An optimal solution for monitoring air pollution, the Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled system delivers real-time data and insights on the air quality within a specific location. Air pollution poses a substantial risk to human health worldwide, with pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, ozone, and sulfur dioxide contributing to a range of cardiovascular and respiratory ailments. Monitoring air pollution levels is critical to understand the effect on public health and the environment. Air Pollution Monitoring includes the systematic analysis and measurement of pollutant concentration in the air, through a network of monitoring stations equipped with instruments and sensors. This station provides real-time data on air quality, allowing authorities to evaluate issue warnings, and pollution levels, and implement strategies to alleviate its negative impact. Machine learning (ML) approaches are becoming more integrated into air pollution monitoring systems for enhancing efficiency and accuracy. By analyzing vast quantities of information gathered from satellite imagery, monitoring stations, and other sources, ML approaches could detect patterns, forecast pollution levels, and pinpoint sources of pollution. This study introduces Air Pollution Monitoring and Prediction using African Vulture Optimization Algorithm with Machine Learning (APMP-AVOAML) model in IoT environment. The drive of the APMP-AVOAML methodology is to recognize and classify the air quality levels in the IoT environment. In the APMP-AVOAML technique, a four stage process is encompassed. Firstly, min-max normalization is applied for scaling the input data. Secondly, a harmony search algorithm (HSA) based feature selection process is executed. Thirdly, the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model is utilized for air pollution prediction. Finally, AVOA based parameter selection process is exploited for the XGBoost model. To illustrate the performance of the APMP-AVOAML algorithm, a brief experimental study is made. The resultant outcomes inferred that the APMP-AVOAML methodology has resulted in effectual outcome.