Community Air Monitoring Where You Live in EPA Region 5
Community air monitoring projects that are using air sensor technology to monitor air quality in states in EPA’s Region 5 are providing the public with more information on the quality of the air they breathe.
EPA's Region 5 serves Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and 35 Tribes. (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI)
Village Green Project in Chicago, Illinois
EPA is collaborating with the Jane Addams Elementary School in Chicago, located in an environmental justice community where local sources of air pollution are a concern, to operate a Village Green air monitoring station developed by EPA researchers. The project is enabling EPA to test new air pollution monitoring technologies and help the public learn about local air quality.
Educational materials on air quality developed by EPA are being tested in the classrooms by teachers and the school is assisting with testing a portable air sensor called AirMapper being developed by EPA for use by citizen scientists and researchers.
The station is collecting minute-to-minute air quality data on ozone and fine particle pollution and weather conditions and providing a live stream of the measurements to the Village Green web page for public access. Data that is collected will be analyzed and shared with residents and the public.
The Village Green station in Chicago allows for testing of the equipment under colder and more varied weather and temperature conditions in Chicago and the pilot test of the AirMapper is enabling researchers to further develop this portable sensor.