Impact/Purpose:

The main research question guiding this task is "how do mobile source emissions impact public health and the environment." The main objectives of this task include:

(1) Identify spatial and temporal variability in pollutant concentrations near major mobile source emission locations such as urban roadways and non-road activities.

(2) Characterize real-world emissions from on- and non-road mobile sources for use in identifying hazardous components and developing and improving mobile source emissions and human exposure models.

(3) Develop mobile source emission profiles and markers for use in human exposure and air quality receptor models.

(4) Determine the impact of emerging technologies (fuels and engine systems) on emissions and exposures to toxic pollutants.

(5) Develop and improve analytical methods that measure emissions from mobile sources.

Description:

A significant number of epidemiological studies have identified an increase in occurrence of adverse health effects associated with exposures to mobile source emissions. These adverse effects include asthma, other respiratory diseases, cardiovascular effects, cancer, developmental effects, and even mortality. A recent American Housing Survey (2001) estimated that over 35 million people in the U.S. reside within 100 meters of a major transportation facility. In addition, many millions more may be exposed to mobile source exhaust through their occupations (construction, lawn and garden equipment operators, tollbooth attendants, etc.), personal activities, or the location of their school or office near major roads. Thus, the ubiquitous nature of mobile source emissions results in a large segment of the population exposed to both fresh and aged emissions.

The National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) Mobile Source Lab (MSL) is one of the leading research organizations for assessing emissions and exposures from light-duty on-road and non-road vehicles. Research conducted by the MSL focuses on mobile source emissions characterization, mechanisms that affect exposures to these emissions, and methods used to measure contaminants emitted directly from the source as well as in the ambient air. The implementation and integration of these focus areas provide EPA researchers and regulators with critical information on how mobile source emissions affect exposures, and what constituents of these emissions result in adverse effects to human health and the environment.

A new task on mobile source research will be implemented for FY06-08.

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT

Start Date:10/01/2002

Projected Completion Date:09/01/2005

OMB Category:Other

Record ID: 56214

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Project Information:

Progress :FY05 and prior work conducted under Tasks 9573 and 18459. Progress summaries are related to the Task objectives for this section.

(1) Identify spatial and temporal variability in pollutant concentrations near major mobile source emission locations such as urban roadways and non-road activities.

In FY04, planning began on the Traffic-Related EXposure (T-REX) Study that will evaluate concentration gradients of PM and gaseous constituents related to motor vehicle emissions near major roads in New York and Detroit. Data will be used to evaluate and improve existing air quality dispersion models, exposure assessment techniques used in epidemiological evaluations, and identify motor vehicle emission components intrusion into nearby buildings. T-REX is a $1 million collaborative effort with Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). In addition to T-REX, MSL personnel began work with OTAQ in evaluating data from the Fresno Asthmatic Children's Environment Study (FACES) and the Baltimore Traffic Study. FACES measured indoor and outdoor PM component concentrations at the homes of over 100 asthmatic children in Fresno, some living near roads while some lived at significant distances away. The Baltimore Traffic Study measured PM and gaseous compound measurements at a rowhouse in Baltimore located near a number of major mobile sources including highways and a commuter rail station.

(2) Characterize real-world emissions from on- and non-road mobile sources for use in identifying hazardous components and developing and improving mobile source emissions and human exposure models.

In FY04, the Kansas City Light Duty Vehicle Emission Study Round 1 (Summer Round) was completed (collaborators on the $3.9 million project include EPA/OTAQ, EPA/OAQPS, STAPPA/ALAPCO, DOE/NREL, DOT/FHWA (Federal Highway Administration), and CRC). This study is characterizing exhaust emissions from approximately 480 in-use consumer cars in the Kansas City metro area. The test vehicles have been randomly selected from eight strata representing different model years, mileages, and type (cars or trucks). The emissions measured include HC, CO, NOx, & CO2, detailed HC (speciated VOCs), aldehydes ly for non-road sources and on-road sources under varying operating conditions, extremely limits the ability of existing receptor models to identify the contribution of specific mobile source categories (e.g. diesel vs. gasoline, on-road vs. non-road) on ambient air and personal exposures. Without this knowledge, regulators are limited in their ability to develop control strategies and quantify the benefits of these strategies.

