Community Environmental Council receives $300,000 grant to monitor air quality in Guadalupe

GUADALUPE, Calif. – The Community Environmental Council received a $300,000 competitive grant to monitor the air quality, pesticides and wildfire smoke in Guadalupe neighborhoods.

The CEC said the grant was awarded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to implement Assembly Bill 617, which requires the state to support on-the-ground efforts to reduce exposure to pollution and address its underlying causes. 

“Air quality is a big concern, especially because there’s a lot of pesticides that are sprayed in the fields,” said Mireya Piña with the Little House by the Park. 

Concerns about Guadalupe's air quality have been around for years, according to advocates.

Family service center Little House by the Park said the majority who live in the city work in the agriculture fields, and are impacted by pesticides and chemicals while on the job on a daily basis.

“People really do see health impacts. You know, we see cataracts. we see a lot of asthma,” said Piña. “It just worsens the already existing health inequities within this group.”

Some farm workers end up getting sick with cancer and other terminal illnesses, according to advocates. 

“This grant is going to help with allowing people what’s in the air,” said Piña.

A $300,000 grant was given to the Community Environmental Council or CEC to monitor and provide information about the air quality, pesticides, and wildfire smoke.

“We have sensors that will detect a diesel exposure, nitrogen oxides, compounds in the air,” said Alhan Diaz-Correa with CEC. “We are hoping to do some limited soil sampling for pesticides.”

The grant will also be used toward community education as well as have the data accessible in English, Spanish, and Mixteco. Community advocates say some in the City of Guadalupe only speak the indigenous language.

“Hoping to work with the Air Pollution and Control District in this County to incorporate other languages,” said Diaz-Correa. “Especially taking into consideration farm workers.”

The CEC says monitors will be built in the summertime.

The council is still determining the locations, but one of the first will be set up at a school.

“ Hopefully by the school year, we will have a monitor to talk about,” said Diaz-Correa. “And be able to talk about family members, community members.”