The number of government air monitors in the United States fell by nearly half over the past 20 years, and three states have passed laws limiting how pollution data collected by residents can be used in enforcement, according to a Floodlight investigation published September 9 that analyzed EPA data. Floodlight is a nonprofit newsroom that covers climate and pollution.
For families living near refineries, chemical plants or steel mills, monitors are how exposure gets documented. Without measurements, residents who believe pollution is worsening a child's asthma have little evidence to bring to regulators, permit hearings or courts. Ozone and fine particle pollution are well-established asthma triggers, and some industrial chemicals are linked to cancer.
