Grantee Research Project Results
Mapping air pollution disparities using low-cost particulate sensors
EPA Grant Number: SU840572Title: Mapping air pollution disparities using low-cost particulate sensors
Investigators: Couzo, Evan
Current Investigators: Couzo, Evan , Coley, Jackson , Sonney, Jacob , Shuster, Piper
Institution: University of North Carolina at Asheville
EPA Project Officer: Spatz, Kyle
Phase: I
Project Period: August 1, 2023 through July 31, 2024
Project Amount: $24,932
RFA: 19th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet Request for Applications (RFA) (2022) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality
Description:
The market for low-cost ambient air pollution sensors is growing, and consumers have several options. Despite widespread availability, though, many of the sensors have not been independently tested in realistic operating conditions. Field tests conducted by federal, state, and local environmental agencies indicate the accuracy of many of these sensors is questionable.
Objective:
This project has two objectives: design, build, and test low-cost (~$100) fine particulate matter (PM2.5) sensors, and measure ambient PM2.5 disparities across Asheville, North Carolina.
Approach:
This project’s first objective seeks to improve the low-cost sensor market in three ways. First, the sensors are truly low cost at about $100 each. Second, the sensors will be rigorously field-tested and co-located in partnership with the Asheville Buncombe Air Quality Agency (ABAQA). Third, unlike the “black box” sensors available to consumers, the sensors that will be designed and built during this project are programmed with open-source software and double as valuable STEM teaching tools at the K-12 and university level. The project’s second objective will address longstanding environmental disparities resulting from housing discrimination in Asheville for much of the 20th century. After field-testing, the sensors will be placed on or near public K-12 school campuses in nine different neighborhoods, ABAQA’s regulatory monitoring site, and UNC Asheville’s ECONet weather tower, thus providing a dense network of ambient measurements. Each school location is readily identifiable on maps that were used by the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation in the 1930s to rate residential neighborhoods. This rating system, commonly known as redlining, discouraged investment in predominantly minority communities. The effects of this disinvestment are understood to be widespread, and this project will extend that understanding to include ambient PM2.5 concentrations. Specifically, this research will help determine the extent to which communities historically subjected to racial housing discrimination are exposed to higher ambient concentrations of fine particulate matter.
Expected Results:
This information can improve public health by providing neighborhood-scale PM2.5 levels used to inform local pollution control strategies.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
low-cost particulate sensor, ambient measurement, environmental justiceProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.