Understanding Air Quality Trends in Richmond-San Pablo | PSE | Physicians, Scientists, and Engineers for Healthy Energy

Background

The increased availability, quality, and affordability of low-cost air monitors in recent years has enabled communities and regulators to deploy denser networks of low-cost air monitors. The air quality data from these networks can be used to inform local air pollution mitigation strategies and protect public health.

As a result of California Assembly Bill 617 (AB 617), and with support from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) through the Community Air Grants Program, PSE Healthy Energy (PSE) and the Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) established the Richmond Air Monitoring Network (RAMN) in 2020. RAMN stands out as the first high-density community air monitoring network to collect continuous measurements of three important criteria air pollutants—particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ground-level ozone (O3)—along with periodic measurements of black carbon (BC), all with very high spatial and temporal resolution.

RAMN is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment—particularly in disadvantaged communities.