THE IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING AIR QUALITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Air pollution is currently recognized as the greatest environmental threat to human health and well-being. Almost all of the world's population (99%) breathes in an unhealthy manner, inhaling high levels of fine particles and nitrogen dioxide. In addition, low- and middle-income people suffer the greatest exposure to outdoor air pollution at levels that exceed acceptable air quality limits. Thus, the purpose of this essay is to answer the following question: How can air quality monitoring help to understand the problem of air pollution from a Critical Environmental Education perspective? To this end, the topic was discussed on the theoretical basis of scientific articles, books and legislation. It is hoped that this study can contribute to the discussion and give greater publicity to the importance of assessing air quality in a Critical Environmental Education conception that takes into account the assumptions of Environmental Justice in the problem of air pollution. Finally, possible paths for their insertion in the educational process were indicated.