Bearden Middle School Air Monitoring Station, Knoxville, Tennessee

Bearden Middle School is an air monitoring station located at 1000 Francis Road in Knoxville, Tennessee, within the United States. Operated by the Knox County Department of Air Pollution Control, this station is part of the broader network that tracks ambient air quality in the region. The station is classified as an Air Monitoring Station and is currently operational. The station operates under the regulatory framework of the US EPA Air Quality System (AQS), which sets standards for criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. While specific parameters measured at this site are not detailed, typical stations in the Knox County network monitor a subset of these pollutants to ensure compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The station's last reported sample date was December 31, 2020. Bearden Middle School's location in a residential area provides representative data for community exposure assessment. The station supports local air quality management efforts, helping to inform public health advisories and regulatory decisions. Its continued operation contributes to the long-term trend analysis essential for evaluating the effectiveness of air pollution control strategies in the Knoxville metropolitan area.

Knoxville is situated in the Tennessee Valley, where topography and meteorological conditions can contribute to pollutant accumulation, particularly ozone and fine particulate matter. The region has a mix of urban, industrial, and agricultural sources. Air monitoring stations like Bearden Middle School are critical for assessing compliance with NAAQS and for providing data to support air quality forecasting and public health protection. The station's siting in a school setting ensures monitoring in a populated area, representative of typical exposure.