Penn State Air Monitoring Station - Pennsylvania Furnace, Pennsylvania

Penn State Air Monitoring Station is located at 1366 Tadpole Rd, Pennsylvania Furnace, Pennsylvania, within Centre County. As an Air Monitoring Station, it is part of the broader network of ambient air quality monitoring sites that support regulatory compliance and public health protection in the United States. The station operates under the oversight of Mactec, Inc., which handles reporting. While specific parameters measured are not detailed, typical air monitoring stations in the US EPA Air Quality System (AQS) network measure criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. The station's siting in a rural area near Pennsylvania State University provides representative background air quality data for the region. This monitoring station plays a key role in tracking air quality trends in central Pennsylvania, supporting state and federal efforts to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Its data contributes to public health advisories and environmental research, particularly given its proximity to academic institutions.

The station is situated in a mixed rural and academic environment near Pennsylvania State University. Local air quality may be influenced by agricultural activities, university operations, and regional transport of pollutants. Monitoring in such settings helps differentiate between local sources and background concentrations, which is critical for effective air quality management under the Clean Air Act.