From 2013 to 2015, EIP conducted our own air quality monitoring project in Curtis Bay and Brooklyn, two neighborhoods in the southern part of Baltimore City that are located next to an industrial area. We monitored for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a pollutant that is produced by combustion (burning) processes and, even at relatively low levels, can increase risk of mortality from lung cancer and heart and respiratory disease. We were testing the hypothesis that PM2.5 levels would be higher in these neighborhoods than elsewhere in Baltimore and trying to develop a project that produces high quality data and can be replicated by other communities. Additionally, our guide for citizens who are interested in conducting their own project using our procedures can be found here.
