Revised On: Mar. 24th, 2026 - 03:39 pm
At a community meeting ADEQ hosted on Dec. 13, 2023, in partnership with the City of Cottonwood, ADEQ committed to conduct ambient air quality monitoring for particulate matter and heavy metals in the vicinity of the Minerals Research, Inc. (MRI) facility.
ADEQ completed its assessment following two phases of air quality monitoring conducted in 2024 and 2025, and concluded that particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less (PM10) and Lead levels showed concentrations below the maximum limit set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) health-based National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS).
Cottonwood Air Quality Monitoring Report 2026 | View Report >
Data collected for PM10 during the study was analyzed for multiple metals beyond Lead, including Aluminum, Copper, Zinc and others. Because these additional metals do not have a NAAQS for comparison, the Arizona Department of Health Services assessed that data for potential health impacts | View Health Consultation > | Fact Sheet >
This would not have been possible without the continued support and involvement of volunteers from ADEQ’s AZ Community Science Alliance. ADEQ extends its sincere gratitude to these dedicated volunteers whose assistance was invaluable to this monitoring effort.
Community Engagement
For more information about MRI, visit the Site/Facility of Interest section within the My Community page | View Page >
