11 City Transportation Hubs, Corridors Will Have Air Quality Monitors

NEW HAVEN, CT — City officials Monday said that air quality monitors will be installed at 11 sites near major transportation hubs and corridors across New Haven.

The sensors will measure particulate matter—fine solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air that are emitted from or caused by sources such as automobiles, fires, power plants, and other industrial sites, according to a news release from the city.

"PM can travel deep into your lungs when breathing, and unhealthy exposure can contribute to serious respiratory ailments, such as reduced lung function or asthma attacks and other serious health problems, such as heart attacks or strokes. PM, or particle pollution, is one of the five major pollutants that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency uses in its Air Quality Index."

City officials pointed out that as New Haven "lies at the intersection of several major transportation assets and corridors," it experiences air quality impacts from the regional transport of pollutants, with several air quality alerts issued last year stemming from wildfires in Canada, the news release reads.

"New Haven, like other large municipalities, also has a higher concentration of individuals with asthma, 21 percent, compared to the rest of the state, 17 percent," a statement from the office of Mayor Justin Elicker reads. "As a proactive measure and public service to residents, the City is installing these particulate matter sensors (PM2.5) to enable the community to see close to real-time PM levels at newhavenct.gov/AirQuality or purpleair.com."

Elicker, City Engineer Giovanni Zinn, and Health Director Maritza Bond provided information on the program at a Port of New Haven news briefing including public health guidance and preventive measures residents can take to protect themselves and their loved ones in the event there is a poor air quality alert and elevated PM levels.