Clean Air is Community Care
Tuesday, 18 November 2025 05:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
crashmarguliesThis was originally designed as an Instagram slideshow for the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Mask Bloc (MaskBlocMSP) in 2024 but never ended up posted.
I'm no longer actively involved in any organizing, including with MBMSP, but their eyes and suggestions on this were invaluable while creating this resource.
Click images to view them full-size. If you'd like to, you can also view these slides on Google Photos or Instagram.
A digital graphic. Text reads, “Keeping the air as clean and virus-free as we are able to is part of community care.”
Signal your CARE, protect the AIR!” The words “care” and “air” are in different shades of orange and yellow-gold for emphasis.
There are black and white illustrations of a box fan guiding virus particles through a filter and a person wearing a mask on the top left.
A digital graphic. Text reads, “Wearing a WELL-FITTED RESPIRATOR is an accessible, visible, and real way to build & protect your community.” The words WELL FITTED RESPIRATOR are emphasized in shades of orange and yellow.
Smaller white text reads, “If you have trouble finding or affording respirators (masks) that can protect you from viruses, check covidactionmap.org or maskbloc.org to see if there’s an anti-viral or clean air mutual aid group working in your area. If not, reach out to the closest one – many will ship masks to you!”
A digital graphic. Text reads, “No one can see your
Vote
Frustration
Intentions
Emotions
Allyship
just from looking, but we can see your RESPIRATOR.”
The words are in a gradient from dark red through orange and gold to yellow. The word “respirator” has the whole gradient of colors to emphasize the word.
A digital graphic. Text reads, “We STILL need masks because other, multi-layered protections…” The word STILL is emphasized in orange.
Smaller text reads,
• “do not fully prevent transmission (passing around) of airborne diseases like COVID-19 and avian flu [4a][4b][4g]
• are not being prioritized, funded, or implemented by the governments, corporations, and people with power and money to do so [4e]
• are not being used to protect the most marginalized people in society–like incarcerated people; disabled people; Black people, Indigenous and Aboriginal people, and other people of color; pregnant people, and children [4d][4e][4f]”
A digital graphic. Text reads, “COVID, bird flu, norovirus, and many other viruses and airborne hazards spread through the air like smoke.” The different viruses and the word “smoke” are emphasized in shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Smaller text reads, “If someone's cigarette smoke, vape cloud, bad breath, perfume, or cologne would be noticeable, then any virus they have can reach you if you’re not wearing a respirator!
(But respirators don’t block smells, so don’t panic))”
On the bottom left, there is an arrow pointing to the right that says, “Sources [5a…] on last slide!”
Ventilation and Filtration (For sources, see last slide)
An illustration of a HEPA filter turning viruses into fresh air; An open window with the iconic "Bliss" Windows XP background landscape beyond
Just like respirator-grade masks–P100s, N95s, KN95s, and KF94s–can catch & trap viral particles in the air we’re breathing, certain filters can clean the air of viral particles & micro-pollutants circulating in a room! [6a] [6b] [6c]
HEPA-grade filters or DIY units with MERV-13 furnace filters are options for this. Popular options are Corsi-Rosenthal boxes and their spin-offs. [6d]
If you’re unsure about a space’s air filtration (HVAC system) improving air flowing in and out of a space is helpful, especially when this air is from outdoors! [5a]
But viruses aren’t the only thing in the air that makes it dangerous. Sometimes you need to consider the Air Quality Index & other factors in your environment. (see next slide)
On the bottom left, there is a Corsi-Rosenthal air filter diagram, disassembled into all its pieces.
What about hazards other than viruses?
A color-coded scale. GREEN: 0-50, Good. YELLOW: 51-100, Moderate. ORANGE: 101-150, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. RED: 151-200, Unhealthy. PURPLE: 201-300, Very Unhealthy. MAROON/BURGUNDY (author unsure what color name EPA uses), 301-500, Hazardopus
In an era of climate collapse and reckless capitalism, there are many dangers in the air we’re breathing. [7a][7b][7c] The Air Quality Index (AQI) can monitor some pollutants we want to clean from the air. We can use numbers like the local air quality readings to determine when it’s NOT a good idea to open windows without ADDITIONAL FILTERS over window screens or running in our indoor spaces.
map.purpleair.com uses citizen-maintained monitors & updates in real-time. The government map is at AirNow.gov [7d][7e] Both of these systems use the same number scale, provided by the EPA, where anything below 50 is GOOD (green) and anything below 100 is considered ACCEPTABLE (yellow).
