CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Linn County Public Health has added a new air-quality sensor in Cedar Rapids, expanding the county’s ability to monitor pollutants and alert residents when conditions are unhealthy.
The new device — the third in Linn County — is installed at McKinley STEAM Academy, filling a gap in air-quality coverage in the downtown area. The sensor measures fine particulate matter, including particles small enough to be compared to the width of a human hair. These readings help officials track pollutants such as wildfire smoke when they become trapped near the ground.
Linn County Public Health selected McKinley STEAM Academy to strengthen its partnership with the Cedar Rapids Community School District and increase outreach efforts…