As the U.S. system for tracking air pollution faces a decline, a recent investigation by Floodlight has revealed that the chemical industry is actively working across several states to restrict the use of low-cost air sensors. These sensors have become one of the few tools available for communities to monitor and challenge polluters. In recent years, states like Louisiana, Kentucky, and Ohio have passed laws that limit regulators from using air-quality data collected by local residents unless it comes from equipment approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Such equipment is typically expensive, often costing tens of thousands of dollars, making it difficult for communities to use these tools effectively. In West Virginia, a proposed law that would have allowed regulators to consider data collected by communities, provided it met certain manufacturer standards, faced opposition from industry groups. Jeff Fritz, an official at the chemical company Chemours, stated in an internal email that the bill “essentially codifies what we are trying to prevent.” Bill Bissett of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association criticized the compromise as “toothless.” Similar bills introduced in 2025 and 2026 also failed to pass. These legislative efforts suggest a broader industry push to control how air quality data is used in regulatory decisions. In Ohio, a new rule restricting air monitoring was included in a budget bill last year, prompting a lawsuit from residents like Donna Ballinger. Ballinger lives near a steel plant in Middletown and uses a low-cost monitor to track air quality in her neighborhood. She has reported experiencing symptoms like burning eyes and throat and fears cancer. The lawsuit argues that the new rules make her monitor’s data ineffective as legal evidence, limiting her ability to hold polluters accountable. The overall public air monitoring network has been shrinking due to declining federal funding. Over the past two decades, federal grants supporting air monitoring have dropped more than 35% when adjusted for inflation, and the number of government air monitors has nearly halved. A 2025 study found that nearly six out of ten U.S. counties lack any public air monitoring stations. Many existing monitors are outdated, with some plagued by technical issues like leaks and pest infestations. In some cases, officials have had to buy obsolete parts from online marketplaces like eBay to keep the systems running. Community groups have tried to fill the gap in air monitoring, but they have faced significant challenges due to funding cuts. A federal grant that would have allowed the Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN) to monitor 27 high-pollution areas was canceled by the Trump administration, leaving the group with only limited resources. LEAN's executive director, Marylee Orr, described the situation as “like having your legs knocked out from under you.” Similar legislative efforts in Louisiana and Kentucky, influenced by industry groups, have further restricted the use of community-collected data for regulatory enforcement. Residents like Reonda Victor in Louisiana, who lives near major industrial areas, highlight the real-world impact of these gaps. She lives in a region with some of the highest cancer risks in the U.S., but the nearest public monitor only tests for lead. Despite genetic testing showing no family predisposition to cancer, she remains uncertain about whether industrial pollution played a role in her family’s illnesses. “Without information, we don’t know,” she said, underscoring the urgent need for accessible and reliable air quality data for communities affected by pollution.