You are here:
Web-based PM2.5 Exposure Modeling Tool for Wildfire Smoke Events
Citation:
Breen, M., Vladilen Isakov, C. Seppanen, AND S. Arunachalam. Web-based PM2.5 Exposure Modeling Tool for Wildfire Smoke Events. 22nd Annual CMAS Conference, Chapel Hill, NC, October 16 - 18, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke is an important and growing risk to public health. Reducing personal exposure from public health actions can minimize adverse health effects associated with PM2.5 from wildfire smoke. To motivate individuals to modify their behavior during smoke events, personalized exposure assessment tools are needed. To address this need, we developed a web-based exposure model called TracMyAir. The capabilities of TracMyAir will help individuals to make informed decisions on implementing appropriate mitigation strategies on days impacted by wildfire smoke.
Description:
Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke is an important and growing risk to public health. Reducing personal exposure from public health actions can minimize adverse health effects associated with PM2.5 from wildfire smoke. To motivate individuals to modify their behavior during smoke events, personalized exposure assessment tools are needed. Currently, EPA provides web tools (e.g., AirNow, Fire and Smoke Map) that provide current outdoor PM2.5 information. However, outdoor levels can be substantially different than personal exposures since people spend most of their time within indoor microenvironments (ME) with PM2.5 concentrations substantially different than outdoors. To address this limitation, we developed a web-based exposure model called TracMyAir. This tool determines daily personal PM2.5 exposure and inhaled dose in real-time based on current outdoor PM2.5 levels from the nearest AirNow and PurpleAir monitors. TracMyAir accounts for several modifiable exposure factors related to PM2.5 home infiltration factors (e.g., open/closed windows and doors, operation of window fans, operation of home air cleaners), time spent in different indoor ME and outdoors, time spent and ME for various physical activity levels. The user can vary these exposure factors, and TracMyAir will show the changes in the home infiltration factors, exposures and inhaled dose. With a user-defined geolocation feature, the user can compare exposures in different U.S. locations. For individuals with a home indoor PurpleAir PM2.5 monitor, TracMyAir can automatically determine daily house-specific PM2.5 infiltration factors. This capability provides a personalized assessment of the effectiveness of varying home operating conditions (e.g. open windows) to reduce outdoor PM2.5 infiltration. This feature also quantifies the benefit of sheltering indoors at home on days with high levels of outdoor smoke. Overall, the capabilities of TracMyAir will allow individuals to make informed decisions on implementing appropriate mitigation strategies on days impacted by wildfire smoke.