The “bucket” is a low-cost, community-friendly air sampler that helps people measure toxic chemicals such as benzene and hydrogen sulfide in their air. Developed in the late 1990s, it was one of the first (if not the very first) do-it-together environmental monitors. Communities living near oil refineries and petrochemical plants gathered to build their own buckets. They established phone trees to make sure that, when noxious fumes enveloped their neighborhood, someone would take a sample. Twenty years later, buckets continue to be a critical tool for fenceline communities impacted by oil and gas development. They test for chemicals like benzene, hydrogen sulfide, perchloroethylene, and vinyl chloride, as well as other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and sulfur compounds. Above all, they allow communities to take control of their air. Think a bucket could be the right tool for you? Keep reading! ************************* _This toolkit was developed in collaboration with South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, groundWork, Citizen Science Community Resources, and Fair Tech Collective. It is is based on resources generously shared by Communities for a Better Environment and Global Community Monitor. We are especially grateful to South Durban Community Environmental Alliance and groundWork for documenting their processes and expertise._ ************************* ##**Overview: Why this tool?** ####[Empowering people to act on air pollution](https://publiclab.org/notes/A_SCH/11-08-2020/empowering-people-to-act-on-air-pollution-draft) >Community air monitoring empowers people to act on air pollution. [I]t enables community members to become active participants in the production of scientific knowledge. It provides them with a tool to scientifically verify existing community knowledge based on their experience of industrial pollution while adding a more specific and systematic dimension to that knowledge. It thus demystifies science. - "Purpose of Community Air Monitoring," [groundWork 2003 Air Monitoring Report](http://www.groundwork.org.za/specialreports/AirMonitoringReport2003.pdf) ####[Addressing the health impacts of petrochemical production](https://publiclab.org/notes/A_SCH/11-08-2020/draft?_=1604861928#) >It is nearly impossible to understand what it is like to fall ill and be deathly sick each day when they start fracking and other production activities on your land, until you get sick. It is hard to comprehend the helplessness that you feel when your water has been tainted, your children are having nosebleeds and you are passing out in your home from the fumes, until it happens. These are not fairy tales or horror stories. They are real. - [April Lane, quoted in "Warning Signs" by Coming Clean and Global Community Monitor](https://comingcleaninc.org/assets/media/images/Reports/Warning%20Signs%20Report.pdf) ####[Mobilizing Action through Community Science](https://publiclab.org/notes/kgradow1/01-04-2021/take-back-your-air-using-the-bucket-air-quality-monitor) >Buckets are one tool we have trusted, it’s one tool we believe in, one tool we will never abandon. It has empowered us, it has empowered the communities that we work with, it has made our city shake, and our industry shake, because of the credible result coming out of using the bucket. -[ Bongani Mthembu, South Durban Community Environmental Alliance](https://sdcea.co.za/) ##**Getting Started** ####[How to build a bucket monitor](https://publiclab.org/notes/kgradow1/11-08-2020/how-to-build-a-bucket-air-monitor) Learn about the materials you will need to build a bucket monitor and where you can find them. We will also take you step-by-step through the building process and ways to troubleshoot your bucket. Click Here to download the manual for building your own Bucket Air Quality Monitor, and [click here](https://store.publiclab.org/collections/the-bucket-air-quality-monitoring-system/products/the-bucket-air-quality-monitor-bucket-only?variant=37683507986612) to purchase a Bucket Kit from the Public Lab Store! ####[How to take a sample with a bucket monitor](https://publiclab.org/notes/A_SCH/11-08-2020/how-to-take-a-sample-with-a-bucket-monitor?_=1604854405) Find out how to use your bucket monitor to get the most accurate and relevant data for you. We will take you through how to pick a location, how to manually take a sample, and how to get the sample ready for lab analysis. ####[Finding a lab](https://publiclab.org/wiki/air-lab-testing) Once you have your sample, you'll need to send it to a lab for analysis. We'll explain how to find a lab and what to expect from your interaction with them. ####[How to use your bucket data](https://publiclab.org/notes/A_SCH/11-09-2020/how-to-use-your-bucket-data-draft) Learn how to go from numbers to a persuasive message about the pollution in your community and what to do about it. Who else is involved? ####[Bucket successes](https://publiclab.org/notes/A_SCH/11-08-2020/mobilizing-action-through-community-science-draft) Bucket monitoring data has helped communities reduce pollution, get enforcement action, and push for new legislation. Learn more here about others experiences using buckets to make change. ####Resources - [SDCEA: Toxic City](https://publiclab.org/notes/kgradow1/11-06-2020/toxic-city-health-impacts-of-chemicals-emitted-in-the-south-durban-area), [Smells that Kill ](https://publiclab.org/notes/kgradow1/10-31-2020/smells-that-kill-how-to-identify-odours) - [Coming Clean / GCM: Warning Signs, Toxic Air Pollution Identified at Oil and Gas Sites](https://comingcleaninc.org/assets/media/images/Reports/Warning%20Signs%20Report.pdf) - [Louisiana Bucket Brigade: The Bucket, Why Monitoring Matters](https://labucketbrigade.org/pollution-tools-resources/the-bucket/#) - [CBE: How to Start a Bucket Brigade](https://publiclab.org/notes/kgradow1/06-09-2020/how-to-set-up-a-bucket-brigade) - [Statistics for Action: Air Quality Guide](https://publiclab.org/notes/kgradow1/10-30-2020/statistics-for-action-air-quality-guide) - [Air Alliance Houston: Community Air Quality Toolkit](https://airalliancehouston.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/6_Community-Air-Quality-Advocacy-Toolkit.pdf) **** ##Activities [activities:bucket-monitor] ## Questions [questions:bucket-monitor] **** ### Have you used the bucket? If you have used buckets in your own work and want to be part of this project, please email Community Technology Fellow Katie Gradowski [here](mailto:katie.gradowski@gmail.com). We view this as a living document and are eager to collaborate with past and present users. ### Updates Are you interested in following along in the project? Subscribe to the tag below to get updates when we post new material. Subscribe to updates on this project ...
