Photo: Emma Friedman/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — An air quality monitoring station in Kenmore Square is one of many around the state sharing data with residents just ahead of Air Quality Awareness Week.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's Air Assessment branch has been tracking air quality in the state for decades.
The station has a QR code posted on the wall outside that folks can scan, which will show them all the air quality data that the branch collected.
Deputy Division Director for the Air Assessment Branch at MassDEP Sean Dunn said data collection has changed since it first began.
“We have 26 air monitoring stations all around the state where we measure what we call criteria air pollutants, which are ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide,” said Dunn. “For air quality geeks, it’s a really exciting time to be doing this work because there’s new technology available.”
Dunn said that although it may not be the most important topic to people, air pollution can negatively affect people with respiratory issues, like asthma.
“It's really important for people to be aware of air quality conditions, because it can have an adverse impact on your health,” said Dunn.
Since the introduction of the Mass. Clean Air Act in 2007, which improved air pollution regulations around the state, Dunn said he’s noticed a big change.
“We have seen a dramatic, significant decrease in air pollution since the Clean Air Act,” said Dunn. “It’s good to be aware of what your air quality is like, and make decisions about your daily life based on that information.”
More information on Mass. air quality can be found on the MassDEP website here.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Emma Friedman (@EmmaFriedmanWBZ) reports.