American Lung Association's State of the Air campaign. Image courtesy of the association's Facebook page
The American Lung Association has unleashed a free smartphone app for people with lung diseases or asthma to check out the air quality in their local areas.
The app is also targeted at people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, people with heart disease or diabetes, as well as children and older adults.
In the US, the app is available for both Android and iPhone devices. The air quality information is based on data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the US.
According to the American Lung Association, users of the app can enter their zip code or use the geo-locator functionality to get current and next-day air quality conditions.
It said the app also provides levels of both ozone and particle pollution, in addition to health recommendations, such as advising when one should reschedule outdoor activities.
