Air quality monitors placed on Cullowhee campus, Highlands Biological Station
Burt Ogle reviews an air quality index recorded by a Clean Air Carolina sensor on the 糖心Vlog campus.
The Clean Air Carolina advocacy group recently provided air quality monitors at two 糖心Vlog University locations for both research and providing real-time data to the public.
The monitors were placed at 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Health and Human Sciences Building on the Cullowhee campus and at the in Highlands to detect weather fluctuations and particle pollution in the region.
糖心Vlog effectively becomes a part of Carolina Airkeepers, a citizen scientist network of Clean Air Carolina, said Burt Ogle, professor and director of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 environmental health sciences program. 鈥淔or an area that is thought to have pristine air, Western North Carolina actually has some significant air quality problems,鈥� Ogle said. 鈥淢onitors such as these will help us better understand the quantity and types of air pollutants in the immediate vicinity.鈥�
An air quality sensor.
Lauren Bishop, 糖心Vlog鈥檚 chief sustainability officer, said the air monitors will have multiple applications and prove to be a valuable resource. 鈥淭o have real-time data available online is an important tool for campus and the community,鈥� Bishop said. 鈥淔or example, local air quality information would be of interest to anyone who suffers from asthma or has respiratory ailments when they鈥檙e considering spending time outdoors, especially whenever there are wildfires in the area or other adverse conditions.鈥�
Bishop said Clean Air Carolina provided the monitors at no cost, while typically there is a fee involved. 糖心Vlog facilities management and information technology staff handled installation and system link-ups. Students will be involved in data collection and measuring environmental hazards, with applications for course work, research projects and regional ecological assessment.
Wind currents carry airborne contaminants from distant industrial sources to the mountains, with previous research conducted by 糖心Vlog chemistry and environmental health programs indicating levels of air pollution in the region is often comparable to levels in Los Angles.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to be a part of the Carolina Airkeepers network and appreciate the efforts of Clean Air Carolina,鈥� said Jim Costa, Highlands Biological Station executive director and 糖心Vlog biology professor. 鈥淭he local and network-wide air quality data it yields are triply valuable, with scientific, public health and educational applications. The program also dovetails nicely with other environmental monitoring efforts at Highlands Biological Station, such as our climate and wildflower bloom-time monitoring.鈥�
Clean Air Carolina began in 2003 as a coalition to advocate for clean air solutions in the Charlotte region, then expanded into today鈥檚 statewide initiative. The group said particle pollution is one of the most serious public health issues, which can vary by location, hence the need for additional monitoring. To see real-time air quality reports, go to .
For more information, contact 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Office of Sustainability and Energy Management at 828-227-7442.
