Air Quality

Citizen's Air Monitoring Program
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News Articles
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Citizen's Air Monitoring Program
United Mountain Defense is working in conjunction with the Tennessee Coal Ash Survivors Network (TCASN) and the Global Community Monitor (GCM) to run a citizen’s air monitoring program at the TVA disaster site in Roane County, TN.

Global Community Monitor is an international environmental justice and human rights nonprofit that provides hands-on tools for impacted communities to monitor their own neighborhoods. GCM builds on successful strategies used to hold major corporations accountable in the U.S and throughout the world. Through GCM, local community struggles are linked and their efforts multiplied.

In January 2009 residents in Roane County living near the disaster site were reporting health concerns and increasing respiratory problems. Many people devastated by the TVA disaster were seeking medical advice and some doctors began distributing evacuation notices. In addition to increased medical symptoms, many were beginning to notice a buildup of dust in and around their homes. It was in response to these concerns that the citizen’s air monitoring program was initiated.

At the end of January member of United Mountain Defense and the Tennessee Coal Ash Survivors Network received training from the Global Community Monitor on how to develop and implement a citizen’s air monitoring program. The training included tutorials on quality assurance/ quality control, completing air impact log sheets, selecting monitor locations using EPA site criteria and proper use of air monitoring equipment.

Seven different heavy metals and particulate are being tested for through the air monitoring program. TVA’s Toxic Release Inventory for the Kingston Coal Plant and previous independent monitoring that occurred at the disaster site helped determined which metals to test for.

The digital air monitors being used are portable particulate monitors developed by the Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority in conjunction with the US EPA.  The devices were developed to address the need for portable, ambient air sampling.  These air monitors mimic the human breathing pattern for air intake and test a specific location for 24 hours.  Such monitors are user friendly and are used by the EPA. All samples are sent to a certified laboratory for analysis using a chain of custody form.

It makes sense to monitor the air quality around the TVA disaster site since United Mountain Defense has found coal fly ash toxins while conducting water testing, coal ash testing and biological medical testing. The community of Roane County deserves to have unbiased independent air monitoring to provide information about the quality of their air.

All air monitoring data is open source and will be provided to the Roane County community first and then posted on this website and shared with any interested party.

Resources

Global Community Monitor


News Articles

Tennessee residents begin independent air monitoring at TVA coal ash disaster site. March 3, 2009

Environmentalists question fly ash cloud - prepare to test the air themselves
February 4, 2009 WATE Channel 6

Videos

TVA Trucks Tracking Coal Ash - April 5, 2009


TVA Coal Ash Dust Storm – February 3, 2009