From monitoring to mitigating: the role of data in reducing air pollution levels in low- and middle-income countries

Outdoor air pollution is responsible for more than 4 million premature deaths annually, with disproportionate impacts in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the human and economic cost of air pollution, many cities worldwide lack reliable air pollution data, even in regions suspected of having the highest levels of pollution. The publication of air quality information has been widely advocated as a critical step towards reducing pollution and improving public health, as it can raise awareness, drive regulatory action, and empower citizens to demand effective policies.

In practice, China’s extensive Air Quality Monitoring (AQM) campaigns have successfully raised public attention and awareness while reducing pollution levels. Similarly, it is documented that reference-grade monitors at U.S. embassies have led to significant pollution reductions. Despite these examples, we lack a systematic understanding of how AQM campaigns translate into pollution reductions. Notably, the role of ‘low-cost’ sensors -that are cheaper, easier to deploy and maintain and show increasing accuracy to measure air pollution levels- is not yet broadly documented.

This research is a quantitative evaluation of the extent to which reference-grade monitors and low-cost sensors might be associated with reductions in pollution levels. We also explore how socio-economic and political contexts may mediate the effectiveness of AQM, particularly in developing regions where regulatory enforcement and public responsiveness vary. Understanding how AQM in different developing contexts may or may not lead to improved air quality could prove invaluable in designing new successful campaigns without hindering economic development.