What’s In Our Air? PurpleAir installation with NCA

This instructional video features Micah, a community organizer with Neighbors for Clean Air (NCA), explaining the organization's air monitoring program using PurpleAir devices. The presentation begins with alarming statistics about Multnomah County being in the top five for diesel pollution among over 3,000 U.S. counties, with some Portland neighborhoods experiencing diesel exposure rates 10 times above health benchmarks. NCA formed from northwest Portland community members advocating for cleaner air for their children through various methods including lawsuits and policy battles. The video demonstrates the installation process at a neighbor's house, covering technical steps like connecting the monitor to Wi-Fi, proper mounting for airflow and weather protection, and registering the device on the public map. The monitors specifically detect PM2.5 particles from diesel and wood smoke. Micah explains how diesel particulates penetrate deep into lungs and bloodstream, causing health risks including cancer, strokes, cardiovascular disease, and asthma. The presentation highlights environmental racism, citing a PSU study showing nearly 40% of people of color live near major polluters, with 42% of red-lined neighborhoods within a mile of pollution sources. The video concludes by promoting additional tools like the diesel impact tool created with Metro to track construction permits and pollution sources.