NEW YORK – March 20, 2018 – WeatherBug (a GroundTruth company), a leading weather site and mobile app used by 20 million unique monthly users, today unveiled its Air Quality solution to give users accurate information about the air they breathe at street level. From traffic-related smog and industrial pollution to forest fires and pollen, this timely update comes ahead of peak allergy and pollution season, benefiting the millions of people affected daily by air quality changes.
Numerous scientific studies link air pollution to various health problems. The elderly, children and those with heart and respiratory diseases are at greater risk for developing air pollution-related health effects due to weakened immune and respiratory systems. While pollution levels have decreased over the years due to regulations, remaining particles in the air still pose serious threats. These particles are generated from vehicle exhaust and industrial usage, such as coal-fired power plants and petroleum refineries.
Additionally, a recent report from the American Lung Association estimates that more than 125 million Americans live in areas with high levels of ozone or particle pollution. This puts them at risk for aggravated asthma, difficulty breathing and future cardiovascular problems. Major US cities such as Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Philadelphia all reported higher ozone days in the recent years.
Air pollution is the fourth leading cause for premature deaths, costing our global economy a $225 billion lost in labor according to the latest study by the World Bank and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).
“Here in North America, we often take the air we breathe for granted. But even though the air is cleaner than it was two decades ago, air quality still remains an issue for a large number of the population in North America. Against the backdrop of rising respiratory diseases, air pollution impacts many of us – driving the need for more sophisticated and easy-to-access tools,” said Olivier Vincent, President & General Manager, WeatherBug. “With spring here, people with pre-existing respiratory and heart conditions, diabetes, children, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. By launching our Air Quality feature, our goal is to arm people with a smarter tool so they can stay safer and healthier, more effectively.”
Benefits of new WeatherBug Air Quality feature at a glance
Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning, WeatherBug Air Quality delivers hyperlocal observations and forecasts. Benefits include:
- Hyperlocal, street-level views – See surrounding air quality changes, whether you step out of the subway in Time Square or into the Redwood forest in Yosemite through a colored heat map; forecast updates are up to 16 hours in advance.
- Comprehensive pollution insights – Pollutants which have the biggest impact on human health are evaluated to provide more accurate air quality level insights, including Ozone (O3), Sulfur dioxide (SO2), Carbon monoxide (CO), Nitrogen dioxide (SO2) and fine particles (PM2.5 and PM10).
- Access to air quality maps globally – From Hong Kong to Los Angeles, WeatherBug Air Quality is accessible online and through mobile iOS and Android devices in APAC, EMEA, and North America.
50+ million people affected by nasal allergies gain access to better insights
In addition to air pollution, nasal allergies and respiratory issues are also on the rise with the start of spring. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), nearly 1 in 13 people have asthma and nasal allergies impact over 50 million people, accounting for the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S.
“Before we roll out of bed, checking the weather is one of the first things we do. It affects what we wear, how we feel, and what we plan to do throughout the day,” said Eric Hadley, CMO, GroundTruth. “Weather has a profound impact on our lives, and WeatherBug’s latest Air Quality feature makes our weather-checking impulses more valuable – especially for those with more acute cases, where it may impact productivity or even one’s safety.”
“When it comes to timely and precise hyperlocal, hyper-relevant weather information, our scale and verified level of accuracy gives people and businesses a powerful ‘weathervane’ in the palm of their hand,” adds Vincent.
To learn more about the air quality around you, check out this video or visit: https://www.weatherbug.com/air-quality/
About WeatherBug
Established in 1993, WeatherBug is a popular weather site and mobile app reporting hyperlocal and live weather data to consumer users. With over 20 million unique users per month, WeatherBug’s vision is to deliver the ultimate weather experiences for all aspects of people’s lives. The WeatherBug app is a top rated weather app – ranking #1 in the app stores. In 2016, WeatherBug was named best weather app by MediaPost’s Appy awards. WeatherBug is owned and operated by GroundTruth, the leading global location technology platform. Learn more: www.weatherbug.com
About GroundTruth
GroundTruth is the leading global technology platform driving in-store visits and sales by leveraging location as the primary source of intent. We believe in the power of place. Build your brand, increase sales and grow your business by building off what real people are doing in the real world, mapped using our proprietary Blueprints technology. Through its data foundation, GroundTruth sees 2 out 3 smartphone users in the U.S. and more than 30 billion physical visits annually across 21 countries globally. Learn more: www.groundtruth.com
Contacts
GroundTruth
Jessica Meyers
646-634-7547
Jessica.Meyers@groundtruth.com
or
Hotwire Global on behalf of GroundTruth
Jennifer Sricharoenchaikit
617-943-1710
GroundTruthUS@hotwireglobal.com