There are also times, like after a fire, storm, or other disaster, the AQI will read as GOOD while there are still hazardous materials in the air from a recent disaster, like a fire, flood, or storm. Always take all the factors you know about into consideration, and when in doubt, try to filter it out!
A digital graphic. Text reads, “If you’re not striving to make your air cleaner for
infants & children
elders
disabled people
people without insurance or care access
people who have survived trauma or disaster
all people
WHO WILL?”
Each line of this text is in a different shade of red, orange, or yellow.
Smaller text at the bottom says,
“Governments certainly aren’t going to! During the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles county in early 2025, mutual aid anti-COVID and clean air groups distributed respirators SIX DAYS before the LA government made respirators available to the public in any way. [8]”
A digital graphic. Small text reads,
“Do your part to help everyone breathe easier.
Mask Up. Filter In. Vent Out.”
Larger text reads,
“CLEAN AIR
SAFE AIR
BREATHABLE AIR
Is a HUMAN RIGHT!”
This is emphasized with red, orange, and yellow color gradients.
There is a line-art illustration of a person in profile. There are orange arrows entering their mouth, going down their throat, and turning into a looping heart symbol in their chest.
A digital graphic titled, “Clean Air is Community Care, Sources”
Orange text says, “For free PPE in your area, see maskbloc.org / covidactionmap.org”
The text below is densely packed in two columns and is too long for embedded image description character limits. It can be accessed below in this Dreamwidth post.
[4a] Fact Check: Preventing transmission never required for COVID vaccines’ initial approval; Pfizer vax did reduce transmission of early variants. Reuters. Published February 12, 2024. https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/preventing-transmission-never-required-covid-vaccines-initial-approval-pfizer-2024-02-12/
[4b] Franco-Paredes C. Transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 among fully vaccinated individuals. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2022;22(1):16. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/s1473-3099(21)00768-4
[4c] Doubleday J. Anti-COVID groups distribute masks and air purifiers faster than LA government amidst fires. Thegauntlet.news. Published January 16, 2025. https://www.thegauntlet.news/p/anti-covid-groups-distribute-masks
[4d] Purcell R, Giles ML, Crawford NW, Buttery J. Systematic Review of Avian Influenza Virus Infection and Outcomes during Pregnancy. Emerging infectious diseases. 2024;31(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3101.241343
[4e] Maxman A. How America lost control of the bird flu and raised the risk of another pandemic. PBS News. Published December 26, 2024. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/how-america-lost-control-of-the-bird-flu-and-raised-the-risk-of-another-pandemic
[4f] Bitar JL. Instead of supporting people with Long COVID, our government funds a genocide. The Sick Times. Published January 17, 2025. https://thesicktimes.org/2025/01/17/instead-of-supporting-people-with-long-covid-our-government-funds-a-genocide/
[4g] Srikrishna D. What level of air filtration (ACH) is equivalent to an N95 respirator? [PREPRINT] . MedRxiv. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.08.09.22278555v5.full
[5a]US EPA. Indoor Air and Coronavirus (COVID-19). Published June 17, 2020. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-and-coronavirus-covid-19
[5b] Prather KA, Marr LC, Schooley RT, McDiarmid MA, Wilson ME, Milton DK. Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Science. 2020;370(6514):eabf0521. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abf0521
[5c] Greenhalgh T, Jimenez JL, Prather KA, Tufekci Z, Fisman D, Schooley R. Ten scientific reasons in support of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The Lancet. 2021 https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(21)00869-2/fulltext
[6a] Ueki H, Ujie M, Komori Y, Kato T, Imai M, Kawaoka Y. Effectiveness of HEPA Filters at Removing Infectious SARS-CoV-2 from the Air. Bouvier NM, ed. mSphere. 2022;7(4).
