New monitoring network rushes out live AQ data for LA residents

A new air quality monitoring network in the US is hurriedly making data available to the public as a result of the Los Angeles wildfires.

The Atmospheric Science and Chemistry Measurement Network  (ASCENT) was set up in the United States last year, to provide real-time measurements of a variety of pollutants  contained within particulate matter.

The network is made up of technologically advanced measurement stations across the country, which started sampling in May 2024. While it was always the intention to create an open and free database accessible to the public, systems are not yet in place to do so.

Appreciating that special circumstances demand special  measures, the team behind the project has moved quickly to make selected preliminary real-time data available, so the public can be better informed of potential air quality dangers. The are aided in this by the fact that three of the 12 sites are located in southern California: Pico Rivera, Rubidoux, and Joshua Tree National Park.

The state of the air quality in Los Angeles has been called ‘the disaster after the disaster’ as people voice concern with what is actually contained in the smoke and ash that has blown across the city.

Roya Bahreini, UC Riverside professor of atmospheric science and co-principal investigator of the ASCENT project said: ‘Some of what was released into the atmosphere during the LA fires is merely irritating to the eyes or lungs, while some of it could be toxic or carcinogenic. As the Santa Ana winds continue to blow and increase fire danger, we felt it was important for people to see the impact in their neighborhoods.’

Measurements taken at the Pico Rivera site during the Eaton Fire found that PM2.5 contained significantly elevated levels of chlorine, bromine and lead and ASCENT’s new data dashboard provides information on the concentration all three of those elements.

Levels of lead reached 472 ng/m³, which is more than five times the EPA’s safe three month rolling average of 150 ng/m³.

Chlorine – commonly found in PVC piping and insulation for wires – was measured at 13,000 ng/m³, compared to the usual background level of around 50 ng/m³.

Bahreini explained: ‘We think these chemicals are being emitted as structures and household materials like carpets, furniture, electronics, piping, cars are burning.

‘If you go out there without a mask during the peak of a fire, you’re probably getting a good dose of lead, and other chemicals as well.’

ASCENT warn those accessing  their data that they are preliminary, and have not been fully quality checked. They also emphasise that windblown ash particles may be too large to be detected by their instruments and not reflected in the levels displayed