VSU Research To Reveal Impact Of Heat And Air Quality In Local Communities

A University research project using PurpleAir monitors is equipping students with valuable data skills while benefiting the local community.

Not everyone thinks about the health risks associated with the temperature and air quality before going outside. However, for Virginia State University Biology Assistant Professor Dr. Matthew Whalen and some of his students, learning more about the temperature and local air that people breathe every day is an integral part of an important project that aims to increase health information available to VSU and the surrounding community.

Shortly before arriving at VSU in 2023, Dr. Whalen learned that his colleagues were participating in a Collaborative Heat Watch Research Project, which collects detailed temperature data across Virginia to identify urban heat islands. As part of the project, a temperature snapshot was taken in downtown Petersburg, revealing significant variations between neighborhoods.

This data immediately intrigued Dr. Whalen, sparking his interest in how it could highlight critical issues related to urban heat islands and air quality.

Urban heat islands are metropolitan areas with much higher temperatures than their surrounding rural areas. According to the independent nonprofit research institution Resources for the Future, urban heat islands are increasingly concerning in an era of urbanization and climate change.

"I just became hooked on this data telling me more about the city in which I live and, hopefully, being able to communicate that information out to the public," said Whalen. "Petersburg has been ranked at the very bottom of all municipalities across the Commonwealth in terms of life expectancy multiple times in recent years. Several factors could contribute to that, but I think we need to make people aware of the environment and how that affects our health."

Inspired by the Heat Watch Project, Dr. Whalen expanded the research to include long-term data collection on temperature and air quality in Petersburg. With the support of two VSU Faculty Service-Learning Mini-Grants, totaling nearly $3,500, he purchased air quality monitors developed by PurpleAir.

The PurpleAir monitors measure the temperature and humidity every 10 minutes while simultaneously measuring real-time particle matter concentrations (PM2.5) to collect hyper-local air quality data. Dr. Whalen, in collaboration with Petersburg’s Information Technology Department, installed the first monitor in downtown Petersburg, with another in the Walnut Hill neighborhood. Soon, his fleet of seven PurpleAir monitors will be deployed across the community.

Realizing that managing the monitors was too much for one person, Dr. Whalen turned to his students. He transformed the project into both a learning experience and a paid opportunity.

Jazlyn Howell is a junior at VSU, double majoring in biology and chemistry. In 2023, she completed a paid summer internship with Dr. Whalen. Howell believes that working with the PurpleAir monitors enhanced her educational journey by teaching her valuable skills in data collection and analysis.

“As a biology and chemistry major or any type of major that requires a lot of research, it's really important to have knowledge and skills in data analysis," said Howell. "I don't know if I would have gotten this opportunity anywhere else, so I am very thankful to be at a place like VSU where these types of opportunities are available to students."

Data collected from the PurpleAir Monitors feeds into a larger network, allowing Dr. Whalen and his students to compare it to other localities in Virginia and the rest of the country.

Howell believes that this data will be helpful to her fellow classmates as poor air quality can have a negative impact on those with existing health problems. However, Howell stated that increased awareness will help students know when to take proper precautions.

"For students with health risks like asthma or other respiratory issues, poor air quality could make their symptoms worse," she said. "Fortunately, if they know the air quality is bad using data from the PurpleAir monitors, they will know when it is better to stay indoors or when to wear a mask."

Dr. Whalen also wants the surrounding community to be aware of the PurpleAir monitors and how they can use them to their benefit. Not only can they use them for the air quality, but they can also look up the temperature using the monitors, which provide more accurate readings.

"In downtown Petersburg, it can be hotter than what the forecast says or what the weather app on your phone says," said Whalen. "During the summer, we experienced heat waves and the sensors were able to capture that."

Heat waves have been an issue in Petersburg for years. Every summer, the city opens up stations where the public can escape the high temperatures and cool down. Dr. Whalen said this is partly due to the amount of pavement and the number of brick buildings. These materials are known for absorbing a lot of heat and then radiating it out, which can lead to higher temperatures.

Dr. Whalen said he doesn't want to use the data to paint a gloomy picture of the surrounding environment. Instead, he wants to spread awareness.

"I really just want people to be able to access this data, so if it's really hot downtown, they know to avoid that area. Or if there was a fire and the air quality is really bad, they are aware of that and can take precautions," he said.

The National Weather Service estimates that poor air quality is responsible for more than 100,000 premature deaths in the United States each year. Additionally, the Virginia Department of Health reported that 3,191 Virginia residents have been treated for heat-related illnesses in 2024.

Dr. Whalen says one of the best ways to combat these issues is to plant more trees. Trees can be a great way to alleviate concerns associated with urban heat islands and poor air quality, as they provide shade and help remove pollutants from the air.

Moving forward, Dr. Whalen plans to continue to involve students with the project and collaborate with the City of Petersburg to identify issues and potential solutions. Dr. Whalen’s work highlights VSU’s commitment to offering transformative educational opportunities to its students while fostering strong ties with the surrounding community.

For anyone interested in accessing real-time information from the PurpleAir monitors in Petersburg and around the state and country, you can visit https://map.purpleair.com/1/mTEMP/a10/p604800/cC0#11.92/37.21621/-77.40919.