Why Air Quality Matters
Clean air is vital for healthy communities and ecosystems. Poor air quality can lead to serious health issues such as respiratory problems and heart disease. It also impacts wildlife, vegetation, and the overall environment, creating challenges for daily life and long-term well-being.
Groundwork Hudson Valley leads educational and community-driven efforts to raise awareness about air quality concerns, promote safety, and gather data through local monitoring in Yonkers.
Do You Know Your Air?
Air Quality in Yonkers
Southwest Yonkers faces air quality challenges due to a lack of green spaces, which naturally cool and filter the air. Paved surfaces, such as roads and buildings, contribute to higher temperatures, while industrial activity and traffic increase pollution levels. These factors create challenges that impact residents and the surrounding environment.
Our Initiatives
Know Your Air Campaign
Groundwork Hudson Valley works to increase public understanding of air quality issues through workshops, educational materials, and campaigns. Our efforts focus on teaching residents how to monitor air quality, interpret the air quality index (AQI), and take precautions during poor air quality days.
Who is most sensitive to air pollution?
Air Quality Monitoring in Yonkers
Fixed Air Quality Monitors
In the Summer of 2024, Groundwork Hudson Valley will launch Yonkers' first community-based air quality monitoring project by installing ten fixed air quality monitors throughout the city. These monitors will track key pollutants, including:
- Fine particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10)
- Nitric oxide (NO)
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
- Ozone (O3)
- Carbon monoxide (CO)
Real-time data from these monitors will be accessible on an interactive map, providing the community with valuable insights into air quality trends and patterns.
Mobile Air Quality Monitors
Want to learn more about the air quality on your street or during your commute? Borrow one of our mobile air quality monitors!
Groundwork Hudson Valley uses AirBeam3 devices, which are compact, easy to use, and measure PM2.5 levels. Residents can use these devices indoors or outdoors with a smartphone to explore air quality in their neighborhood and identify pollution hotspots.
To borrow a monitor, email us at info@groundworkhv.org with the subject: AirBeam Rental.
Findings from our study will be added to this page. For more updates, subscribe to our newsletter or contact us at info@groundworkhv.org.
