EPA Research Partner Support Story: Increasing community awareness of air quality and making air sensor technologies more accessible
Partner: Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)
Challenge: Increasing community awareness of air quality and making air sensor technologies and educational resources more accessible
Resource: LAPL Air Sensor Loan Program
Project Period: 2019 – 2020
Air quality in the Los Angeles area has improved over the last four decades, but the area still struggles with air pollution, such as fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) which contributes to asthma, cardiovascular disease, and other health problems. PM 2.5 , along with other air pollutants, is measured at a limited number of regulatory monitoring stations to determine air quality for the area. Communities have become interested in using new, lower-cost air sensors to measure air quality conditions at the neighborhood or street level.
“Serving the largest city in a state threatened by more and more intense wildfires, Los Angeles Public Library is grateful for this important partnership with EPA. This critical and timely collaboration not only empowered our librarians with the knowledge needed to develop effective air quality educational programs, but also provided the library system with lower-cost air sensor loaning kits for patrons to check out for free. By combining information learned at library programs with firsthand experience of monitoring and interpreting air quality in and outside of their homes, Angelenos will be able to make informed decisions for their health and well-being.” – Los Angeles Public Library Neighborhood Science Program Lead Vivienne Byrd
From April 2019 to July 2020, EPA ORD, in collaboration with EPA Region 9 (Pacific Southwest) and the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL), developed an air sensor loan program. In addition to books, library patrons can check out an air sensor device for free. As part of the program, EPA provided AirBeam2 sensor devices, which measure PM 2.5 , and developed a number of educational resources. The resources included three hands-on lesson plans for exploring outdoor air quality, indoor air quality, and personal air pollution exposure with the public in classroom, group, and one-on-one settings. EPA also provided training to the librarians on the lesson plans and the use of the air sensors.
The LAPL air sensor loan program provides a unique opportunity for the public to access new, lower-cost sensor technologies for free while also learning about both air quality and the actions they can take to protect their health and the environment. Librarians will host workshops and classes using the resources developed to help participants use the air sensors and understand the data collected. The LAPL air sensor loan program concept was expanded in 2021 in collaboration with EPA Region 5 (Upper Midwest) and EPA Region 10 (Pacific Northwest). Those programs focused on tribal and rural communities and resulted in additional lesson plans. Since then, new air sensor loan programs have launched across the U.S.
To access introductory slide sets, instructional videos, five hands-on lesson plans, and a resource guide created in support of these air sensor loan programs, as well as other educational resources related to air sensors, visit the educational resources page on EPA’s Air Sensor Toolbox. To access a best practices guide for starting an air sensor loan program and to see if an air sensor loan program serves your area, visit the air sensor loan programs page on EPA’s Air Sensor Toolbox.