a year worldwide. Roughly 500,000 of these are in Europe alone. In the US, 4 in 10 Americans live in counties with unhealthy levels of air pollution. The sheer scale of the problem is mind-blowing. 🤯

2. Because the science is clear.

Our understanding of air pollution is constantly evolving and improving. Each new publication further reveals how poor air quality has an impact at all stages of life. In the last few months alone, peer-reviewed papers have linked the phenomenon to low birth weight in newborns, to premature death in US seniors, and to mental health concerns in adults. Quite the rogue’s gallery of issues! 😵

3. Because change is in the air.

But don’t let bad news get you down! It’s important to remember that the fightback has begun. We now have more data than ever to help us reduce our pollution exposure, cities are promising bans on diesel and international organisations are leading the fight. Citizens can also get involved by changing their habits and putting pressure on local authorities to shape up. We can beat air pollution and find clean air, together! 😍

Here at Plume Labs, we’re taking on the air quality crisis hand in hand with our users, partners, and community members. Together we can build a crowdsourced pollution monitoring network with Flow, the smart air quality tracker. Make your 2018 resolution to join the movement and pre-order today!