Exposure Assessment

With the increasing number of epidemiological and toxicological studies associating mobile source emissions with adverse health effects, the need for projects assessing air quality and human exposure impacts from these emissions is critical. The ubiquitous nature of mobile sources leads to significant impacts to air quality and potentially significant exposures for a vast majority of the population in the U.S. and around the world. Exposure data is critical to policy makers in determining the need for emission controls, the benefits of emission reductions, and the assessment of existing regulations. This data is also craved by transportation and urban planners in addressing Conformity, NEPA, and smart growth issues.

Health Effects

The identification of mobile source emission constituents that may lead to adverse human health or ecological effects requires a comprehensive knowledge of the characteristics of the emissions and the resulting impacts. A multi-disciplinary effort is necessary to assess the source to dose paradigm.

Overall, MSL products provide critical information supporting client needs as wide ranging as mobile source regulatory development (OTAQ), NAAQS implementhased that can extract vehicle volume, speed and fleet mix of veh

Relevance :As shown in the "Progress to Date" section, mobile source research at the MSL spans a wide spectrum of agency needs across the paradigm of emissions, exposures and adverse health and ecological effects. To facilitate a discussion of the relevance, significance and impacts of MSL research, this section is divided into the three main areas of this source to dose paradigm: Emissions, Exposures, Health Effects. However, note that much of the MSL research projects are multi-disciplinary and demonstrate the inter-relationship of these three focus areas.

Emissions Testing

Emissions testing for mobile source PM and air toxic compounds will be a future critical need for OAR after the promulgation of the next Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT) rule in 2005. Future rulemakings for mobile source emissions (on- and non-road) will rely on emissions tests conducted by the MSL. Methods are also required for the expansion of OAR's National Air Toxics Trends Sites (NATTS) air toxics monitoring network. National emission inventories rely on accurate emissions models. Emission inventories are used for such broad purposes as NAAQS Implementation, SIP development, risk assessment, and epidemiological evaluations.

Emission testing is also critical for conducting source apportionment studies. The lack of existing mobile source profiles, especially for non-road sources and on-road sources under varying operating conditions, extremely limits the ability of existing receptor models to identify the contribution of specific mobile source categories (e.g. diesel vs. gasoline, on-road vs. non-road) on ambient air and personal exposures. Without this knowledge, regulators are limited in their ability to develop control strategies and quantify the benefits of these strategies.

Exposure Assessment

With the increasing number of epidemiological and toxicological studies associating mobile source emissions with adverse health effects, the need for projects assessing air quality and human exposure impacts from these emissions is critical. The ubiquitous nature of mobile sources leads to significant impacts to air quality and potentially significant exposures for a vast majority of the population in the U.S. and around the world. Exposure data is critical to policy makers in determining the need for emission controls, the benefits of emission reductions, and the assessment of existing regulations. This data is also craved by transportation and urban planners in addressing Conformity, NEPA, and smart growth issues.

Health Effects

The identification of mobile source emission constituents that may lead to adverse human health or ecological effects requires a comprehensive knowledge of the characteristics of the emissions and the resulting impacts. A multi-disciplinary effort is necessary to assess the source to dose paradigm.

Overall, MSL products provide critical information supporting client needs as wide ranging as mobile source regulatory development (OTAQ), NAAQS implementation (OAQPS), model development and evaluation (OTAQ, OAQPS), national monitoring network design and implementation support (OAQPS, STAPPA/ALAPCO), new technology assessments (OTAQ, DOE), health effects evaluations (NHEERL), and urban and transportation planning (OTAQ, DOT).

Clients :OTAQ, OSP, OAQPS, DOE, DOT, STAPPA/ALAPCO, CRC, CARB

Project IDs:

ID Code :9573

Project type :OMIS