A fascinating journey through the atmosphere that will leave you breathless.

With seven million early deaths a year linked to air pollution, air quality is headline news around the world. But how do we measure air pollution and what on earth is an odour panel? Why are property prices higher upwind of cities? Should we buy, hold on to, or avoid a diesel car? And will our grandchildren inherit an atmosphere worth breathing?

From the atmosphere on distant planets to the stuff that gets into your lungs, from holes in the ozone layer to lazy and disappearing gases, air quality specialist and full-time breather Dr Mark Broomfield combines scientific evidence with personal stories and advice on what you can do to improve air quality, giving you the low-down on what’s up high.

'Written in an easily accessible style yet get across important facts about the world and what we are doing to it' Peter Wadhams, author of A Farewell to Ice

'Not without raising a wry smile, the author takes us from the atmospheres of the planets to the air outside our front door... a fascinating read' Professor Duncan Laxen, Associate of Air Quality Consultants

'Mark Broomfield’s writing is just the breath of fresh air needed to lift the fog on atmospheric sciences' Piers Forster, Professor of Physical Climate Change, University of Leeds

Mark Broomfield has a PhD in atmospheric chemistry, and has specialised in air quality, odour and health issues since 1992, both within the consultancy sector and as an industry specialist at ICI. He has completed research for DEFRA and Scottish Environment Protection Agency into the control of dioxins and furans, and carried out influential evaluations of the Government’s Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards and Air Quality Expert Group. He lives in Shrewsbury.