We have a data-driven method for placement of air monitors in the Houston area. There may already be air monitors in your neighborhood, please check the dashboard to see if there is one near you.

• If you live in one of our established neighborhoods we may need you.
• If you live in one of our upcoming neighborhoods (Baytown, Channelview, Northeast Houston) please reach out!

Please email [email protected] with your community name in the subject line (ex. Northside – air monitor host).

Get involved in my community:

Gulfton, Pasadena  – email Diamond Pham ([email protected])

Galena Park/Jacinto City, Kashmere Gardens, Near Northside  – email Juan Flores ([email protected]) 

Our Air Quality Ambassadors program gives residents the chance to learn about the technical aspects of air quality including map reading, types of air pollution, and the air monitors, while using their community connections to grow the network and spread information.

We are only onboarding Air Quality Ambassadors for our upcoming C.A.M.P. neighborhoods (Channelview, Baytown, East Houston). If you live in one of these areas, we may need you!

Please email [email protected] with your community name in the subject line (ex. Channelview – Air Quality Ambassador).

The air monitors measure 4 distinct pollutants: Nitrogen Oxides (which include nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide), Ozone, Volatile Organic Compounds, and Particulate Matter.

• Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) are primarily released from vehicular exhaust and burning fossil fuels. Breathing NOx can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, causing coughing, shortness of breath, tiredness, and nausea.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are highly reactive carbon compounds – such as benzene, formaldehyde, ethylene – released by vehicles, industries, and various other chemicals. Breathing VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, causing headaches, difficulty breathing and nausea, and can damage the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, and other organs. Some VOCs can cause cancer.
• Ozone (O3) forms from reactions between NOx and VOCs released by industries, refineries and vehicles, in the presence of heat and sunlight. Breathing ozone can cause chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. Ozone also can reduce lung function and inflame the lining of the lungs.
• Particulate Matter (PM2.5) is a mixture of various particles such as dust, dirt, soot, smoke, or even smaller emitted by industries, vehicles, construction sites, fires, or unpaved roads. Breathing PM2.5 can cause short-term health effects such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. Exposure to fine particles can also affect lung function and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease.

In addition, the monitors also record wind direction, speed, humidity, temperature, and other meteorological readings.

We use a mix of strategically placed air monitors: APIS, PurpleAir, and we’re in trials with QuantAQ.

Current C.A.M.P. communities include: Gulfton, Kashmere Gardens, Near Northside, Galena Park/Jacinto City, and Pasadena.

We’re expanding the network to Baytown, Channelview, and Northeast Houston.

At the beginning of the program, there was an open call for communities to apply to be a part of our C.A.M.P. network. We then considered a variety of pollution sources (TRI facilities, concrete batch plant sites, etc.) and a committee decided on the communities to prioritize for the program.