Breathe Right – Air Monitoring Program
Since 2023, the Overbrook Environmental Education Center (OEEC) has led the Breathe Right Community Air Monitoring Project, funded by an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant and in collaboration with Villanova University and Drexel University’s Academy of Natural Sciences. Key partners include Dr. Kabindra Shakya and Charles Sylvester from Villanova, and Dr. Alexis Schulman, Andrew Kleiner, Arthi Sivendra, Zoe Kerrich, and Roland Wall from Drexel. The project is designed to increase community knowledge and data transparency around air quality in West Philadelphia, particularly in the 19104, 19131, 19139, and 19151 zip codes – areas historically impacted by environmental and economic inequities tied to pollution. OEEC also meets frequently with Clean Air Council, Interpret Green (A Smart Collaboration), and Philly Thrive, the other Philadelphia-based awardees of this particular EPA grant.
According to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s 2019 report Close to Home, Overbrook ranks 38th out of 46 communities for overall health outcomes. Despite this, there are currently no official EPA air monitors located in residential West Philadelphia, meaning the Air Quality Index (AQI) provided by the EPA may not accurately reflect the daily reality for residents. To address this gap, OEEC’s program deploys both digital and passive air monitors that are hosted by residents, community organizations, and local institutions. This provides a more detailed and community-centered picture of the environmental conditions that affect health, quality of life, and long-term neighborhood sustainability.
In the final phase of this project, OEEC worked with Public Health Management Corporation on the assessment and evaluation of the participants’ experiences with the project. One finding shows that 73% of respondents reported increased interest in environmental issues after hosting air monitors. The Breathe Right project not only generated valuable data, but also built awareness of environmental issues and empowered West Philadelphia residents to advocate for cleaner, healthier air.
