Philadelphia Launches Expansive Air Pollution Monitoring Network

76 new sensors will provide real-time air quality data to residents across the city

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The city of Philadelphia has installed a network of 76 new air pollution sensors throughout the city to provide hourly updates on air quality. The new Breathe Philly website will make this data publicly available, allowing residents to make informed decisions about outdoor activity during air quality emergencies. The expanded monitoring aims to better detect pollution incidents and identify disparities in air quality between neighborhoods.

Why it matters

The new air monitoring network will give Philadelphia residents more timely and granular data on air pollution levels, empowering them to protect their health. It will also help the city respond more effectively to air quality crises, unlike past incidents where official guidance did not align with visible pollution levels.

The details

The 76 new air quality sensors will provide hourly updates to the new Breathe Philly website, giving residents real-time information on pollution levels. This data will inform the city's public health messaging during emergencies, such as the 2023 Canadian wildfire smoke event. The expanded monitoring is also intended to better detect pollution from incidents like the 2019 Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery explosion, where official assessments did not match visible plumes of smoke. While the new monitors won't capture all pollutants, the city hopes the hyperlocal data will reveal disparities in air quality between neighborhoods.

  • The new air monitoring network was installed and launched in February 2026.
  • In 2023, Canadian wildfire smoke blanketed Philadelphia, prompting the city to provide delayed public health guidance.

The players

Breathe Philly

A new website that will provide hourly updates on air quality data from the 76 new sensors installed across Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Energy Solutions

An oil refinery in South Philadelphia that experienced a series of explosions in 2019, prompting concerns about the city's air quality monitoring capabilities.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Knowledge is power”

— Swati Raval-Nelson, Philadelphia public health official (whyy.org)

“If someone lives in an intersection where there's lots of idling cars, their air pollution may be significantly worse than someone living a few blocks away.”

— Alexa Howarth, Environmental advocate (whyy.org)

What’s next

The city plans to use the new air quality data to inform public health guidance and identify areas that may require additional environmental remediation efforts.

The takeaway

Philadelphia's investment in a comprehensive air pollution monitoring network empowers residents to make informed decisions about their health and holds the city accountable for addressing disparities in environmental quality across neighborhoods.