Air Quality Articles
Beavers and the Atmosphere: How Dam Building Can Influence Air Quality and Carbon
Beavers influence air quality indirectly by creating wetlands that store carbon, retain moisture, alter methane emissions, and can reduce wildfire severity and the smoke produced by burning landscapes.
When the Bog Burns: How Drying Peatlands Release Centuries of Stored Carbon
Drying peatlands can transform long-term carbon stores into major sources of carbon dioxide and smoke, while fire can release centuries of accumulated carbon in a matter of days or weeks.
A Timeline of New York City Air Quality After 9/11
New York City’s air quality after 9/11 evolved from an intense dust and smoke emergency into months of cleanup-related exposure and years of monitoring, indoor remediation, and health investigation.
Opening the Archive: New York City Releases Long-Withheld 9/11 Air Quality Records
New York City’s release of long-withheld 9/11 air-quality records gives the public new access to environmental data, internal communications, and unanswered questions about how officials managed and disclosed post-attack health risks.
The Lungs’ Tiny Cleaning Crew: How Cilia Protect the Respiratory System
Cilia protect the respiratory system by moving mucus, trapped particles, and microorganisms out of the airways, forming a continuous cleaning system that helps keep the lungs clear.
Wings & Wind: How Butterflies Stay Afloat in the Air
Butterflies depend on clean, stable atmospheric conditions for flight, navigation, feeding, and reproduction, while pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, and excess nitrogen can disrupt both the insects and the plants they rely on.
Markets in the Air: How Commodity Prices and Air Quality Interact
Commodity markets and air quality influence one another through changes in fuel use, agricultural productivity, and environmental rules that reshape demand for cleaner or more polluting materials.
Otters, Urchins, and Carbon: How Sea Otter Recovery Can Help Restore Kelp Forests
Sea otters can help restore kelp forests by reducing sea urchin grazing, increasing coastal carbon capture and strengthening the potential for long-term carbon storage in marine ecosystems.
Rare Earths in the Desert: Air Quality and the Environmental Legacy of California’s Mountain Pass Mine
California’s Mountain Pass rare-earth mine illustrates how mineral extraction and refining can create dust, chemical emissions, and wastewater risks while supplying materials essential to modern electronics and clean-energy technologies.
Air Quality Headlines
Air Quality Alert Affecting Kittitas County Wednesday
Tri-City Herald | 2 September 2026 | Washington officials have issued an air quality alert for Kittitas County as wildfire smoke is expected to push PM2.5 concentrations to unhealthy levels, particularly overnight and during the early morning.
Bellevue Elementary School In Richmond Closes For A Week For Deep Cleaning Amid Air Quality Concerns
WTVR.com | 2 September 2026 | Richmond’s Bellevue Elementary School will close for a week for comprehensive cleaning and remediation as officials investigate possible moisture-related indoor air quality problems and await environmental testing results.
Smoke And Haze Prompt Air Quality Advisory For Bay Area
KALW | 1 September 2026 | Smoke from the Timber and Plaskett wildfires near Big Sur has prompted a Bay Area air quality advisory, with officials warning that shifting conditions could bring unhealthy pollution levels through Tuesday.
Toxic Haze From Indonesian Forest Fires Chokes Malaysian Borneo
Al Jazeera | 1 September 2026 | Smoke from Indonesian forest and peatland fires has pushed air quality to hazardous levels across parts of Malaysian Borneo, increasing respiratory illnesses and disrupting outdoor activities and Independence Day celebrations.
When Water Is Pulled From The Air In Homes, Pollutants Come With It
C&EN - American Chemical Society | 31 August 2026 | New research suggests that indoor air pollutants can contaminate water produced by atmospheric water harvesting devices, raising questions about water quality as the technology expands into homes and buildings.
Classes At ARMS, Chestnut Street Academy, And For All Kindergarteners Begin Monday, Aug. 31
Amherst Indy | 31 August 2026 | Amherst Regional Middle School will reopen after testing found indoor air quality remained in the “Good” range following concerns related to an ongoing roof replacement project.
John H. Kinzie Elementary School In Chicago To Reopen Monday After Repairs For Mold Concerns
CBS News | 30 August 2026 | A Chicago elementary school will reopen after mold remediation and air quality testing cleared the building for occupancy, with new real-time air quality monitoring and moisture-control measures being installed to help prevent future...
Lineage Food Removal Process At Boyle Heights Warehouse Is Completed
CBS News | 30 August 2026 | Cleanup of a fire-damaged cold storage warehouse has reached a major milestone with all decomposing food waste removed, while air pollution controls remain in place as crews complete final cleaning and disinfection.
Worst Day At Work Ever: Semi-Truck Rolls Into Pipeline, Area Ruled No-Fly Zone
The Drive | 29 August 2026 | A construction accident ruptured Wisconsin’s Enbridge Line 5 pipeline and released a large cloud of natural gas, prompting evacuations and emergency air monitoring that found no hazardous gas levels beyond the immediate area.
Flathead Air Quality Monitoring Site Closures Ordered By EPA, DEQ
Daily Interlake | 29 August 2026 | Flathead County will decommission PM10 monitoring stations in Whitefish and Kalispell as Montana shifts resources toward PM2.5 monitoring, despite concerns that relying on a single regional site could reduce local air quality coverage.
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