ST. LOUIS — Taking a deep breath comes at a cost throughout St. Louis, specifically for Black and low-income residents.
The region's residents have long experienced extremely high ozone and particle pollution levels, both of which have previously violated federal health standards. The American Lung Association's most recent "State of Air" report gave numerous areas throughout the region near failing grades, including an "F" grade for St. Charles County, a "D" grade for St. Louis City, a "D" grade for Jefferson County, and a "C" grade for St. Louis County.
A 2019 Washington University Environmental Racism report found Black and low-income residents bear the brunt of the region's unhealthy air quality. The populations face higher levels of premature deaths, heart attacks, and aggravated asthma linked directly to ozone and particle pollution. The elevated levels are mainly caused by systemic issues surrounding poor quality housing, limited access to preventative health care, and a lack of air quality monitors throughout the area.
"The disparities highlighted in this report call for ensuring that all St. Louisans, not only the most privileged, have...sufficient air monitoring stations to ensure clean air and effective air quality management," the report said.
The report was a breath of fresh air to those affected by the region's poor air quality. It was also a wake-up call for churches within the report's most at-risk communities, many of which stepped up to work toward drastically increasing the area's air quality monitoring capability.
Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU), an organization that works with faith leaders and their communities in St. Louis to make public policy changes, led the charge after reading WashU's environmental racism report. Their efforts since have nearly tripled the region's air quality monitoring capabilities.
"It was so apparent to the congregations located in some of the ZIP codes and communities that we needed to do more than just read an article about this," said MCU's Lead Environmental Justice Organizer Beth Gutzler. "When this opportunity came up, it was definitely right on point to the things the congregations had been seeing in their communities regarding members impacted by asthma."
The congregations originally partnered with WashU to establish air quality monitors at churches and local community centers, where they would gather localized air quality data. The data-gathering portion of the research has since ended, and researchers are now looking over the data for a study for possible publication.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: St. Louis churches partner with Washington University for air quality study
After the study ended, the churches had to return their air quality monitors. The taste of activism for the community's good, however, drove churches to seek an alternative way to keep monitoring their congregations' air. MCU and local environmental justice organization Climate Changents gathered funds to buy lower-cost PurpleAir Network monitors for each of the churches that had to return their previous monitors.
"A lot of the faith communities have a teaching for caring for creation," Gutzler said. "Churches were looking for some way to put their faith into action and continue to impact the community."
Entities participating in the air quality monitoring project include:
- Oak Hill Presbyterian Church
- Sacred Heart Valley Park Parish
- St. Elizabeth MOJ & SLCA
- Nernix Catholic High School
- Ethical Society
- St. Joseph Academy
- Jubilee Community Church
- Second Presbyterian
- Blessed Teresa Calcutta School
- MRH Elementary School
- Rustic Roots Sanctuary
- Phi Global Farms
- Sunrise School in Desoto
- St. Ann City Hall
Interested in getting involved with the program? Click here to learn more.