The decision by the U.S. government to stop sharing air quality data gathered by its embassies and consulates has sparked concern among local scientists and experts around the world. This move has raised worries about the impact it may have on global air quality monitoring and public health.
In a response to an inquiry by The Associated Press, the State Department announced on Wednesday that the transmission of air pollution data from embassies and consulates to the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow app and other platforms will no longer continue. This has been attributed to funding constraints, which have caused the department to shut down the underlying network. However, the monitors will continue to run and data sharing may resume if funding is restored. This decision is one of the many budget cuts under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The U.S. air quality monitors are crucial in measuring fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, which can have severe health implications for individuals. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes around 7 million premature deaths each year. The data gathered by these monitors have been reliable and have helped in monitoring air quality around the world, leading to efforts to improve it.
The loss of this valuable data has been met with immediate reactions from scientists, who have worked with this information to understand air quality and push for policy changes. Bhargav Krishna, an air pollution expert at Sustainable Futures Collaborative in New Delhi, stated that the loss of data is a significant blow to air quality research. He explained that these monitors served as a reference point in understanding air quality in developing countries and were seen as a reliable and unbiased source for cross-checking local data.
The impact of this decision is felt not only in developing countries but also in countries like Colombia, where Alejandro Piracoca Mayorga, a freelance air quality consultant, expressed his disappointment. The U.S. embassies and consulates in Lima, Sao Paulo, and Bogota were essential in providing access to independent air quality information for comparison and analysis.
For Khalid Khan, an environmental expert and advocate based in Pakistan, the shutdown of air quality monitoring will have significant consequences. He noted that the monitors in the city of Peshawar, one of the most polluted cities in the world, provided crucial real-time data that assisted policymakers, researchers, and the public in making decisions about their health. Khan also pointed out that the closure of these monitors leaves a critical gap in environmental monitoring, leaving residents without accurate information on hazardous air conditions. This puts vulnerable populations at an even greater risk, as they are the least likely to have access to other reliable sources of data.
The U.S. air quality monitoring program has also had a significant impact in Africa, providing crucial data for over a dozen countries, including Senegal, Nigeria, Chad, and Madagascar. In some of these countries, the U.S. monitors were the only source of air quality data, as many poor countries cannot afford to maintain their monitoring systems. This decision will also affect the World Health Organization’s air quality database, as it heavily relies on data from U.S. embassy monitors in these countries.
Despite the negative implications of this decision, there is hope that it will push countries to start their own air quality research and raise awareness about the issue. In China, for example, data from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing was crucial in revealing the true extent of air pollution, which led to the government taking steps to improve air quality.
In conclusion, the decision by the U.S. government to stop sharing air quality data from its embassies and consulates is a significant setback for global efforts to monitor and improve air quality. It is a loss for scientists, experts, and the public who have relied on this data to understand and address the issue of air pollution. However, it is also a wake-up call for countries to take action and start their own air quality research, as well as a reminder of the importance of investing in environmental monitoring and protection. Let us hope that this decision will be reconsidered, and funding will be restored to continue this vital program.
