Chemical industry backed laws in three US states to restrict use of air pollution data

The Guardian World Thursday 10 September 2026, 11:00 UTC By Ames Alexander and Brad Racino for Floodlight 1 min read

Key Points

As public air monitors disappear, federal rollbacks and state laws are making it harder than ever to know what’s in the airAs the US’s network for monitoring air pollution deteriorates, a Floodlight investigation has found that the chemical industry is going state-to-state to restrict one of the few options citizens have left for holding polluters accountable: low-cost air sensors. Over the past two years, the non-profit investigative newsroom determined, lawmakers in Louisiana, Kentucky and...

As public air monitors disappear, federal rollbacks and state laws are making it harder than ever to know what’s in the air

As the US’s network for monitoring air pollution deteriorates, a Floodlight investigation has found that the chemical industry is going state-to-state to restrict one of the few options citizens have left for holding polluters accountable: low-cost air sensors.

Over the past two years, the non-profit investigative newsroom determined, lawmakers in Louisiana, Kentucky and Ohio have passed strikingly similar laws barring regulators from acting on air-quality data that communities collect themselves – unless it comes from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved equipment that typically costs tens of thousands of dollars. Similar legislation has repeatedly been introduced in West Virginia.

Chemical (ORG) US (LOCATION) Floodlight (PERSON) Louisiana (LOCATION) Kentucky (LOCATION) Ohio (LOCATION) Environmental Protection Agency (ORG) West Virginia (LOCATION)

Originally published by The Guardian World Read original →

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Chemical industry backed laws in three US states to restrict use of air pollution data

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