ExplainerSample story
Smog season: what the air numbers actually mean
AQI, PM2.5 and the colour codes on your phone, explained in plain words, with what to do on bad days.
From November, many people in Karachi start checking an air quality number on their phones. Few are sure what it means.
AQI is a single score built from several pollutants. The one that matters most in winter is PM2.5: tiny particles that go deep into the lungs. Above 150, the air is unhealthy for everyone, not only people with asthma.
What to do on a bad day
On bad days, keep windows shut in the morning and evening when smog is thickest, avoid outdoor exercise, and use a well-fitted mask if you must be outside for long.
Indoor plants do not clean the air in any useful amount. A simple air purifier in one room, where you sleep, does far more.
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