News Releases from Region 03

EPA awards $750K grant to Carnegie Mellon Univ. to advance air monitoring technology

PHILADELPHIA – (August 12, 2016) -- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $749,945 grant to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh to develop an air monitoring research project to help improve air quality and human health in Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

Through this project, Carnegie Mellon scientists will work with community groups to develop and test new low-cost, portable, easy-to-use ways to measure air pollution. This research will provide maps and other tools communities can use to understand air pollution in their neighborhoods and improve public health.

“Earlier this year I participated in an educational roundtable discussion at the university with faculty and students that explored climate change and regional air quality issues,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “EPA is proud to support Carnegie Mellon in conducting this important air monitoring research and correlate its impact on public health in Pittsburgh neighborhoods.”

Carnegie Mellon was one of six research organizations nationwide to receive funding under EPA’s Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program to study how low-cost air pollution sensors can be used.

The research grant is a follow-up to Carnegie Mellon launching its Center for Air, Climate and Energy Solutions research facility earlier this year, which was funded under a $10 million EPA grant announced in May.  The facility integrates management of air quality, climate and energy.  It will be used to measure and map air pollutant concentrations across the country to improve the health of vulnerable populations like children, the elderly and those suffering from cardiac, respiratory and other medical conditions.

More information on the STAR grants can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/air-research-grants .

# # #