Air Monitoring Field Work

Palmetto Futures is currently working with community members in a rural South Carolina town who are concerned about the air quality and soil contamination in their neighborhoods. Our team established experimental sites (a test and a control site,) to install PurpleAir Monitors and record trends in air quality. These monitors will continuously record particulate matter levels for several months, providing essential data on the residents' possible exposure to dangerous chemicals.  

The team installed monitors in appropriate locations to accurately record the ambient air data that would be free from background contamination. After successfully equipping the sites with air monitors, our team also demonstrated to the residents how they can view the air readings themselves and how to interpret the data that is generated.   

Next Steps  

Over the next several months, our team will monitor both sites, noting the trends and shifts in the data produced. We will also analyze soil samples collected at each site to assess whether there are hazardous materials present. Additionally, our team will be conducting research on the area to determine if there are any nearby sources of pollution that could also influence air quality. Our team will report our findings to the community and help them determine what their next steps should be to mitigate the issues. 

The goal of this project is to provide the community with a clear understanding of their air quality and determine if there are any potential public health risks in this area.