https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00086-22
[6b] US EPA. What is a HEPA filter? Published February 19, 2019. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-hepa-filter
[6c] Heffernan T. Can HEPA Air Purifiers Capture the Coronavirus? Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World. Published July 9, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/can-hepa-air-purifiers-capture-coronavirus/
[6d] Neustrom P. Corsi-Rosenthal Cube. Accessed January 17, 2025. https://encycla.com/Corsi-Rosenthal_Cube
[7a] US EPA. Why Wildfire Smoke is a Health Concern. Published August 13, 2019. https://www.epa.gov/wildfire-smoke-course/why-wildfire-smoke-health-concern
[7b] Johnson C. Northern Metal Recycling fined for air pollution violations at Becker plant. Published January 30, 2023. https://www.startribune.com/northern-metal-recycling-fined-for-air-permit-violation-becker-emissions-tests-pollution/600247831
[7c] Badri N. | UC Global Health Institute. Published 2024. https://ucghi.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/ecocide-gaza-israels-genocide-gaza-will-create-unprecedented-environmental-health-crisis/
[7d] Real-Time Air Quality Map | PurpleAir. http://map.purpleair.com
[7e] Air Quality Index (AQI) | Accessed January 25, 2025. https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/
[7f] LISTING OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH PRESS RELEASES. Lacounty.gov. Published January 23, 2025. http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/phcommon/public/media/mediapubhpdetail.cfm?prid=4950
[7fig] Knudsen, Travis. “The Air Quality Index (AQI) Basics & Beyond.” Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, 27 Oct. 2022, www.lrapa.org/aqi101/
[8] Doubleday, Julia. “Anti-COVID Groups Distribute Masks and Air Purifiers Faster than LA Government amidst Fires.” Thegauntlet.news, The Gauntlet, 16 Jan. 2025, http://www.thegauntlet.news/p/anti-covid-groups-distribute-masks
If at any point you notice a dead image or link in here, let me know! I will do my best to locate an archived version of my source/s and link again.
More links for airborne virus education:
Mask Bloc MSP (Minneapolis-Saint Paul)
International Mask Bloc Directory
COVID resources worldwide map
More Education by Crash
I'm no longer actively involved in any organizing, including with MBMSP, but their eyes and suggestions on this were invaluable while creating this resource.
Click images to view them full-size. If you'd like to, you can also view these slides on Google Photos or Instagram.
SLIDE 1
A digital graphic. Text reads, “Keeping the air as clean and virus-free as we are able to is part of community care.”
Signal your CARE, protect the AIR!” The words “care” and “air” are in different shades of orange and yellow-gold for emphasis.
There are black and white illustrations of a box fan guiding virus particles through a filter and a person wearing a mask on the top left.
SLIDE 2
A digital graphic. Text reads, “Wearing a WELL-FITTED RESPIRATOR is an accessible, visible, and real way to build & protect your community.” The words WELL FITTED RESPIRATOR are emphasized in shades of orange and yellow.
Smaller white text reads, “If you have trouble finding or affording respirators (masks) that can protect you from viruses, check covidactionmap.org or maskbloc.org to see if there’s an anti-viral or clean air mutual aid group working in your area. If not, reach out to the closest one – many will ship masks to you!”
SLIDE 3
A digital graphic. Text reads, “No one can see your
Vote
Frustration
Intentions
Emotions
Allyship
just from looking, but we can see your RESPIRATOR.”
The words are in a gradient from dark red through orange and gold to yellow. The word “respirator” has the whole gradient of colors to emphasize the word.
SLIDE 4
A digital graphic. Text reads, “We STILL need masks because other, multi-layered protections…” The word STILL is emphasized in orange.
Smaller text reads,
• “do not fully prevent transmission (passing around) of airborne diseases like COVID-19 and avian flu [4a][4b][4g]
• are not being prioritized, funded, or implemented by the governments, corporations, and people with power and money to do so [4e]
• are not being used to protect the most marginalized people in society–like incarcerated people; disabled people; Black people, Indigenous and Aboriginal people, and other people of color; pregnant people, and children [4d][4e][4f]”
SLIDE 5
A digital graphic. Text reads, “COVID, bird flu, norovirus, and many other viruses and airborne hazards spread through the air like smoke.” The different viruses and the word “smoke” are emphasized in shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Smaller text reads, “If someone's cigarette smoke, vape cloud, bad breath, perfume, or cologne would be noticeable, then any virus they have can reach you if you’re not wearing a respirator!
