The air monitoring project will result in the installation of 80 air quality sensors across Springfield to collect data on pollution hotspots and inform public health measures. Specifically, the project includes 40 long-term sensors that will collect information on the concentrations of particulate matter and ozone and 40 short-term sensors that will track information on toxic air contaminants in the city. This project is being run and funded by the AG’s Office in collaboration with the City of Springfield, Yale University, the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, Baystate Health, ReGreen Springfield, and other community organizations and members.
The sensors are expected to be installed in early June. The location of the sensors will be determined by feedback from community members with the goal of having sensors placed around the city, including several potential locations on the outside of school and municipal buildings and other community institutions like Bay State Health. This effort will significantly expand the air quality monitoring network in Springfield, a city in which nearly one in five children have asthma, leading it to be ranked the “asthma capital” of the country by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The project will also help address concerns around ozone, a pollutant that puts the health of residents, especially infants and those with asthma at risk.
