Scientists Use Smartwatch Data To Track the Hidden Health Effects of Air Pollution

Researchers at CUNY piloted a wearable-based system to track how heat and air pollution affect people in real time.

Using Fitbit smartwatches, smartphone GPS, and repeated mood surveys, the team estimated exposure to pollutants and extreme heat.

The study found links to changes in heart rate variability and mood, suggesting immediate physiological and emotional effects.

The approach could improve personalized environmental health monitoring and help detect short-term exposure effects more accurately than fixed monitors.