Air pollution has long been an environmental and public health concern in Allegheny County, and a spate of recent research studies have shed new light on how emissions impact everything from asthma rates to mental health conditions. When CONNECT surveyed 2,000 county residents in 2021, “improving regional and indoor air quality” topped the list of community priorities. 

At the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), we’ve been advocating for clean air in this region since 1969 - a lot has changed since then, but the reality is that Allegheny County still experiences some of the worst air quality in the nation. Local elected officials and municipal staff play a crucial role in ensuring the quality of life of residents, but it might be unclear exactly how air quality can be impacted at the local level. In this workshop, we will engage in discussion to establish a useful knowledge base and share resources and potential funding opportunities to help municipalities implement innovative projects. 

We hope to hear from participants about how air quality relates to their own strategies and goals to ensure a safe, healthy community for their residents. We’ll touch base on a wide variety of topics, such as open burning, asbestos abatement, and air quality monitoring - all of which will be covered in more detail in a written primer provided to all participants.

GIVEAWAY: We will be giving away one Purple Air monitor to a workshop participant. These easy-to-use monitors are simple and reliable - the data is automatically uploaded to a publicly available real-time map on their website.

Find out more about this program: www.gasp-pgh.org/aqprimer