AQI Detail Page
AQI 85: Berkeley Earth comparison and what to do next
Berkeley Earth's rough population health-impact comparison: ≈ 1.24 cigarette-equivalents if PM2.5 at AQI 85 persisted for 24 hours. This is risk communication, not particle mass, inhaled dose, cigarettes smoked, personal risk, or diagnosis.
AQI category
Moderate
PM2.5 estimate
27.3
µg/m³
Berkeley Earth comparison
1.24
Berkeley Earth cigarette-equivalents / 24h
30-day repeated comparison
37.2
Berkeley Earth cigarette-equivalents / 30 repeated days
What AQI 85 means
Sensitive groups may notice irritation with longer outdoor exposure or exercise.
Children, older adults, pregnant people, and anyone with asthma, COPD, or heart disease should shorten heavy outdoor activity.
Berkeley Earth risk-communication comparison
1 hour: Berkeley Earth comparison ≈ 0.05 cigarette-equivalents.
2 hours: Berkeley Earth comparison ≈ 0.1 cigarette-equivalents.
24 hours: Berkeley Earth comparison ≈ 1.24 cigarette-equivalents.
7 repeated days: Berkeley Earth comparison ≈ 8.7 cigarette-equivalents.
Scenario guidance at AQI 85
These are the kinds of day-to-day decisions users commonly make from this reading.
Commute or errands
Use caution2 hours at AQI 85: Berkeley Earth comparison ≈ 0.1 cigarette-equivalents.
Limit extra walking time and keep a mask ready for transit platforms or traffic corridors.
Outdoor exercise
Use caution1 hour at AQI 85: Berkeley Earth comparison ≈ 0.05 cigarette-equivalents.
Reduce intensity, shorten the session, or move it to a cleaner time of day.
Kids, school, or playground time
Use caution3 hours at AQI 85: Berkeley Earth comparison ≈ 0.16 cigarette-equivalents.
Shorten outdoor time and watch for coughing, wheezing, or tiredness.
Sleeping with windows open
Move indoors8 hours at AQI 85: Berkeley Earth comparison ≈ 0.41 cigarette-equivalents.
Keep windows shut and rely on filtered indoor air.
Explore nearby readings
Related AQI Berkeley Earth comparisons
Open a nearby or commonly searched AQI value to see how estimated PM2.5 concentration, Berkeley Earth's rough population health-impact comparison, and action guidance change.
Why the estimate is credible
The site first converts a PM2.5 pollutant AQI into an estimated concentration, then applies Berkeley Earth's rough population health-impact comparison.
The result is for risk communication—not particle mass, inhaled dose, cigarettes actually smoked, personal risk, or diagnosis.
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