Air Program
Pala Environmental Department’s Air Program includes sampling for dust particles, ozone, lead, and other air pollutants. We operate and maintain two air monitoring stations, which include managing our air quality database and developing and updating our air quality project plans and standard operating procedures.
The Air Program is also responsible for developing our Air Quality Index (AQI) and for conducting all Indoor Air Quality Assessments (IAQA) on the Reservation. The IAQA includes testing for mold, carbon dioxide, radon, and particulate matter. Indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than ambient (outdoor) air. Because most people spend most of their time indoors, it is essential to understand the different sources and the steps you can take to improve the quality of the indoor air you breathe. The AQI is a tool we use to report our outdoor air quality readings to the Pala community. It tells us how clean or polluted the air is and what associated health effects might be a concern during times of poor air quality.