Cause for Concern
Residents of Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay area
of California have long suspected that something in the air
may be affecting their health. But without access to accurate
air quality information, individuals, environmental groups,
government agencies and businesses have had a hard time identifying
specific problems, and acting to solve them. Residents felt
they had the right and responsibility to know what they and
their children were breathing.
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Community Involvement
The Air Toxics Bucket Brigade is a program formed by a broad
partnership of organizations in order to help community members
find out exactly what chemicals are in their air through the
use of some simple technology. Volunteer teams of “sniffers”
and “samplers” use air pumps attached to bags inside
five-gallon buckets to collect air samples whenever people detect
a foul odor in the air. These samples are then tested in laboratories
to determine which toxins were released at what time in what
quantities. The data is compiled into a database that helps
satisfy residents’ right to know what they’re breathing
in.
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Knowledge Is Power
Everyone has a role to play in making sure our air is safe —
citizens, corporations and government. Access to accurate information
about air quality is a necessary part of this process. The Bucket
Brigades have found that businesses and government agencies
are more likely to respond to community concerns when they know
people are organized and aware about exactly what pollutants
their communities are facing. The Bucket Brigades are a great
first step in "taking back your air."
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| More information…
Global
Community Monitor
Find out how to establish an air monitoring program
in your community. This organization goes to all parts of
the world
Bucket
Brigades of Contra Costa County
Get an overview of the Bucket Brigade program, as well as
access to their database on chemical releases in the area.
Bucket
Brigade Quality Assurance Program Plan
Find out the steps the Bucket Brigade has taken to make sure
their data is accurate and reliable.
EMPACT
Technology Transfer
Discover ways your community can start an air quality-monitoring
program, with these helpful how-to manuals from the Environmental
Protection Agency.
Scorecard
Investigate how different forms of pollution are effecting
your community using a variety of environmental maps.
Communities
for a Better Environment
How other communities are using air quality monitoring to
help improve quality-of-life in their neighborhoods.
ConocoPhillips
Refinery Air Quality Data
View air toxics monitoring data from optical monitors at an
oil refinery in Rodeo, California.
Refinery
Reform Campaign
A national campaign seeking to clean up America's oil refineries
and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
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The videos on this site are part of an hour long
video produced by the Environmental Fund for Pennsylvania/GreenWorks
for the Environmental Protection Agency's EMPACT Program. To
get a copy of the entire video, contact EFP/GreenWorks at talktous@greenworks.tv.
Learn more about our Outreach Efforts for this production. Email
us at scarson@greenworks.tv. |
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