This US neighborhood is full of hazardous air pollution. Can a network of sensors make ‘the invisible visible’?
Residents in Pacoima, California, are utilizing a network of hyperlocal air quality sensors to monitor hazardous pollution levels. This community-led initiative aims to provide real-time data in an area heavily impacted by industrial activity.
Why it matters
Citizen science projects empower marginalized communities to advocate for environmental justice and health policy changes.
Shance Taylor makes adjustments to an air sensor in Pacoima, California, on 17 March 2026. Photograph: Thalia Juarez/The Guardian View image in fullscreen Shance Taylor makes adjustments to an air sensor in Pacoima, California, on 17 March 2026. Photograph: Thalia Juarez/The Guardian California This US neighborhood is full of hazardous air pollution. Can a network of sensors make ‘the invisible visible’? Pacoima is hemmed in by highways and heavy industry, and its residents are fighting pollution with hyperlocal air quality monitoring
The framing emphasizes environmental justice and the struggles of a working-class community against industrial pollution.
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