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The Indiana Department of Environmental Management uses air-monitoring devices to collect data on ozone levels, particulate matter and other pollutants, and produce regional air-quality maps on its website.

But, up until now, no ongoing tracking was taking place at the neighborhood level. That is changing with a pilot project from the MCPHD’s Water Quality and Hazardous Materials Management Department, which will place outdoor air monitors to record and share the levels of air particulates in an industrial westside neighborhood. Air particulates are a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air that can cause health problems when inhaled. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only >be detected using a microscope.

The area around Tibbs Avenue and Minnesota Street contains residences, schools, highways, industries, and at least one site being monitored by IDEM for soil and groundwater contamination.

Jeff Larmore, Senior Environmental Health Scientist and Program Manager for MCPHD’s Water Quality / Hazardous Waste Management Department, said that people living in heavily industrial areas often have concerns.

“They want to know, ‘What is our risk? What is the quality of our environment?’” Larmore said. “And outdoor air pollution is often a concern.”

In the past, air-monitoring equipment has been expensive, very technical to operate and difficult to maintain, Larmore said. But sensor technology has advanced, allowing smaller, inexpensive detectors to collect data and send it virtually.

MCPHD has purchased 10 outdoor air monitors to measure particulate matter, and is identifying places to set them in the Tibbs / Minnesota neighborhood. The monitors need access to electricity and wi-fi to operate, Larmore said, so the department is reaching out to public areas like churches and schools as potential sites.

The data on particulate matter will be sent to the monitors’ company for publication on its website, and will also be sent to MCPHD to be posted on one of its websites.

Janie Weiter, an Environmental Health Data and Informatics Specialist for MCPHD whose position is funded by the center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Health Infrastructure Grant, said she is excited about being part of this project.

“People in the neighborhood will be able to use the data to make informed health decisions,” she said. “Maybe to the point where school officials make decisions about outdoor recess based on how the air quality that day would impact students with asthma.” Jason Ravenscroft, Administrator of MCPHD’s Department of Water Quality and Hazardous Materials Management, said this pilot project is part of his department’s ongoing mission to address environmental concerns.

“We try to listen to the community members, and to address their concerns as best we can,” Ravenscroft said.

For more information about the project, please contact MCPHD’s Department of Water Quality and Hazardous Materials Management at (317) 221-2266.