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Air Quality Monitoring

JESSICA PRICE, PHD

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE MANAGER

CITY OF MADISON

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Air Quality Monitoring in Madison

Right now, information on our air quality comes from only two sensors.
These monitors tell us that Madison sometimes experiences high levels of particulate matter and other air pollution.
Additional monitors will help us understand:
how air quality varies across Madison’s neighborhoods,
identify if there are neighborhoods impacted by poor air quality
create strategies to improve air quality

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What is Particulate Matter?

Particulate matter (PM) is tiny pieces of dust, dirt and other materials in the air we breathe.
Breathing particulate matter can be bad for your heart and lungs.
When there is a lot of it, it can make the air look dirty, hazy, or brown.

We are focused on getting a better understanding of particulate matter air pollution.

Particulate matter, or PM, is the term for solid particles or liquid droplets found in the air.

Particulate matter pollution comes from a variety of sources. It can be emitted directly into the air from sources like wood stoves, forest fires or blowing dust.

It can also be created when other pollutants react and form fine particles. And the sources of these precursor pollutants include fossil fuel combustion in vehicles and power plants, as well as some industrial processes.

While Dane County is in compliance with federal air quality standards, even short-term or localized peaks in air pollution can lead to increased health risks, which regional air quality sensors are not designed to measure.

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El material particulado puede ser malo para nuestra salud

Impactos en la salud a corto plazo: irritación de los ojos, la nariz, la garganta y los pulmones, tos, estornudos, dificultad para respirar
Impactos en la salud a largo plazo: empeoramiento de la salud pulmonar y cardíaca, asma, enfermedades cardíacas
En los EE. UU. y en Wisconsin, los datos muestran que las comunidades BIPOC (Black, Indigena, y gente de color) y de bajos ingresos enfrentan una mayor exposición a estas partículas y tienen tasas más altas de problemas pulmonares y cardíacos.

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A City-Wide Network

Install a city-wide network of air quality monitors
Share data on a publicly accessible online map
Engage the Madison community to raise awareness about the connections between air quality and health, with a focus on BIPOC communities
Identify areas experiencing the greatest levels of PM air pollution
Begin community outreach, education, and engagement efforts to collaboratively determine community needs and next steps

The City of Madison was awarded funding by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to create a city-wide network of air quality monitors to provide up-to-date and publicly accessible information on particulate matter pollution. The project has give main activities:

Install air quality monitors throughout the city
Share the air quality data from the monitors on a publicly accessible online map
Engage the Madison community through multiple avenues to raise awareness about the connections between air quality and health, with a focus on BIPOC communities,
Identify areas experiencing the greatest levels of PM air pollution
Begin community outreach, education, and engagement efforts to collaboratively determine community needs and next steps for improving air quality and protecting the health of residents.

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Partners

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Air Quality Monitors

Small air quality monitors made to detect particulate matter of different sizes
Complements and adds to the data we get from the two regulatory sensors
Lower cost means we can install many sensors across the City
UW Professor Tim Bertram and his lab use this technology and will advise on the project.

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Monitor Locations

~68 air quality sensors
One in each of our 2018 census tracts
Mounted on city-owned light poles
Powered by solar panel
Data shared over the cell network

What are the best locations to measure air quality in our neighborhoods?

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Opportunities to Participate

Before Installation of Monitors – We will host 3-5 Open House events to:

let people know about the project,
raise awareness about the connections between air quality and health,
gather input to inform the design of the network
learn the best channels to communicate with the community about the project and air quality data

During Installation of Monitors - Community members will be invited on-site for installation of 3-5 sensors.
After Installation of Monitors – We will host 3-5 Open House events to:

Share findings on air quality with the community
Learn about the needs of the communities most impacted by poor air quality
Plan next steps for improving air quality and protecting the health of residents

Community partners and PHMDC will also share information about the project and the connections between air quality and health through their networks and communication channels.

There will be many opportunities for community members to participate.

At the beginning of the project, before the air quality monitors are installed, the City and our partners will host 3-5 open house events to:

let people know about the project and that we’re building a city-wide air quality monitoring network, 2)
raising awareness about the connections between air quality and health,
gather input to inform the design of the air quality monitor sensor network
Learn the best ways collaborate with community members once the sensor network is up and running

As we are building the network, community members will be invited on-site for installation of 3-5 monitors. At these events, attendees will get the opportunity to learn how the sensors work, why the network is important, and how the air quality information it provides can be useful to them.

And after the network is up and running and we have data on local air quality, we’ll host another series of open houses. These open house events will focus on connecting with communities in the areas of Madison experiencing the greatest levels of air pollution.

We want to share the findings on air quality with the community, learn about their needs, and plan next steps for improving air quality and protecting the health of residents.

Community partners and Public Health Madison and Dane County will also share information about the project and the connections between air quality and health over the whole course of the three-year project.

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What do you think?

This project is just beginning. And we would love to hear what you think.
What are your concerns about air quality?
What advice do you have for this project?
Would you like to stay involved?

Thank you for coming to share your thoughts today!

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For More Information

Check the Daily Air Quality Index by downloading an air quality app on your phone.
AIRNow from the Environmental Protection Agency
Wisconsin Air Quality Monitoring from the WI Department of Natural Resources
Take Action When Air Quality is Poor
If the air quality index is orange, reduce physical exertion and the amount of time spent outside.�If the air quality index is red or worse, avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. If you use an inhaler, keep it with you.
DNR Map: https://airquality.wi.gov/home/map

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News Coverage

Madison to use low-cost sensors to measure neighborhood air quality – Wisconsin State Journal – 27 Nov 2022
https://madison.com/news/local/environment/madison-to-use-low-cost-sensors-to-measure-neighborhood-air-quality/article_558f2731-5094-5b7f-b28a-a40a0ca08b3e.html

Madison Receives EPA Funding to Improve Air Quality Monitoring and Tackle Health Disparities – Press Release – 16 Nov 2022
https://www.cityofmadison.com/news/madison-receives-epa-funding-to-improve-air-quality-monitoring-and-tackle-health-disparities

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Thank you!

Jessica Price, PhD
Sustainability and Resilience Manager
City of Madison | Office of the Mayor

jprice2@cityofmadison.com
608-267-1992

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Mas oportunidades para participar

Latino Academy for Workforce Development (LAWD)

Programa sobre Calidad de Aire

Bilingual Leadership Academy: Recycling and Reduce Air Pollution

Academia Bilingüe de Liderazgo: Reciclaje y Reducción de la Contaminación del Aire

Abril 6 - Junio 1st

Jueves 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Contaminación del aire y la salud y justicia ambiental

Instalación y monitoreo de 9 monitores de Aire

Instructora: Cristina Carvajal- Wisconsin Ecolatinos

Infromación : rosario@latinoacademywi.org