Learn more about the air you breathe by viewing Breathe Cam’s high-resolution panoramas of the Pittsburgh region, like this one focused on the North Shore of town. Breathe Cam is available on BreatheProject.org
The Breathe Project is administered by the Air Quality Collaborative, a grantee of The Heinz Endowments. It uses the best available science to promote clean air and inspire healthy communities across southwestern Pennsylvania.
Scientific research has demonstrably shown that Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania are still saddled with dangerous pollutants — among the worst in the country. Allegheny County is one of the only counties in the United States still not in attainment with federal air quality standards. Most of our pollution comes from local industrial sources. And, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, most of our days each year are not good air days.
National health experts say that better air quality is one of the most beneficial and effective ways to improve health. Economic benefits also greatly increase due to reduced health care costs. The good news is that we in the region have the power to make our air much cleaner and healthier. Solutions are well-understood and achievable. Strong enforcement of standards and regulations can lead to large and measurable public health benefits. The Endowments strives to improve air quality through our Breathe Project initiative and active grantmaking to environmental and health groups, community organizations, and academic-medical research institutions.
Learn more at BreatheProject.org. Some of the tools available there include:
Breathe Cam
Learn more about the air you breathe by viewing Breathe Cam’s high-resolution panoramas of the Pittsburgh region. Carnegie Mellon University’s CREATE Lab developed The Heinz Endowments-funded camera system.
Breathe Meter
Pittsburgh’s air ranks among the dirtiest in the nation, and we aren’t improving quickly enough. Compare our air to that of 316 other urban areas.
Pollution Maps
What are you breathing? Maps from Carnegie Mellon University's Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies let you see the air on your street, in your neighborhood and where you work.
