On a beautiful blue sky day in the Grand Valley it is easy to forget the times when visible and invisible air pollution plagues our skies. Air pollution causes serious health effects to over 27,000 people in Mesa County, according to the American Lung Association. Poor air quality increases doctor office and hospital visits, missed work and school days, and has a negative effect on outdoor recreationists and tourists visiting the region to experience clean air and clear visibility. Poor air quality disproportionately affects children, older adults, people with existing illnesses, people with low income, and communities of color.
Two types of air pollution in the Grand Valley are particulate matter and ground level ozone.
Particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or less, found in vehicle exhaust, smoke, dust, and industrial operations, is dangerous to human health. It can be inhaled into the lungs and circulated through the bloodstream, causing and exasperating respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.
Ground level ozone is a reaction resulting from heat and sunlight mixing with volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. Ozone-forming emission sources come from oil and gas operations, vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors and chemical solvents. Ground level ozone is harmful and can cause respiratory diseases and cancer, damage to crops, and contributes to global warming.
Citizens for Clean Air, Grand Junction (CCA) is working to identify, with reliable data, which sources of air pollution are causing the worst effects. Mesa County has a state-managed high-end monitor for particulates and for ozone. However CCA saw a need for more monitors to help determine if there are areas where air pollution “pockets” exist, and from what sources.
To do this, after months of investigating, we identified, purchased and in 2018 deployed over 30 low-cost PurpleAir particulate monitors (see www.purpleair.com ) throughout Mesa County. The monitors collect data on how many particulates are in the air, and show the counts and locations in real time via a map found at www.citizensforcleanair.org and also on the PurpleAir website. Air pollution levels are color-coded according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) to reflect current conditions. Thousands more PurpleAir real time particulate monitors can be seen on the map as well, 24/7 across the globe.
In addition CCA, along with PurpleAir LLC and other partners, has deployed 6 ozone sensors across the Grand Valley. Soon, ozone levels will also be made available on the map.
Citizens for Clean Air (CCA) was founded in the winter of 2013 when a cold air inversion hung over the valley for months, trapping pollutants in a visible yellow-brown haze. We focus on air quality issues specific to the Grand Valley: residential and agricultural outdoor burning, wood stove burning, oil and gas operations and vehicular emissions.
It is important that we try not to take the air we breathe for granted. CCA volunteers work every day to preserve and protect this natural resource upon which healthy lives and economies depend. We invite you to join us if you share our vision. Sign up to receive our newsletters and updates at citizensforcleanairgj@gmail.com
Karen Sjoberg, Chair
Citizens for Clean Air Grand Junction
PO Box 101
Grand Junction, CO 81502
www.citizensforcleanair.org