How Live-Tweeting Air Pollution Data Is Saving Lives

The savings in lives and money would be enormous 

if cities provided their residents with up-to-date information about air pollution.

Air pollution in Beijing was particularly bad in 2008. 

The US embassy in the city has a new monitor that can provide real-time readings of ozone and PM2.5 

Then it started doing something seemingly insignificant

if one study is to be believed, has had far-reaching consequences throughout the world.

The embassy has begun tweeting the particle readings every hour