poor air quality

USAGE SUMMARY

"poor air quality" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe the condition of the air in a specific location or area, usually in regard to pollution or contaminants. Example: The city government is taking steps to improve the poor air quality in the downtown area, including implementing stricter emissions regulations for businesses and promoting the use of public transportation.

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The result was poor air quality.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

How does poor air quality affect your health?

Stanford University

Londoners have become particularly conscious of poor air quality.

The Guardian

For decades, Denver was ridiculed for its poor air quality.

The New York Times

London has long been known for its poor air quality.

The Guardian - Tech

These are often attributed to poor air quality.

Developments in Environmental Science

Epidemiologically, an association exists between poor air quality and increased prevalence of sinonasal disease.

Stanford University

Due to poor air quality in Berkeley, this event has been cancelled.

University of California, Berkeley

Poor air quality is also having a significant knock-on effect on the country's tourist trade.

The Guardian

Are idling cars and trucks big contributors to the poor air quality?

The New York Times

It was only an orange day – "poor air quality" – after all.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the causes of "poor air quality", be specific about the pollutants involved, such as particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides (NOx), or ozone (O3).

Common error

Avoid simply stating that "poor air quality" is bad. Instead, detail the specific health or environmental consequences, such as increased respiratory illnesses or damage to ecosystems.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poor air quality" functions as a noun phrase that describes the condition of air considered to be substandard or polluted. Ludwig examples show this phrase is used to describe a variety of situations where air quality is compromised.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

28%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "poor air quality" effectively describes the condition of air that is polluted or does not meet acceptable standards. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various fields. Predominantly found in News & Media, Academia, and Science, the phrase serves to inform about the negative impacts of pollution on health and the environment. For alternatives, consider "low air quality" or "polluted air". When writing about this issue, be specific about the pollutants involved and detail the consequences rather than making broad statements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

low air quality

Replaces "poor" with "low", maintaining the same meaning but with a slight variation in intensity.

bad air quality

Substitutes "poor" with "bad", offering a more direct and commonly used alternative.

polluted air

Focuses on the presence of pollutants in the air, directly indicating the cause of the "poor air quality".

unhealthy air

Emphasizes the adverse health effects of the air quality, highlighting its impact on well-being.

toxic air

Highlights the presence of poisonous or harmful substances in the air, indicating a severe level of pollution.

contaminated air

Indicates that the air is impure due to the presence of unwanted or harmful substances.

degraded air quality

Emphasizes the decline or deterioration of the air quality from a previous, better state.

substandard air quality

Uses "substandard" to denote that the air quality does not meet the required or expected standards.

compromised air quality

Suggests that the air quality has been negatively affected or weakened due to pollution or other factors.

impure air

A simple alternative to describe air that contains pollutants and is not clean.

FAQs

What are the health effects of "poor air quality"?

"Poor air quality" can lead to respiratory problems, cardiovascular issues, and other health complications. Exposure to pollutants in the air can exacerbate conditions like asthma and increase the risk of heart attacks.

What can I say instead of "poor air quality"?

You can use alternatives like "low air quality", "bad air quality", or "polluted air" depending on the context.

How is "poor air quality" measured?

"Poor air quality" is typically measured by monitoring the levels of pollutants in the air, such as particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Air quality indices (AQI) are used to communicate these measurements to the public.

What contributes to "poor air quality" in cities?

Common contributors to "poor air quality" in urban areas include vehicle emissions, industrial activities, construction, and the burning of fossil fuels. Geographical factors and weather conditions can also play a role.