For direct PM2.5 readings

PM2.5 to cigarettes calculator

Enter the PM2.5 reading from your sensor or app and choose an exposure time. The calculator estimates a rough, population-level cigarette-equivalent health impact, shows the AQI-equivalent band, and points to practical next steps.

Try PM2.5 9 µg/m³Try PM2.5 35 µg/m³ for 8hTry PM2.5 150 µg/m³

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What this PM2.5 calculator is based on

Review methodology

Review policy

August 8, 2026. We update supporting pages when calculator logic, live data behavior, or source framing changes.

Primary sources

AQI uses EPA / AirNow breakpoint logic. Cigarette-equivalent framing follows Berkeley Earth’s PM2.5 interpretation.

AirNow AQIBerkeley Earth

Live data layer

City pages use EPA AirNow where supported, with cached fallbacks and planning baselines if the API fails or coverage is unavailable.

Why this page exists

AQI is useful for general public reporting, but many air-quality tools surface PM2.5 directly. This page matches that user intent exactly and avoids unnecessary conversion steps.

It is also more transparent for users who want to compare raw particle concentration, AQI-equivalent category, and the rough health-impact estimate side by side.

Practical PM2.5 examples

9 µg/m³ for 24h: close to the current EPA annual standard level, but still not zero exposure.
35 µg/m³ for 8h: a moderate-to-unhealthy-for-sensitive-groups range that can change exercise and child outdoor plans.
150 µg/m³ for 24h: heavy smoke-day exposure where indoor air management matters as much as outdoor behavior.

PM2.5 calculator FAQ

How much PM2.5 is a one-cigarette health-impact equivalent?

In Berkeley Earth’s population-level risk comparison, 22 µg/m³ of PM2.5 sustained for 24 hours is a rough one-cigarette health-impact equivalent. It is not particle mass, inhaled dose, a cigarette actually smoked, or a personal health prediction.

Why add PM2.5 mode instead of AQI only?

Many monitors, sensors, and air-quality apps expose PM2.5 directly. PM2.5 mode lets users calculate the rough health-impact comparison without converting back from AQI first.

Does PM2.5 mode still show AQI-based guidance?

Yes. The calculator derives an AQI-equivalent band from the PM2.5 value so the same category, scenario guidance, and action checklists still work.