The first look at data collected by a group of southwest Memphis residents to track air pollution revealed something alarming: Toxic chemicals hang in the air during all hours of the day, according to an analysis conducted by a Washington, D.C.-based environmental group.
Vehicle traffic during some busy hours of the day often contributes to elevated levels of pollution. Once rush hour ends, pollution levels typically fall.
But researchers found that for at least one harmful substance — particle pollution — the levels of detection remained higher than what’s allowed by federal law, all day…