GREEN LIGHT
Air Quality Awareness Week
By Natalie Bencivenga
April 22, 2025
Air Quality Awareness Week | May 5-9, 2025 | #AQAW2025
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Take a deep breath. Ground your body and your mind. What are you grateful for? Sometimes I like to do this exercise when the world feels overwhelming or I’m having a challenging moment in my day. It’s easy to take for granted the air we breathe, especially since Pittsburgh’s air quality has changed so much in our lifetimes.
I remember my grandma telling me stories of when she worked as a secretary in the Nabisco building in East Liberty in the 1940s. She would ride the streetcar and bring a different blouse to change into at the office because by the time she got to work, her blouse would be black from the soot in the air. Pittsburgh – you’ve come a long way since then.
It is important to remember that while the smog and soot may have lifted from the air in our region, we are still experiencing hazards in the form of particulate matter that have accumulated due to fracking and other plastics manufacturers being around us.
During Air Quality Awareness week, let’s pause to see how we can work to create a healthier environment for all the people, animals and plants who inhabit this region.
But first, a few things to note:
What is particulate matter
Particulate matter (PM) refers to tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. These particles vary in size, shape, and chemical composition, and some are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs.
Where does particulate matter come from?
PM can originate from sources like combustion, industrial processes, agriculture, construction and natural events like wildfires.
How does it impact our health?
PM can cause respiratory issues, cardiovascular issues and has been linked to shortened lifespans, especially for people with underlying heart or lung conditions.
And while systemic issues can seem overwhelming, there are plenty of ways to plug into local organizations so that we can create a healthier environment for all of us in Pennsylvania … not just during Air Quality Awareness Week, but all year long!
Check out:
Penn Future
Since 1998, PennFuture has combined legislative advocacy and legal enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels, educational outreach, and civic engagement support for just and equitable environmental outcomes that improve the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians.
Clean Air Council
The Council is Philadelphia’s oldest environmental non-profit. Founded before the EPA, before Earth Day, and before the modern Clean Air Act, this organization has been fighting for everyone’s right to breathe clean air since 1967. It focuses on the issues most relevant to the region, so programs are always changing.
Sierra Club PA
The Sierra Club works to ensure that local residents are aware of the quality of air they breathe. The organization supports volunteers working to find locations and secure consent for air monitoring stations and help fund the installation of monitors where none are currently sited. It tracks PA and national legislation that affects air quality while working to increase the web available air monitoring network in PA and much more!
GASP Pgh
The Group Against Smog and Pollution was founded in 1969 by volunteers concerned about air quality in southwestern Pennsylvania. Since then, GASP has worked tirelessly to explain and combat our air quality problems through public meetings, engagement with the press, educational events, permit reviews, and many other means.
Breathe Project
Breathe Project is a clearinghouse for information on air quality in Pittsburgh, Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond. They use the best available science and technology to better understand the quality of the air we breathe and provide opportunities for citizens to engage and take action. The organization also has a Collaborative: A coalition of citizens, environmental advocates, public health professionals and academics work to improve air quality, eliminate climate pollution and make our region a healthy and prosperous place to live. The Collaborative powers the Breathe Project through science-based work and a community outreach platform.
Clean air is a human right and something that we must all work towards so that we can breathe a little easier not just today – but for generations to come.
Natalie Bencivenga
Natalie Bencivenga is an award-winning journalist and media consultant. Check out her collaborations with Pennsylvania Capital-Star: The Week in Focus and with PublicSoure: Just the Source. She has a new newsletter: Facts Over Fear on Substack so subscribe and get into good trouble.
She's a vegan-enthusiast, Real Housewives addict and hopes to someday stand on her head during yoga. Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and Facebook: @nataliebencivenga
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