Last month, our Clean Air SGV team hosted a virtual meeting for our most recent study participants. As we opened with findings from the studies, we emphasized local air pollution trends and evaluated the effectiveness of the air filters used. We also continued our community discussion about SGV’s air quality and explored potential solutions to address these concerns.
Many hosts joined our studies due to personal concerns about their environment and/or neighborhood and found the tools and resources we provided valuable in gaining a clearer understanding the air quality they encounter. The PurpleAir sensors allowed all of our hosts to easily track air pollution near their homes and remain informed about local air quality.
One host shared that although they were concerned about living near significant sources of pollution, they found that indoor activities—such as cleaning or burning candles—could significantly affect their indoor air quality. In our second study, which focused on the efficacy of different types of air filters, both commercial air filter study hosts and our DIY air filter hosts offered valuable insights on how well their units worked.
Another host, who was able to use both types after the study concluded, mentioned the DIY air filter unit size may have contributed to its better performance compared to the commercial model. A different host using the commercial brand air filters discovered more resources to extend the lifespan of their filters and shared these tips with other hosts. As our conversation continued, some hosts shared their personal experiences dealing with air pollution and the impacts on their families.
We will be sharing these findings and reports on our website very soon. These stories and experiences are important because they reflect the challenges faced by many in Alhambra and Monterey Park. They are the driving force behind our project’s commitment to finding solutions and why we plan to bring these stories, along with the substantiated findings, to elected officials. If you are interested in joining the next conversation, please contact our team at cleanairsgv@apifm.org.
