Prince George’s County Public Schools AQM Project
Since September 2021, we have partnered with the Prince George’s County Public School system to measure fine particulate matter (PM2.5) using PurpleAir PA-II-SD sensors.
We utilized community-engaged practices (e.g., surveys, interviews) to identify locations at schools for monitoring, and trained teachers and students on data collection and management. In April 2023, we conducted a mobile-based air monitoring exercise at the International High School (IHS) at Largo, Maryland using AtmoTube sensors to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The overall objectives of this case study were to
Establish a county-wide neighborhood level air monitoring network accessible to County stakeholders.
Build environmental literacy among youth through mobile-based air monitoring to ultimately reduce negative exposures for populations disproportionately burdened by poor air quality in the County. We describe the community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles used in this partnership and the mobile-based VOC monitoring at IHS.
Through this case study, we were able to determine that average PM2.5 levels at one site (Fairmount Heights High School) exceeded the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) annual guidelines. However, all schools (n=10) exceeded the more protective World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
Additionally, chemistry students at IHS successfully used AtmoTubes to collect and record VOC data in 30-min intervals. The use of low-cost sensors with the participation of youth offers great potential to effectively capture “hotspots” at vulnerable receptor sites. Our work has since been expanded to other schools to inform air pollution remediation strategies and promote environmental justice.