Introduction

• PM OPERA is a national study investigating the health impacts of air pollution.
• Exposure to outdoor fine particulate air pollution (PM_2.5, particles with aerodynamic diameter <= 2.5 𝜇m) is a leading risk factor for ill health.
• Oxidative stress is an important mechanism explaining air pollution health effects.
• PM_2.5 oxidative potential (PM-OP) quantifies the ability of particles to promote oxidative stress.

Goal of the study

• The objective of PM OPERA is to study how PM-OP may affect cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality in the U.S.
• We aim to deploy and validate a monitoring network to assess ambient PM_2.5 mass, OP, and metals for 2 years (2025-2027) in the 60 most populated cities (120 total locations) across the continental U.S.
• Sites will be selected to capture the national spatial-temporal distribution of PM_2.5 mass concentration, PM_2.5 composition, and relevant population demographics across 60 U.S. cities.

Research institutes and funding sources

• This collaborative effort involves Colorado State University, Yale University, Harvard University, Columbia University, and McGill University in Canada.
• This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH, ES035767).

Call for volunteers

• We are calling for volunteers from U.S. cities (with populations > 100,000) to develop our monitoring network.
• What you will do: Collect an integrated 2-week PM_2.5 filter sample each month using a novel measurement technology (Community Air Monitor, CAM), which is user-friendly, easy to be installed, and can be deployed efficiently at scale.
• Want to learn more? Check out our study flyer for full details.
• Ready to join? Sign up here to participate in this important study.

Community Air Monitor (CAM) collects samples on the fence of a house