Author | Comment | Last activity | Moderation | ||
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kgradow1 | "I'm not sure, but IMVEC built their own odor-logging platform which is quite good. https://citizenlog.ushahidi.io/posts/create/1 Likewise, Air Wa..." | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
amocorro | "@kgradow1 @bhamster any thoughts, resources, or best practices on how to get started building a community-curated database for pollution logging? A..." | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
joyofsoy | "Awesome resource! " | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
amocorro | "Love this topic! Just in time for the 50th year of the Clean Air Act in the US. Recommend this film --> Unbreathable: The Fight for Healthy Air..." | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
amocorro | "@duwamishcleanup another resource to share! " | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
amocorro | "@duwamishcleanup check this out! " | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
amocorro | "@kgradow1 @mimiss thanks for this discussion. I had initially asked, "How much do the tedlar bags cost?" @mimiss provided the following specifics:..." | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
kgradow1 | "This is so exciting! Tagging odor logging work by @imvec and @sarasage as well as obviously @nshapiro on indoor air quality and formaldehyde and @..." | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
eustatic | "Good read. any COVID tips? " | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
sh1234 | "BEST MBA COLLEGE WITH GOOD FESS " | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
viklostypil706 | "So, if you want to win coupon code. Then, please check this post about Mary Brown’s Customer Satisfaction Survey. Mary Brown’s Customer experience..." | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
amocorro | "@duwamishcleanup - thought you might want to give this one a read! The EJ student organizers might appreciate it too! " | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
KanikaSharmarajkot | "Call or message our friendly and discreet receptionists anytime 24/7 and it will be our pleasure to arrange a booking at your convenience. Here at ..." | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
modesto-pest-control | "We are a pest control company in Modesto and serve San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Merced counties. We exterminate all pests including termites, bed b..." | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
kgradow1 | "Hi @mimiss, we talked about this on our call this week. I think it would make sense to send 1-2 with the kit to help people get set up but also st..." | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
Gtinfra | "GT Infra is a property development company who has completed real estate projects such as Aspira apartments JP Nagar, Paramount Pilatus Bannerghatt..." | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
amocorro | "@Subir so glad you were inspired by this post and are determined to build a similar monitoring system in Pune, India. Have you had a chance to read..." | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
amocorro | "Wow @kgradow1! This is an awesome overview -- I went ahead and shared this with a few others in the Pacific NW. Look forward to your future posts w..." | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
amocorro | "@amocorro awards a barnstar to eustatic for their awesome contribution! " | Read more » | almost 4 years ago | |||
hannagrey | "I would love to see a portable version of this, its market has been going downward as far as I know. Apartment painters " | Read more » | about 4 years ago | |||
Engineerjaykumar | "I prefer to construct a light light weight concrete block house in which we make a air flow filter, then continuously regulate and observe the air ..." | Read more » | about 4 years ago | |||
liz | "This animated gif and really all the diagrams are fantastic, thank you so much @kgradow1 " | Read more » | about 4 years ago | |||
kgradow1 | "For the bucket monitor I think we want to be looking for air labs specifically. We may want to use the a2la certification to try to narrow it down...." | Read more » | about 4 years ago | |||
iogoos | "Stupendous post. IOGOOS Solution provides an elegant website at minimum price. Iogoos is the Top 10 Laravel Company that provides a complete websit..." | Read more » | about 4 years ago |