Deteriorating Atmospheric Conditions in New England
In the New England region, keeping track of air quality is essential for maintaining a healthy environment and making informed decisions. The good news is that air quality monitoring is well-established, with numerous air quality monitors located throughout the region.
These monitors are managed by a combination of state environmental agencies and federal initiatives, working together in cooperative programs such as State and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS) and the National Core (NCore) Network. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state environmental departments, including those in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, and Rhode Island, collaborate to collect data on the six criteria air pollutants: carbon monoxide, lead, particulate matter, ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide.
The EPA offers Air Quality Alerts for New England, while the AirNow platform provides the Air Quality Index (AQI), a colour-coded index to communicate air quality. The AQI indicates whether air quality is healthy or unhealthy, with higher values signifying poorer air quality.
**Finding Monitor Locations and Data**
To find the locations of air quality monitors and access AQI data in your area, there are several options available.
Firstly, you can visit your state's environmental protection agency website. For example, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) offers a map of air quality monitoring sites under “DEC Information Layers > Environmental Monitoring > Air Quality Monitoring Sites.” Although New York is not part of New England, this approach is similar to how New England states present their data.
Each state typically provides information on their environmental protection or air quality division websites. For instance, in Connecticut, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) offers air monitoring data, while in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) provides air quality monitoring site information and real-time data. Similar resources are available in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Rhode Island.
The EPA and New England state agencies also offer free online tools to check the latest air quality forecasts and real-time data, including monitor locations and AQI values for your area. These tools are available on EPA’s AirNow website and associated state environmental websites.
Lastly, real-time AQI data can be viewed using online dashboards such as AQI.in, which provides real-time air pollution data for cities across the United States, including all New England states. For example, Connecticut’s current AQI is displayed, along with monitoring statistics for pollutants like PM2.5 and PM10.
**Summary**
To find air quality monitoring locations and AQI data in New England, consult your state’s environmental protection agency website or use the EPA’s AirNow platform for comprehensive, real-time air quality information. Additional services like AQI.in provide instant updates and city rankings for air pollution. By staying informed about air quality, residents can make choices that help improve their health and contribute to a cleaner New England environment.
In New England, apart from air quality monitors on land, data sourced from environmental-science studies about air pollutants like carbon monoxide, lead, and particulate matter can provide insights into the region's overall health-and-wellness and contribute to the preservation of the environment. Residents can access real-time data, monitor locations, and air quality forecasts through online tools offered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state environmental agencies such as the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) or Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).
