The ultimate goal of BN-CARE is to improve local air quality, reduce exposure to air pollution, and increase awareness of air pollution and its related health effects.
Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to public health and the natural environment. Poor air quality can exacerbate health conditions such as asthma, COPD, and heart disease and is estimated to be responsible for more than 100,000 premature deaths in the United States each year. Excessive greenhouse gas pollution, such as carbon dioxide, causes temperatures to rise resulting in extreme weather conditions, disruptions to ecosystems and food supply chains, sea level rise, and many other negative impacts. Monitoring air quality is essential for understanding the presence and concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere and assessing their impacts.
Air quality can vary widely within communities and can change day to day or even hour to hour. This data, shown above in real-time, can also help keep us safe by knowing when and where dangerous pollution levels occur.