(But respirators don’t block smells, so don’t panic))”
On the bottom left, there is an arrow pointing to the right that says, “Sources [5a…] on last slide!”
SLIDE 6
Ventilation and Filtration (For sources, see last slide)
An illustration of a HEPA filter turning viruses into fresh air; An open window with the iconic "Bliss" Windows XP background landscape beyond
Just like respirator-grade masks–P100s, N95s, KN95s, and KF94s–can catch & trap viral particles in the air we’re breathing, certain filters can clean the air of viral particles & micro-pollutants circulating in a room! [6a] [6b] [6c]
HEPA-grade filters or DIY units with MERV-13 furnace filters are options for this. Popular options are Corsi-Rosenthal boxes and their spin-offs. [6d]
If you’re unsure about a space’s air filtration (HVAC system) improving air flowing in and out of a space is helpful, especially when this air is from outdoors! [5a]
But viruses aren’t the only thing in the air that makes it dangerous. Sometimes you need to consider the Air Quality Index & other factors in your environment. (see next slide)
On the bottom left, there is a Corsi-Rosenthal air filter diagram, disassembled into all its pieces.
SLIDE 7
What about hazards other than viruses?
A color-coded scale. GREEN: 0-50, Good. YELLOW: 51-100, Moderate. ORANGE: 101-150, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. RED: 151-200, Unhealthy. PURPLE: 201-300, Very Unhealthy. MAROON/BURGUNDY (author unsure what color name EPA uses), 301-500, Hazardopus
In an era of climate collapse and reckless capitalism, there are many dangers in the air we’re breathing. [7a][7b][7c] The Air Quality Index (AQI) can monitor some pollutants we want to clean from the air. We can use numbers like the local air quality readings to determine when it’s NOT a good idea to open windows without ADDITIONAL FILTERS over window screens or running in our indoor spaces.
map.purpleair.com uses citizen-maintained monitors & updates in real-time. The government map is at AirNow.gov [7d][7e] Both of these systems use the same number scale, provided by the EPA, where anything below 50 is GOOD (green) and anything below 100 is considered ACCEPTABLE (yellow).
There are also times, like after a fire, storm, or other disaster, the AQI will read as GOOD while there are still hazardous materials in the air from a recent disaster, like a fire, flood, or storm. Always take all the factors you know about into consideration, and when in doubt, try to filter it out!
SLIDE 8
A digital graphic. Text reads, “If you’re not striving to make your air cleaner for
infants & children
elders
disabled people
people without insurance or care access
people who have survived trauma or disaster
all people
WHO WILL?”
Each line of this text is in a different shade of red, orange, or yellow.
Smaller text at the bottom says,
“Governments certainly aren’t going to! During the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles county in early 2025, mutual aid anti-COVID and clean air groups distributed respirators SIX DAYS before the LA government made respirators available to the public in any way. [8]”
SLIDE 9
A digital graphic. Small text reads,
“Do your part to help everyone breathe easier.
Mask Up. Filter In. Vent Out.”
Larger text reads,
“CLEAN AIR
SAFE AIR
BREATHABLE AIR
Is a HUMAN RIGHT!”
This is emphasized with red, orange, and yellow color gradients.
There is a line-art illustration of a person in profile. There are orange arrows entering their mouth, going down their throat, and turning into a looping heart symbol in their chest.
SLIDE 10 - SOURCES
A digital graphic titled, “Clean Air is Community Care, Sources”
Orange text says, “For free PPE in your area, see maskbloc.org / covidactionmap.org”
The text below is densely packed in two columns and is too long for embedded image description character limits. It can be accessed below in this Dreamwidth post.
