In 2023, the City of Madison launched a three-year project to better understand and improve air quality across the city. This work is being done in partnership with:
UW–Madison
Public Health Madison & Dane County
The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness
The Hmong Institute
Latino Health Council
Madison is one of just three cities in Wisconsin selected to expand local air quality monitoring as part of this effort. The project is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Together, we’re working to collect local air quality data and make sure more communities — especially those most impacted — are included in the conversation. At the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, we’re using culturally rooted, community-led strategies to share information, listen to feedback, and help ensure that this work reflects the voices and needs of Black women and families.
This page is especially for Black women and families in Madison, Dane County, throughout the state and nation. We created it to help you learn more about how air quality affects your health — and what you can do to stay safe and get involved.
Air quality refers to the condition of the air we breathe—specifically how much pollution it contains. Poor air quality can increase the risk of breathing problems, heart disease, and other health issues, especially for vulnerable groups like pregnant women, children, and elders.
The air we breathe isn’t always clean. It can contain tiny particles called particulate matter (PM) — a mix of dust, dirt, smoke, and other pollution. These particles are so small that we can breathe them deep into our lungs, which can harm our health over time.
Air pollution doesn’t affect everyone equally. Research shows that people of color, low-income communities, and other vulnerable groups are more likely to live in areas with higher levels of air pollution. This puts them at greater risk for serious health problems like asthma, heart disease, and other chronic conditions.
Clean air is essential for healthy people and a healthy planet — and protecting it is a matter of environmental and racial justice.
Negative health risks associated with hazardous particulate matter include damage to the heart and lungs. Air pollution exposure has been linked to:
Early death in people with heart or lung disease.
Irregular heartbeat.
Decreased lung function.
Increased issues like troubled breathing.
Particulate matter pollution also has significant links to negative environmental and natural resources. Pollutants environmental damage impacts include:
Increased incidents of haze.
Increased acidity of lakes.
Damage to food crops and forests.
Source Health and Environmental Effects of Particulate Matter (PM) | US EPA. See US EPA for a full list of negative effects.
Clean air is important for everyone — but especially for people who are pregnant and for babies. Breathing polluted air during pregnancy can harm both the pregnant person and the baby in ways that last a lifetime.
Air pollution has been linked to:
Low birth weight – When pregnant people breathe polluted air, it can affect the baby’s growth, leading to babies being born too small or too early.
Breathing problems in babies – Babies who are exposed to polluted air, both during pregnancy and after birth, are more likely to have breathing problems or develop asthma.
High blood pressure during pregnancy – Air pollution may increase the risk of pregnancy-related conditions like high blood pressure and preeclampsia, which can be dangerous for both parent and baby.
Weaker immune support in breast milk – Some studies show that air pollution may lower the level of protective antibodies in breast milk, which help keep babies healthy.
Higher risk of preterm birth – Poor air quality is linked to babies being born too early, which can lead to more health problems in the first months and years of life.
Black women already face higher risks during pregnancy and childbirth because of stress, racism, and unequal access to care. When air quality is poor, these risks get even worse. Everyone deserves clean air — especially during the critical time of pregnancy and early life.
Breathing dirty air doesn’t just make it harder to breathe — it can also lead to serious health problems that last a long time. These are called chronic diseases. Poor air quality is linked to many of the same health conditions that affect Black women at higher rates.
Heart disease:
Polluted air can cause inflammation (the body’s way of reacting to something harmful – like pollution) in the body and damage blood vessels, which can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Black women are more likely to die from heart disease than any other group of women in the U.S., and air pollution adds to that risk.
Asthma and other breathing problems:
Breathing in dirty air — especially near highways or factories — can trigger asthma attacks and make it harder to manage.
Poor air quality also puts children at risk for developing asthma, continuing a cycle of poor health.
Black women are more likely to have asthma and often have more severe symptoms.
diabetes:
New research shows that breathing polluted air over time may increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
For people already living with diabetes, poor air quality can make it harder to stay healthy and avoid complications.
Many Black women live in neighborhoods with more air pollution because of how cities have been built and where industries are located. This is not by accident — it’s the result of decades of policies that have ignored the likely impacts on our communities, creating and causing real harm to them.
Clean air is a basic need. It’s about fairness, safety, and protecting the health of Black women, families, and future generations.
Air quality is measured by the Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI is a simple number that tells you how clean or dirty the air is—ranging from 0 (good) to 500 (hazardous). The daily AQI, along with a simple chart, can help you know what to do when the air quality is not good.
Air Quality Index Table
Stay indoors: Try to spend less time outside when the AQI is high. We know being outside is how many of us unwind and feel joy — but on high pollution days, it’s safer to limit time outdoors. Try creating a calming space indoors with air filters, plants, and good vibes.
Wear a mask: If you must go out, using a mask can help reduce the amount of pollution you breathe in.
Act quickly: If you have trouble breathing or notice worsening symptoms, seek medical help right away.
Get alerts: Sign up for free air quality alerts via text or email to keep informed about daily conditions.
Air cleaning options:
Look for local groups that offer low-cost or free air purifiers.
Use an air purifier at home to help remove pollutants from the air.
Keep your home sealed: Close your windows to keep polluted air out.
Avoid indoor pollutants: Do not burn candles or wood, as this can create more indoor air pollution.
For more information and helpful tips, check out the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Air Quality Resources.
There are many ways to stay connected and take action:
Learn more about air quality, share your voice, and connect with others working to protect our health and environment.
Stay up to date with upcoming events, resources, and ways to get involved.
Talk with your family, friends, and neighbors about why air quality matters and how it affects our health — especially in Black and other communities of color.
Help children, families, and community members of all ages understand how air pollution affects our lungs — and why clean air matters for our health. This hands-on activity uses simple materials to show how tiny particles (like smoke and dust) can build up in the lungs over time.
Lung Activity Worksheet (or draw your own)
Glue stick
Fake "particulate matter" – try using flour, sand, biodegradable glitter, or other small, dry materials
Print the Lung Activity Worksheet.
One side has simple facts about air quality and particulate matter. The other side shows a lung outline.
Make the lung sticky.
Use a glue stick or another tacky substance to cover the lung area. This will help the “particles” stick.
Add the fake particles by blowing them onto the lung.
Hold some flour, sand, biodegradable glitter, or other small materials near your mouth and gently blow them onto the sticky lung. Try blowing from different distances and with different strengths to see how particles move and stick — just like breathing in polluted air.
Talk about it and share your results!
Use this activity to learn and discuss how air pollution affects our lungs and why clean air matters. Take photos or videos of your lung activity and share them on social media.
Tag The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness on Facebook or @theFFBWW on Instagram and use the hashtags: #AirQualityMatters #TheFFBWW #WellBlackWoman #BreatheEasyMadison
It’s a fun and powerful way to spark conversation and learning at home, in classrooms, or at community events.
