Memphis Invests $250K in Community-Led Air Monitoring Network Amid Pollution Concerns

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Published on July 3, 2025

Amid growing concerns over industrial pollution and gaps in official testing, Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP) has announced a $250,000 investment to deploy a local air quality monitoring network. The initiative, carried out in partnership with the Maryland-based Center for Engagement, Environmental Justice and Health (CEEJH), will install nine advanced sensors throughout Memphis to continuously measure pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone, and fine particulate matter—common byproducts of gas turbines, heavy traffic, and manufacturing operations.

The new network will include six PurpleAir monitors, known for detecting fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and three QuantAQ MODULAIR sensors capable of monitoring additional pollutants, including ozone. Data from the PurpleAir devices will be available through an interactive online map, while MCAP and CEEJH plan to make data from the MODULAIR devices publicly accessible as well.

The rollout follows criticism of a recent city-led study that measured air quality at only three sites and over a limited two-day period, without testing for ozone. In contrast, MCAP’s network will offer continuous monitoring and include community science workshops to train residents in interpreting air quality data. The sensors will also integrate wind speed and direction to help identify pollution sources. Initial calibration will take place at an EPA-approved monitoring site at Shelby Farms, with full deployment expected after August. Sensor locations are still being finalized.

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