MPCA to discuss air quality info from urban sensor network

Air quality in Minnesota is generally good and meets all federal standards. But it could be better, and one of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s goals is to improve air quality in urban population centers.  Last spring, the MPCA installed new air quality monitoring sensors at 44 sites in neighborhoods around Minneapolis and St. Paul. These sensors monitor and send back data to the MPCA on a variety of pollutants including fine particles, ozone, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. There is at least one monitoring pod in each ZIP code in the two cities. In St. Paul, most of them are placed on light poles in school parking lots, and in Minneapolis they are on Xcel Energy light poles in neighborhoods.

Are there higher levels for certain pollutants? Do different neighborhoods have differences in pollutant levels? Are levels higher at certain times of the day? How much is air pollution influenced by a quiet residential neighborhood or busy roadways? You can view results of the monitoring thus far at pca.state.mn.us/air/assessing-urban-air-quality-project#community. The sensor project is funded by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources and runs through the summer of 2021.

This fall MPCA staff will present information about the project and what the sensors have been seeing thus far at a series of informational meetings. Monday, Oct. 28, 6:30-7:45 pm, Audubon Park Rec Center, 1320 29th Ave. NE.