Experts to speak on air quality during workshop

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Clean Air Upstate, an initiative of Ten at the Top, will host an “Air Quality Awareness” virtual meeting from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on May 5. This event is open to the public and is for individuals, businesses and institutions, and local governments that want to ensure they are doing their part to maintain clean air throughout the Upstate, according to a news release.

Featured speakers will be Lisa Brown, vertical market director for local government at Johnson Controls Inc.; Amy Curran, outreach coordinator for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control Bureau of Air Quality; Renee Madden, monitoring data analyst for the Bureau of Air Quality; and Kevin Stewart, director of environmental health for advocacy and public policy at the American Lung Association.

Taking place during National Air Awareness Week, the meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss updates on air quality throughout the state, as well as the importance of indoor air quality.

In his role for the American Lung Association, guest speaker Stewart’s major responsibilities include development, promotion and advocacy of practices, policies and laws to control air pollution. He has given testimony before local, state and federal legislative and regulatory bodies on matters relating to lung health, and he works to control air pollutants as a member of state and national groups. His organization’s primary goal is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.

“Clean air, both indoor and outdoor, is essential for healthy lungs,” Stewart said in the news release. “Unhealthy air can place anyone at risk, but especially those who are more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, including children, older adults and people living with chronic lung diseases such as asthma and COPD. I’m honored to have the opportunity to speak at the Ten at the Top Air Quality Awareness Meeting because this year during the COVID-19 pandemic, lung health is more important than ever.”

Clean Air Upstate is an organization that raises awareness for air quality issues and serves as a resource for the Upstate community.

Registration is online.