Community Science: “Community Science" means the public contributes to scientific knowledge and understanding by participating in projects, collecting data, and sharing information to help better understand environmental concerns happening in their communities.

Air quality sensors are one tool that community members can use to Stay Air Aware by monitoring the air quality in their area. Air Central Texas provides FREE PurpleAir sensors through the Be Air Smart program to qualifying partners. 

You can sign up for a free air sensor here: https://aircentraltexas.org/en/about/be-air-smart

Urban Heat Resilience: Urban heat refers to extreme heat within urban areas where buildings, roads, and paved surfaces absorb and re-emit the sun's heat more than natural landscapes, leading to the formation of high-temperature pockets referred to as urban heat islands.

This heat island effect can also lead to an increase of air pollution emissions due to higher energy demands to cool urban areas off.

You can help reduce heat islands by:

• Increasing trees and vegetation - learn simple and effective ways plants can cool the environment
  
• Creating green roofs - explore green roofs as a proven method to reduce heat islands and achieve cost-effective benefits
  
• Installing cool roofs - find what cool roofs are, how they work to reduce heat islands, and other benefits
  
• Using cool pavement - learn how cities are using cool pavements and emerging technologies as heat island reduction measures
  
• Adapting to heat - find ways communities can effectively plan and adapt to heat
  
• Following smart growth principles - learn the principles to make communities more attractive, livable, and economically vibrant

Learn more about heat islands at: https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/what-are-heat-islands

Knowing Your Air: "Knowing Your Air" means getting familiar with the resources that help you stay aware of the air quality in your region. CAPCOG has both particulate matter (PM) and ozone monitors in Central Texas and there are many PurpleAir sensors set up as well.

 Warn Central Texas provides emergency alerts for natural and man-made disasters (including those that can impact air quality).

 Air Central Texas Alerts provide email alerts for days when PM or ozone are forecast to reach levels "unhealthy for sensitive groups."

You can also track your Air Quality Index (or AQI) at AirNow.

Asthma and Health: Did you know that May is Asthma Awareness Month? It's a great time to educate friends, family, and patients about asthma and other illnesses caused by air pollution.

 Air pollution affects groups differently. Children, the elderly, pregnant people, and people with cardiac and pulmonary diseases are particularly sensitive to ozone and particulate matter (PM). 

Knowing the Air Quality Index can be helpful if you're in a sensitive group.

Like the weather, a forecast is created for the Air Quality Index for the next few days. You can see the current AQI forecasts at AirNow.gov when you input your location or through the TCEQ to see the forecast for Texas regions. The forecast is helpful so that you can plan accordingly if you're sensitive to poor air quality.

You can go here to see the AQI for your zip code.

Learn more about air quality and health here.

Wildland Fires and Smoke:  While everyone can be impacted by wildland fire smoke, healthy people are usually not at a major risk from wildland fire smoke.

However, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, and people who are more likely to be exposed are at increased risk of experiencing health effects.

If you are at increased risk from wildland fire smoke, you are also at increased risk from extreme heat. Symptoms may include burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis.

You can stay up to date on wildland fires by visiting AirNow's interactive Fire and Smoke Map, which provides fire locations, smoke plumes, near real-time air quality and protective actions to take.