Chicago has deployed the nation's largest community air quality monitoring system with 277 sensors across the city. The network originated from a 2021 civil rights complaint over industrial pollution in minority neighborhoods.
The Open Air Chicago project launched last fall following a 2023 settlement between the city and community groups. It collects real-time data on nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5 at a cost exceeding $4 million through 2030.
University of Illinois Chicago professor Serap Erdal demonstrated a monitor in Grant Park showing an air quality index of 31 on a recent clear day. Most sensors reported similar readings, though one on the South Side indicated higher pollution.
Southeast Environmental Task Force director Oscar Sanchez said the system provides publicly available information so residents are not gaslit about their experiences. The network is expected to run through 2029 and help officials address uneven pollution levels.