Something in the Air
The passage between Juarez, Chihuahua and El Paso, Texas is
one of the most heavily used border crossings in the world.
Cars waiting to get into the US often sit idling in the sun
for hours, forming huge lines constantly pumping carbon monoxide
and other pollutants into the air. An additional factor compounds
this problem: the fact that the area is surrounded by mountains
that serve to trap pollution over the cities. Air pollution
in El Paso and the surrounding area is becoming a serious health
issue.
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Helping People Protect Themselves
Today
The Paso del Norte Environmental Monitor project is collecting
the real-time air quality data that can help people protect
themselves on a day-by-day basis. Using information collected
from a series of live webcams and monitoring stations throughout
the region, volunteers with the project are able to pull together
up-to-the-minute forecasts on air quality, which they share
with the public through partnerships with local weather stations,
and on the Internet. With this information at hand, citizens
are able to make informed decisions about the amount of time
and types of activities they should spend doing outdoors.
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Offering Long-Term Solutions
The emissions data on carbon monoxide and ground-level ozone
that comes out of this project is also helpful for urban planners
trying to make changes to the regions transportation systems.
Students working on the project have gone so far as to present
a detailed proposal for a light rail system that would help
workers commute between Juarez and El Paso significantly quicker
with considerably less pollution overall — one of many
possible environmental solutions for the region. By pointing
to suggestions like these, the Paso del Norte Environmental
Monitor is not only helping to find long-term solutions to the
regions air pollution problems, but is helping to identify the
leaders of tomorrow as well.
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More information…
Border
Clean Air
Find out more about the partnership that’s produced
the Paso del Norte Environmental Monitor, and their plans
for the future.
Ozone
Map
Check out the real time ozone maps produced by the project,
and get tips on how you can help stop this pollution before
it starts.
EMPACT
Technology Transfer
Discover ways your community can start an air quality-monitoring
program, with these helpful how-to manuals from the Environmental
Protection Agency.
Air Now
Find air quality forecasts and ozone maps for different regions
throughout the country.
Ozone
and Your Health
Information on how ground-level ozone can affect your health
from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Ozone
Double Trouble
Clear up any confusion on the difference between ground-level
ozone and the upper-level ozone layer.
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The videos on this site are part of an hour long
video produced by the Environmental Fund for Pennsylvania/GreenWorks
for the Environmental Protection Agency's EMPACT Program. To
get a copy of the entire video, contact GreenTreks at talktous@greentreks.org.
Learn more about our Outreach Efforts for this production. Email
us at talktous@greentreks.org. |
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