NORTH READING — In September 2024, North Reading was awarded a grant of 10 air quality sensors by the state’s Department of Environment Protection (MassDEP). These sensors, made by PurpleAir, were installed in various locations around town by the volunteers of North Reading Green Alliance and North Reading Sustainability Committee.
The sensor locations include several volunteer residences as well as North Reading Public Schools.
“The air quality sensors detect PM2.5 which are particulate matter finer than dust, such as smoke and industrial pollution. These tend to be harmful to young children and the elderly. They also aggravate health conditions in anyone experiencing lung problems and cardiac issues,” stated Usha Pillai, Ph.D., of the North Reading Green Alliance, who worked on this project with Deb Pascale, a member of the North Reading Sustainability Committee.
According to MassDEP: “Numerous scientific studies have linked breathing PM2.5 to adverse health effects, including premature death in people with heart or lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing.”
PurpleAir provides free access to an online map (map.purpleair.com) where a search for North Reading will show the readings from all the sensors installed in the town.
“These air quality readings are far more accurate than the average regional readings that are published on weather apps,” Pillai explained, adding, “Right after we installed the first sensors in October 2024, North Reading had a brush fire scare and the sensors ‘lit up’ on the map showing the steadily worsening air quality around town. And this summer, we have had more smoke come in from the Canadian wildfires. Unfortunately, these wildfires seem to have become a recurring reality in a warming world. While there is little we can do about the pervasive smoke, we can try and stay safe from its harmful effects.”
Pillai added, “Our sensors have been hard at work and we urge our town residents to avail of their accurate readings if they are sensitive to air quality.”
How to access the air quality data
To make use of the data being collected by the sensors in town in real time simply visit map.purpleair.com and click the search icon, then type “North Reading” and select the town from the drop down menu. The map will zoom into the town and show all the active sensor readings at the locations throughout town.
Click on the colored-coded circles to obtain more specific information about that location. There is an accompanying color-coded scale to indicate the various ranges of the readings, from zero (green) up to 300 (dark purple). Data shown is the 10-minute average for that sensor.
Bookmarking this site on the browser will provide ready access.
Additional resources
The following information on the respiratory and cardiovascular effects of wildfire smoke inhalation and websites where more specific details can be found regarding air quality throughout the region was provided to the Transcript by Lauren F. Moreschi, Director of Communications for MassDEP:
Inhalation of wildfire smoke can cause immediate respiratory and cardiovascular effects, such as coughing, shortness of breath, and even heart failure. To protect ourselves from wildfire smoke, check the EPA Fire and Smoke Map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ to monitor local Air Quality Index (AQI) levels and check MassDEP’s MassAir Online website for health guidance associated with the AQI range and for alerts https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/dep/massair/web/#/pollution/map/max.
More information about health effects attributed to wildfire smoke is available at https://www.epa.gov/wildfire-smoke-course/health-effects-attributed-wildfire-smoke.
More information about AQIs, protection from poor air quality, and local conditions is available at MassDEP’s MassAir website https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/dep/massair/web/#/pollution/map/max.