With one of the worst ozone levels in the United States, Los Angeles County does not meet the U.S. EPA's national air quality standard.

A recent study by the California Air Resources Board estimates that particulate pollution causes over 9,000 deaths in the state annually. 

A clean air workshop hosted by the Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement organization is working with the USC Environmental Health Sciences Center to teach high school students about particulate air pollution around them. 

The workshop showed participating students from several high schools in the Monterey Park and Alhambra area about why their communities are considered hot spots and how to measure air pollution using monitoring devices.

The idea is to empower the students to advocate for better air quality policies as they learn about pollution's impact on health.