Through El Aire Que Respiramos, Latino-serving churches in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Commerce, Indio, San Jacinto, and La Mirada measured PM2.5—microscopic air-borne pollutants that can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream and directly contribute to asthma, lung cancer, stroke, neurological disorders, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and prenatal development impairment and low birth weight—using PurpleAir PA-II-SD sensors. 

Using the data collected as real-time evidence of air pollution, air quality monitoring site managers have become educators and advocates—raising awareness among their congregations and broader communities, hosting community workshops, roundtable discussions, and informational events, speaking at public forums, providing public comments, and meeting with local and federal officials to discuss air quality concerns. These efforts have inspired residents to become more civically engaged and to advocate directly to their representatives for cleaner, healthier air.

“Community science is a powerful tool for advocacy,” said Hilda Berganza, Climate Program Manager at Hispanic Access Foundation. “By equipping Latino communities with the tools, knowledge, and resources to measure their own air quality, we’re not just collecting data—we’re building resilience, agency, and lasting change.”

The program measured air quality from January 1 to December 31, 2024, revealing varying levels of pollution exposure. San Bernardino and La Mirada recorded annual PM2.5 averages of 11.0 µg/m³ and 11.6 µg/m³, above the EPA’s clean air standard of 9 µg/m³, while Indio and San Jacinto remained within average safe limits of 7.4 µg/m³ and 7.3 µg/m³ for most of the year. Two sites, Los Angeles and Commerce, had incomplete data due to WiFi interruptions or sensor replacements, but still offered vital information about the air they breathe and strengthened their capacity to engage in clean air advocacy.

These results paint a complex picture: some communities are beginning to see the benefits of cleaner air thanks to years of advocacy and enforcement of the Clean Air Act, while others, like San Bernardino, continue to face persistent exposure from traffic and trapped pollutants. Seasonal variations suggest that wildfire smoke also contributes to short-term pollution spikes, a growing concern for California’s Latino families who often live and work in high-risk regions.

“PM2.5 might be really tiny, but it’s making a huge impact on a lot of people,” said Eileen Miranda, air quality site manager at La Mirada, California. “It’s a pollutant we shouldn’t be breathing, and it’s very important to me to see what we can do—whatever steps we can take—so our families don’t get sick.”

California is one of several states participating in El Aire Que Respiramos, alongside sites in Texas, Idaho, Illinois, and Nevada. The program not only generates local data but also builds national awareness about the inequitable burden of air pollution on Latino communities. Building on this success, El Aire Que Respiramos continues to collect data for 2025. By bringing together science, community experience, and education, the initiative is helping lay the groundwork for more informed, resilient, and proactive Latino communities across California.

To learn more about El Aire Que Respiramos and the Hispanic Access Foundation’s work to ensure equitable access to clean air, visit www.hispanicaccess.org.