Interactive learning / Air & human performance
Biological Side Effects of Air Quality
Explore CO₂, TVOC, PM2.5, NOx, temperature and humidity independently. Illustrative exposure indices—not disease probabilities.
Outdoor baseline mix · changes save on this device
Thermal
°C
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Dew point 10.2 °C (Magnus formula, 17.62 / 243.12). A cold surface assumed 3 °C below room air sits at 18.0 °C — no condensation expected.
Moisture
% RH
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Dew point 10.2 °C (Magnus formula, 17.62 / 243.12). A cold surface assumed 3 °C below room air sits at 18.0 °C — no condensation expected.
Ventilation
ppm
Strength 0.00 / 1 (assumption)
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CO₂ indicates how well a room is ventilated. Set points: 600→0.03, 1,000→0.2, 2,500→0.55. Above 2,500 ppm is an estimate beyond the Berkeley study.
Chemicals
ppb
Strength 0.00 / 1 (assumption)
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Total volatile organic compounds from cleaning products, furniture and cooking. 133 ppb ≈ the LEED/WELL 500 µg/m³ limit.
Particles
µg/m³
Strength 0.00 / 1 (assumption)
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- Guideline · up to 15
- IT4 · up to 25
- IT3 · up to 37.5
- IT2 · up to 50
- IT1 · up to 75
- Above IT1 · up to 500
Fine particles that reach deep into the lungs. Track colours follow WHO 24-hour guideline and interim targets.
Combustion
µg/m³
Strength 0.00 / 1 (assumption)
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- Guideline · up to 25
- IT2 · up to 50
- IT1 · up to 120
- Above IT1 · up to 400
Combustion gases from gas hobs and traffic. Track colours follow WHO NO₂ 24-hour guideline and interim targets.
Cognitive function
Baseline effect
Illustrative exposure index: 0 = clean air, 100 = the model's worst case. Not a % loss of function, a risk or a personal measurement.
Responds only to: CO₂ + TVOC
Cited finding: Controlled chamber studies found lower decision-making scores at higher CO₂ and VOC levels.
Evidence, limits & sources
Limits: Small samples of healthy adults, short exposures; not a measure of any individual's brain. Colour weighting is a design assumption.
Cardiovascular
Heart & circulation · Baseline
Illustrative exposure index: 0 = clean air, 100 = the model's worst case. Not a % loss of function, a risk or a personal measurement.
Responds only to: PM2.5 + NOx
Cited finding: Fine particles and combustion gases are associated with cardiovascular strain and events.
Evidence, limits & sources
Limits: Population associations; exercise-performance effects are less well quantified. Colour weighting is a design assumption.
Cognitive exposure index 0/100 · CO₂ + TVOC only · Berkeley Lab reference
0/100 is an illustrative exposure index (0 = clean air, 100 = model worst case). It is not a 0% loss of cognitive function; the study figures below are the measured effects.
Satish et al. (2012): 600 ppm was the reference level. At 1,000 ppm, scores were 12–23% lower on 6 of 9 decision-making scales. At 2,500 ppm, large reductions appeared on 7 of 9 scales.
Read the studyReproductive health
Fertility · Baseline exposure
The tint shows exposure to pollutants that studies associate with fertility outcomes. It is not a fertility score or prediction.
Responds only to: PM2.5 + NOx
Cited finding: Reviews report associations between PM2.5 / NO₂ exposure and lower semen quality and female fertility outcomes.
Evidence, limits & sources
Limits: Observational associations; colour shows exposure to linked pollutants, not fertility. Colour weighting is a design assumption.
Read me
About this illustration
Each illustration is tinted green → amber → red using only the pollutants its cited research links to that body system. Strengths and weights are design assumptions for learning, not measurements or diagnoses.
WHO 2021
WHO reference values
- PM2.5 annual guideline5 µg/m³
- PM2.5 24-hour guideline15 µg/m³
- NO₂ 24-hour guideline25 µg/m³
- NO₂ annual guideline10 µg/m³
Respiratory
Lungs · Baseline
Illustrative exposure index: 0 = clean air, 100 = the model's worst case. Not a % loss of function, a risk or a personal measurement.
Responds only to: PM2.5 + NOx
Cited finding: PM2.5 and NO₂ are linked with reduced lung function, airway inflammation and asthma symptoms.
Evidence, limits & sources
Limits: Guideline values reflect population risk, not effects for an individual exposure. Colour weighting is a design assumption.