This grantee will conduct ambient air monitoring of pollutants of greatest concern in communities with environmental and health outcome disparities stemming from pollution and the covid-19 pandemic

Asthma and allergy foundation of america - michigan chapter seeks to reduce health disparities related to PM2.5 exposure in an older adult minority population that has experienced greater covid-19 pandemic impacts such as increased risk for covid exposure and disease, as well as poorer health outcomes due to a complex interaction of factors related to age and race.activities:these funds will be used to support community and local efforts to monitor their own air quality and promote air quality monitoring partnerships between communities and tribal, state, and local governments that: leverage existing air quality expertise, expand use of community monitoring groups and other approaches that give the community a voice in the monitoring of the air quality, and build a foundation of trusting relationships and enhanced understanding from which sustainable solutions to community air pollution problems can be found. EPA funding will be used to purchase two sets of sensors; both will provide readings of PM2.5. EPA funding will also support activities designed to better engage the community directly in monitoring their own air quality. Community participants ages 60 and older will receive: a home safety assessment; provision of evidence-based products related to needed interventions; connection to other available resources that participant and/or participant household members may benefit from/be eligible for; detailed maps/directories; education, connection/coordination assistance as needed; and ongoing follow-up. Subrecipient: subaward costs to wayne state university are included in this agreement to assist community members with monitoring their own air quality.outcomes:expected deliverables include identification of PM2.5 pollutants; 31 community members engaged as citizen scientists; deployment of outdoor and personal/indoor PM2.5 monitors; near real-time PM2.5 data available on purpleair publicly accessible maps; development of dashboard data interface and progress reports and a final report. Beneficiaries are the community members.