A nonprofit academic publisher is contending that the federal U.S. government’s work on clean air monitoring could use some improvement.
Some new watchers are watching the watchers when it comes to air quality, and coming up with some disturbing results.
The federal EPA is monitoring national air quality, with a system stretching from coast to coast. But now researchers at ACS Publications are evaluating the EPA’s network, and saying that there are gaps in national air pollution monitoring coverage.
The ACS is the arm of the American Chemical Society that publishes various journals and publications aimed at different aspects of science.
Citing a lack of adequate protection from the monitors, observers from the ACS set up their own model to show where the EPA’s system may not be adequately measuring something called PM2.5. The ACS suggests the EPA doesn’t provide coverage of important “hotspots” and doesn’t monitor some high-pollution areas, including metro areas with millions of people. Even a low number of additional monitors, they say, would add a lot of accuracy.
Researchers find this sort of data aggregation important in high risk state like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, as well as California, the nation’s largest state economy, and some Midwestern areas.
What Is PM2.5?
As we’ve reported often on the blog, PM2.5 is a type of fine particles that can have specialized health risks for humans.
These small airborne particles come with items like factory pollution, traffic emissions, and wildfire smoke.
They can get embedded deep in the lungs or in the bloodstream, and cause various health problems. High-risk groups include infants, children, pregnant women, and those with respiratory conditions.
Allergy and asthma sufferers may also have certain problems related to excessive levels of PM2.5 in the air. Use an air monitor from a company like Atmo or Uhoo to see the readings for your home’s indoor air.
Citing Disparities
Another finding by the ACS researchers is that some lower-income communities suffer from unreported high levels of air pollution.
This tracks with other studies that we’ve covered in the past few months that look at socioeconomic status as a component of air quality nationwide, and globally.
Solutions for Poor Air Quality
Of course, one solution is to act at national and global levels to advocate for cleaner air and water.
Another solution is to improve the infrastructure in a community, to make it cleaner and safer for everyone who lives there.
However, at the residential household level, there’s something homeowners can do to improve the air that they breathe every day.
We spend lots of time in our homes, and many of these pollutants and contaminants can get embedded in our indoor air.
Modern homes are fairly sealed, too, which means that the quality of the air inside makes a bigger difference. For reference, Molekule has found that air quality inside of a building can be two to five times worse than what’s outside.
By using air monitors and air purifier appliances, you can improve the air inside your home.
Modern HEPA filtration and activated carbon are two tools that will scrub many harmful contaminants from the air. This includes things like PM2.5, as well as dust mites and pet dander, and various odors. Some of these machines will work against mold and substances like formaldehyde off-gassing from furniture or consumer products, or a range of VOCs or volatile organic compounds that have been known to have health effects.
But what do you want for your home?
There’s a range of new technologies to choose from in different models from a variety of manufacturers. US Air Purifiers LLC can help with warranty information and choosing how much air cleaning power you want for a particular room or space. We have a track record of assisting our customers with effective advice and assistance in getting peace of mind for their quality of life in their homes.