The US EPA’s Air Quality Awareness Week – running from May 1 to 5, 2023 – provides an opportunity for people to learn about what causes poor air quality, and how they can prepare for and respond to events and environments with poor air quality year-round. EPA’s theme for this year is, “Working Together for Clean Air” and the organization has explored daily topics on its website, including: Wildfires and Smoke, Asthma and Your Health, Air Quality and Transportation, Air Quality and Climate, Participatory Science.
To celebrate the week, we created a series of blog articles that identify the main polluting gases and highlight the importance of implementing mitigation strategies, helping to protect the environment and deliver cleaner air for future generations. In case you missed them, here’s a snapshot of the articles:
Day 1. Wildfires and Smoke
- Are the Wildfires Causing Harmful Air Quality Issues?
The effects of smoke from wildfires range from minor eye and respiratory irritations to more serious health problems. The EPA is using its expertise in air quality research to fill the gaps in scientific information and to develop and utilize tools to prevent and reduce the impact of smoke from wildfires and controlled or prescribed burns. Read about the highly advanced air quality measurement instruments that serve as an early warning system for air quality danger from wildfires.
Day 2: Asthma and Your Health
- It Pays to Be Air Aware.
The developed world has come a long way since deadly incidents like the London smog of 1952 – thanks to growing awareness of the impact of poor air quality – but noxious gases, airborne particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and greenhouse gases (GHGs) are still taking an enormous toll on human health even to this day. Read about the winds of change and the monitoring technologies essential to accurately track changes in air quality to assess the impact of these mitigation strategies.
Day 3: Air Quality and Transportation
- How Seoul Metro Improves Indoor Air Quality in Subway Stations
Living and working near sources of air pollution can lead to higher exposures to air pollution, many of which contribute to negative health effects, including asthma and cardiovascular disease. Some communities are more impacted by air pollution from transportation than others, making air pollution an environmental justice concern. You might think vehicle traffic is the main cause, but did you realize that air quality could be a problem in subways and train stations? There has been a growing concern over indoor air quality (IAQ) in subway systems, since most subway systems are underground in confined spaces where air pollutants are generated internally and entered from the outdoor atmosphere. Learn about the systems used to monitor the space.
Day 4: Air Quality and Climate
- Keeping Tabs on Greenhouse Gases
Monitoring Greenhouse Gases and other pollutants from oil, gas, and petrochemical production is crucial, and leaks should be found swiftly before they escape into the atmosphere. Read about the portable equipment used to precisely detect virtually all organic and inorganic compounds -– helping to protect personnel, ensure operations remain compliant, and protect the environment from harmful emissions to, hopefully, curb their contribution towards warming our planet.
Day 5: Participatory Science
- The EPA notes that “participatory science uses the collective strength of communities and the public to identify research questions, collect and analyze data, interpret results, make new discoveries, and develop technologies and applications to understand and solve problems.” Here are some of the air quality analysis technologies that help ensure ambient air quality complies with local environmental regulations, allowing all of us to breathe easier.
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