Introducing A&M and What's Up, Forsyth?

What's Up, Forsyth?!?!?!


We're the Analysis & Monitoring (A&M) Division of the Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance & Protection, and this is the first post of our new blog series, "What's Up, Forsyth?". In our blog, we will discuss current air quality issues and other special topics related to the air we breathe.


You may be asking why we chose "What's Up, Forsyth?" as a blog name. Three reasons:

1. "Up" is a play on words that relates to the the air above us.

2. "What's Up" is a common informal phrase used to initiate conversation, as this blog's intention is to inform and educate while not being too technical.

3. "Forsyth" is the county where our office is located.


You may be familiar with the services and information regularly provided by A&M, but if not, here's a quick recap:

1. A&M is responsible for air monitoring services in Forsyth County, North Carolina. This includes the measurement of concentrations of four criteria air pollutants (ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter), as well as levels of air toxics or hazardous air pollutants found in Forsyth County's ambient (outdoor) air.

2. We also produce daily air quality forecasts for the Piedmont Triad area, including Forsyth, Guilford, Alamance, Davidson, Randolph, Rockingham, Caswell, Davie, and Stokes counties. Air quality forecasts help Triad residents protect their health and plan their strenuous outdoor activities for a time when air quality is healthy for them to be outside.    


3. A&M runs a pollen sampling and forecasting program, which is helpful for those with pollen allergies or allergy-induced asthma.

4. We provide radon information and radon testing kits to Forsyth County residents.

5. We coordinate Triad Air Awareness, an air quality education and outreach program serving the counties of Forsyth, Guilford, Alamance, Davidson, Davie, Randolph, Rockingham, Yadkin, and Stokes.

In addition to the air quality information we regularly provide through the services and programs mentioned above, "What's Up, Forsyth?" will give us an opportunity to dive deeper into the factors that affect our air and, subsequently, how we breathe and live. Topics could range anywhere from which weather patterns are driving current air quality conditions, how what's in our air (be it ozone, tree pollen, or radon) can impact human health, and how to keep our air clean.

Please stay tuned for future posts from A&M. We look forward to exploring these topics with you!



Location: Forsyth County, NC, USA

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