(Mumbai; July 2, 2019)
In a first for Maharashtra, the United States Consulate General in Mumbai, in partnership with Indian manufacturer Urban Sciences, officially launched a scientific project to study the reliability of low-cost air monitors.
The Consulate recently invited startup companies manufacturing low-cost air quality sensors to co-locate their devices with the Consulate’s monitor to encourage transparency in air quality reporting and to further research into developing accurate, low-cost air monitors. The U.S. Consulate General is home to the only reference-grade beta attenuation monitor (BAM) approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and among the most accurate air monitors in all of India. Since then, two low-cost Atmos sensors, produced by Urban Sciences, an Indian startup and recipient of funding from the U.S.-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund, have been co-located with the Consulate’s monitor and are already producing results.
Acting Consul General Jennifer Larson noted, “The co-location of the low-cost sensor with our reference-grade beta-attenuation monitor (BAM) at the U.S. Consulate General Mumbai will bolster confidence in the accuracy and transparency of air quality data, and draw attention to a critical public health issue.” She also gave credit to efforts already underway in India, stating, “We congratulate the good work of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board in understanding, monitoring, and mitigating the problem of air pollution in Maharashtra. Air quality is a high priority for the U.S. Department of State and we look forward to continuing our partnership with public and private players on this topic.”
Urban Sciences Founder Ronk Sutaria said, “The co-location deployment with the U.S. EPA-approved monitors at the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai is providing important assistance for the long-term science and technology research.” He added, “This is a key step for the democratization of air quality data for individuals, as well as policy makers.”
For further information, please contact the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate general Mumbai at MumbaiPublicAffairs@state.gov
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