Portland Neighborhood Air Quality Project
The STAR (Sustainable Atmospheres Research) Lab in the PSU Center for Climate and Aerosol Research aims to assess current air quality issues impacting Portland neighborhoods. Measurements of key air quality indicators will be quantified in several neighborhoods over the next two years. Teams of Environmental Science and Management undergraduate students are making measurements of PM10 metals, nitrogen oxides, and diesel particulate matter in each neighborhood. Along with measuring these key air quality indicators, models will be made for source characterization, including type and magnitude. Assessing air quality issues in Portland neighborhoods strongly relies on community involvement. We built an app called iSmell that enables residents to identify and report odors in their home that may be tied to air pollutants. The analysis of our data will be used to inform health risk assessments by the Oregon Health Authority. This work is supported by PSU Institute for Sustainable Solutions, City of Portland and Multnomah County.
