"Clouds settle low in the sky as dusk sets in across Pajaro Valley. Fields of strawberries stretch out as far as the eye can see, catching the last amber rays of the day. In the distance, the twin stacks of Moss Landing Power Plant sit among factories pushing plumes of smoke into the air. On the exterior wall of a house in Castroville, a newly installed sensor glows green with an important message: It's safe to go outside."
"For Maribel Martínez, a farmworker and mother living here, the information is crucial. Two of her children have asthma, and knowing when the air is hazardous to breathe is important for protecting their health. "I always tell them to check the monitor before going out," she said. "They know that if the monitor is red, we don't go outside. We close the doors and shut the windows.""
Pajaro Valley residents and farmworkers confront air pollution from nearby industrial sources and regional smoke while working long hours in fields. Community-installed air sensors provide real-time alerts that help families avoid hazardous outdoor air and protect children with asthma. UC Santa Cruz scientists are deploying additional monitors and drones to map pollution exposures and identify when and where farmworkers face the highest risk. Farmworkers already contend with extreme heat and pesticide exposure, and early work hours intended to reduce heat exposure can increase contact with polluted air. PM2.5 particles can penetrate deep into lungs and worsen respiratory and cardiovascular illness.
Read at The Mercury News
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