The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and Queens College of the City 
University of New York (QC-CUNY) are conducting the New York City Community Air Survey, or NYCCAS, a program to evaluate how air quality differs across New York City. This program will study how pollution from traffic, buildings, and other sources affect the differences in air pollution across our diverse neighborhoods.
As part of the Mayor's blueprint for long-term planning and sustainability, PlaNYC, NYCCAS will help us better understand our air pollution problem and where more improvements may be needed. NYCCAS monitors pollutants that cause health problems and come from motor vehicles and other sources like boilers or furnaces in buildings. These pollutants include Fine Particles, Nitrogen Oxides, Elemental Carbon (a marker for diesel exhaust particles), Sulfur Dioxide and Ozone.
NYCCAS air pollution measurements are taken at about 150 locations throughout New York City in each season. Monitors are mounted 10 to 12 feet off the ground on public light poles or utility poles along streets and in some parks. The monitors use a small battery-powered pump and filters to collect air samples.
