Citation:

Smoak, R., A. Clements, AND R. Duvall. Best Practices for Starting An Air Sensor Loan Program. Summary Slides on the Air Sensor Toolbox, Virtual, NC, August 19, 2022.

Impact/Purpose:

To determine ambient air quality conditions around the U.S., criteria air pollutants are measured at a limited number of sites using expensive, regulatory-grade instruments. New, lower-cost air sensors have become available to the public who are using the devices to learn more about air quality in their communities. As part of four Regional/State/Tribal Innovation Projects with EPA Regions 5, 9, and 10, community-based air sensor loan programs were established in urban, rural, remote, and tribal communities to enhance equal access to air sensors and public education about air quality, air sensors, and health implications. This slideset presents the best practices implemented in and learned through these programs, as well as information about the programs developed in each Region. More broadly, the principles presented in these best practices can be applied to other types of collaboratively managed community engaged research projects. This project advances our knowledge of air sensors and promotes participatory science while simultaneously advancing EPA’s goals of collaborating with impacted stakeholders and providing ways for the public to engage in research studies. Groups that would be interested or could apply the results from this research include public libraries, museums, schools, communities, state/local/tribal air agencies, EPA Regional Offices, and other federal agencies.

Description:

To determine ambient air quality conditions around the U.S., criteria air pollutants are measured at a limited number of sites using expensive, regulatory-grade instruments. New, lower-cost air sensors have become available to the public who are using the devices to learn more about air quality in their communities. As part of Regional/State/Tribal Innovation Projects with EPA Regions 5, 9, and 10, community-based air sensor loan programs were established in urban, rural, remote, and tribal communities to enhance equal access to air sensors and public education about air quality, air sensors, and health implications. The slide set walks step-by-step through the planning process for formulating, implementing, and evaluating an air sensor loan program. It presents best practices and lessons learned from the Region pilot programs and examples of how the best practices were implemented and why they matter. Appendices also provide more details about the programs in each Region. These best practices can be of use to any organization thinking about establishing an air sensor loan program. More broadly, the principles presented here can be applied to other types of collaboratively managed, participatory research projects.

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