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After the sale of the former K-Mart property on Northeast Sandy Boulevard at 122nd Avenue, there is a growing concern within the community regarding the air quality in the area. This particular location is home to three schools situated along the same street. Prologis Inc., a San Francisco-based company specializing in merchandise transportation for major corporations such as Amazon and Home Depot, has proposed repurposing the old building into a warehouse and distribution center. However, this development is expected to result in increased truck traffic, raising concerns about elevated pollution levels in the vicinity.
To address these concerns, Argos Scientific is collaborating with the Parkrose Argay Opportunity Coalition (PAOC) and Parkrose School District to implement an air monitoring program. The objective of this program is to monitor the air quality of the Parkrose-Argay neighborhood before, during, and after the construction of the future distribution center. It involves the operation of various air monitoring systems to measure emissions in the vicinity of the facility. The data collected from these monitoring systems will be made available to the public in real-time. This will enable the local community to monitor pollution levels at all stages of the construction process and potentially utilize the gathered data to advocate for better air quality.
PAOC aims to address the impending pollution challenges posed by the future distribution center. Their collective efforts are focused on combating pollution and safeguarding the Parkrose-Argay community. PAOC advocates for an alternative use of the site that actively serves the already underserved community, aiming to establish a safe and healthy environment for the neighborhood.
Argos Scientific is collaborating with the superintendent of the Parkrose School District to install air monitoring equipment around the three schools neighboring the future distribution center. This initiative ensures the well-being and safety of students, staff, and the surrounding community by measuring pollutants associated with diesel emissions, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, nitric oxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and black carbon. Meteorological data is also collected to aid in identifying emission sources and tracking their impact.
Argos, a highly regarded expert in air quality monitoring worldwide since its establishment in 2006, currently operates fence-line monitoring systems in multiple refineries and manages community monitoring systems in various regions of the country. They contribute to research on state-of-the-art advancements in monitoring technologies, and their commitment lies in providing high-quality data to improve public health worldwide.