FULL SOURCES
[4a] Fact Check: Preventing transmission never required for COVID vaccines’ initial approval; Pfizer vax did reduce transmission of early variants. Reuters. Published February 12, 2024. https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/preventing-transmission-never-required-covid-vaccines-initial-approval-pfizer-2024-02-12/
[4b] Franco-Paredes C. Transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 among fully vaccinated individuals. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2022;22(1):16. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/s1473-3099(21)00768-4
[4c] Doubleday J. Anti-COVID groups distribute masks and air purifiers faster than LA government amidst fires. Thegauntlet.news. Published January 16, 2025. https://www.thegauntlet.news/p/anti-covid-groups-distribute-masks
[4d] Purcell R, Giles ML, Crawford NW, Buttery J. Systematic Review of Avian Influenza Virus Infection and Outcomes during Pregnancy. Emerging infectious diseases. 2024;31(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3101.241343
[4e] Maxman A. How America lost control of the bird flu and raised the risk of another pandemic. PBS News. Published December 26, 2024. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/how-america-lost-control-of-the-bird-flu-and-raised-the-risk-of-another-pandemic
[4f] Bitar JL. Instead of supporting people with Long COVID, our government funds a genocide. The Sick Times. Published January 17, 2025. https://thesicktimes.org/2025/01/17/instead-of-supporting-people-with-long-covid-our-government-funds-a-genocide/
[4g] Srikrishna D. What level of air filtration (ACH) is equivalent to an N95 respirator? [PREPRINT] . MedRxiv. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.08.09.22278555v5.full
[5a]US EPA. Indoor Air and Coronavirus (COVID-19). Published June 17, 2020. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-and-coronavirus-covid-19
[5b] Prather KA, Marr LC, Schooley RT, McDiarmid MA, Wilson ME, Milton DK. Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Science. 2020;370(6514):eabf0521. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abf0521
[5c] Greenhalgh T, Jimenez JL, Prather KA, Tufekci Z, Fisman D, Schooley R. Ten scientific reasons in support of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The Lancet. 2021 https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(21)00869-2/fulltext
[6a] Ueki H, Ujie M, Komori Y, Kato T, Imai M, Kawaoka Y. Effectiveness of HEPA Filters at Removing Infectious SARS-CoV-2 from the Air. Bouvier NM, ed. mSphere. 2022;7(4).
https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00086-22
[6b] US EPA. What is a HEPA filter? Published February 19, 2019. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-hepa-filter
[6c] Heffernan T. Can HEPA Air Purifiers Capture the Coronavirus? Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World. Published July 9, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/can-hepa-air-purifiers-capture-coronavirus/
[6d] Neustrom P. Corsi-Rosenthal Cube. Accessed January 17, 2025. https://encycla.com/Corsi-Rosenthal_Cube
[7a] US EPA. Why Wildfire Smoke is a Health Concern. Published August 13, 2019. https://www.epa.gov/wildfire-smoke-course/why-wildfire-smoke-health-concern
[7b] Johnson C. Northern Metal Recycling fined for air pollution violations at Becker plant. Published January 30, 2023. https://www.startribune.com/northern-metal-recycling-fined-for-air-permit-violation-becker-emissions-tests-pollution/600247831
[7c] Badri N. | UC Global Health Institute. Published 2024. https://ucghi.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/ecocide-gaza-israels-genocide-gaza-will-create-unprecedented-environmental-health-crisis/
[7d] Real-Time Air Quality Map | PurpleAir. http://map.purpleair.com
[7e] Air Quality Index (AQI) | Accessed January 25, 2025. https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/
[7f] LISTING OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH PRESS RELEASES. Lacounty.gov. Published January 23, 2025. http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/phcommon/public/media/mediapubhpdetail.cfm?prid=4950
[7fig] Knudsen, Travis. “The Air Quality Index (AQI) Basics & Beyond.” Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, 27 Oct. 2022, www.lrapa.org/aqi101/
[8] Doubleday, Julia. “Anti-COVID Groups Distribute Masks and Air Purifiers Faster than LA Government amidst Fires.” Thegauntlet.news, The Gauntlet, 16 Jan. 2025, http://www.thegauntlet.news/p/anti-covid-groups-distribute-masks
If at any point you notice a dead image or link in here, let me know! I will do my best to locate an archived version of my source/s and link again.
More links for airborne virus education:
Mask Bloc MSP (Minneapolis-Saint Paul)
International Mask Bloc Directory
COVID resources worldwide map
More Education by Crash