Near Road (Moved from Providence; Par/Hayes) Air Monitoring Station, Cranston, Rhode Island

Near road (moved from Providence; Par/Hayes) is an air monitoring station located on Wellington Ave in Cranston, Rhode Island, United States. It is operated by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and Department of Health (DOH), and is part of the US EPA Air Quality System (AQS) network. The station is classified as a near-road monitoring site, originally moved from Providence, and is currently operational. The station operates under the US EPA's ambient air quality monitoring framework, which includes criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. As a near-road site, it is specifically designed to measure pollutant concentrations near major roadways, providing data on traffic-related air pollution. The last reported sample date is August 31, 2025, indicating recent and ongoing data collection. This monitoring station plays a critical role in assessing air quality in the Providence metropolitan area, particularly for populations living near highways. The data collected supports regulatory compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and informs public health advisories. Its location in Cranston, a city with mixed industrial and residential zones, helps characterize local air pollution exposure and trends.

The station's near-road siting is representative of traffic-related air pollution, which is a key concern in urban areas like Cranston. It measures criteria pollutants that are regulated under the Clean Air Act, with data reported to the EPA AQS. The station's location near Wellington Ave captures emissions from vehicles, contributing to understanding of local air quality dynamics. Rhode Island's air monitoring network includes several such sites to assess compliance with NAAQS and support health-based regulations.