The Role of Air Quality Sensors in Tracking Pollution Levels
Even if off-the-shelf air quality sensors aren’t yet reliable enough for government regulatory purposes, they can play an important role in tracking pollution levels, witnesses told members of a Senate committee on Wednesday.
Bill Obermann, a Denver-area air program supervisor, highlighted the significance of sensors in addressing gaps in monitoring pollution levels, particularly in areas prone to wildfires. He stated, “There are some big voids out there… Sensors help fill in those voids.”
Obermann manages the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment’s “Love My Air” program, which utilizes sensors to provide real-time measurements of airborne soot.
In Denver, a city with a long-standing smog problem, checking the air quality index and scanning for air quality alerts has become as common as checking the weather on a typical summer day, according to Obermann.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
The article discusses the importance of tracking pollution levels and air quality, which directly relates to the goals of promoting good health and well-being (SDG 3), creating sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), and taking action against climate change (SDG 13).
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
- Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
- Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
The article highlights the need to track pollution levels to reduce the number of deaths and illnesses caused by air pollution (Target 3.9). It also emphasizes the importance of monitoring air quality in cities to reduce their environmental impact (Target 11.6). Additionally, it mentions the role of sensors in measuring pollution levels, which aligns with the need to integrate climate change measures into national policies (Target 13.2).
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Real-time measurements of airborne soot
- Air quality index
- Air quality alerts
The article mentions the use of sensors to provide real-time measurements of airborne soot, which can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards reducing air pollution and its health impacts (Target 3.9). It also refers to checking the air quality index and scanning for air quality alerts, which can serve as indicators to assess the effectiveness of air quality monitoring and management in cities (Target 11.6).
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. | – Real-time measurements of airborne soot |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. | – Air quality index – Air quality alerts |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. | – Real-time measurements of airborne soot |
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Source: eenews.net
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