Air Quality Index Scraper

Scrape air quality data from the AirNow EPA public API. Extract AQI values, pollutant levels (PM2.5, O3), categories, reporting areas, and observation times for any US ZIP code for environmental monitoring and health research.

Features

• Query air quality by US ZIP code with no API key required
• Extract AQI values and EPA-defined categories (Good, Moderate, Unhealthy, etc.)
• Identify primary pollutants (PM2.5, O3, NO2, CO)
• Support for multiple ZIP codes in a single run
• Built-in rate limiting for reliable API access
• Data source attribution with API endpoint tracking

Use Cases

Public health researchers use this actor to correlate air quality data with health outcomes across regions. Real estate platforms display neighborhood AQI data to help buyers evaluate living conditions. Outdoor event planners check AQI levels before scheduling activities. Environmental compliance teams monitor air quality near industrial facilities to ensure regulatory standards are met.

Input Configuration

Field	Type	Description	Default
zipCodes	array	US ZIP codes to check	["75024", "10001", "90210"]
maxResults	integer	Maximum results to return	100

Output Format

Each result includes: zipCode, reportingArea, stateCode, aqi, category, categoryNumber, pollutant, dateObserved, hourObserved, localTimeZone, latitude, longitude, dataSource, apiEndpoint, and scrapedAt.

Integration and Export

Results are stored in the Apify dataset and can be exported to JSON, CSV, XML, or Excel. Use the Apify API to feed AQI data into dashboards, alerting systems, or environmental monitoring platforms. Connect with Google Sheets, Zapier, or Make for automated air quality reporting.

Cost Estimation

This actor uses pay-per-event pricing at $0.30 per 1,000 results. Checking 100 ZIP codes typically returns 200-300 pollutant observations, costing under $0.10. Memory usage is minimal at 256 MB as the actor uses the lightweight AirNow API directly.

Tips for Best Results

The AirNow API covers US locations only. Each ZIP code may return multiple observations for different pollutants (PM2.5, O3, etc.). The DEMO_KEY has rate limits, so the actor includes built-in delays between requests. For continuous monitoring, schedule runs using Apify schedules every hour to track AQI changes throughout the day. Combine with the Weather Forecast Scraper for comprehensive environmental data.