Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: PM Characterization and Exposure Assessment (Project 2)
EPA Grant Number: R832417C002Subproject: this is subproject number 002 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R832417
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Center for the Study of Childhood Asthma in the Urban Environment
Center Director: Hansel, Nadia
Title: PM Characterization and Exposure Assessment (Project 2)
Investigators: Geyh, Alison , Ondov, John M. , Breysse, Patrick N. , Rule, Ana , Han, Inkyu , Ramos-Bonilla, Juan , Datta, Saugatta , Chillrud, Steven
Institution: The Johns Hopkins University , Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University , Kansas State University , University of Maryland - College Park
Current Institution: The Johns Hopkins University , Kansas State University , Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University , University of Maryland - College Park
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2010
RFA: Particulate Matter Research Centers (2004) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Human Health , Air
Objective:
The focus of Project 2 is the measurement of specific chemical components and physical characteristics of PM collected from different areas of the country in support of the Center focus, which is assessing characteristics of PM that determine toxicity. The goals of Project 2 are to collect bulk PM samples for use in biological assays and for detailed characterization including mass, inorganic ions, elemental carbon and organic compounds, specifically polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons , and elemental metals and their oxides, as well as platinum group elements. We will also collect information on the distribution of particle size. The objectives of Project 2 include: 1) the development of methods for collecting bulk ambient PM, and a system for characterizing the chemical and physical properties of ambient PM; and 2) the identification of specific regional differences in PM characteristics that may contribute to differential biological responses demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo bioassay systems.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
I. Introduction
The rationale for this project is based on the conclusion that “[t]he diversity of PM characteristics and the array of possible health effects define a potentially large and complex matrix for investigation; in fact different features of particles might be relevant to different health outcomes” (NRC 2004) As a result we proposed to assess the specific chemical components and physical characteristics of particulate matter (PM) from samples taken in different areas of the country. These locations have been selected based on a gradient of estimated risks to health. Specifically, we proposed to develop a new method for collecting bulk PM for use in biological assays; to develop a portable system for the characterization of chemical and physical properties of ambient PM; and to identify specific regional differences in PM characteristics that may contribute to differential biological responses in in vitro and in vivo bioassay systems. This report will describe activities carried out by Project 2 (PI.Patrick Breysse) and the PM Characterization, Sampling and Analysis Core (PI Alison Geyh) since funding, giving emphasis to progress during the past year. The overall goal of developing a PM monitoring and collection approach and then deploying it at the sites identified through the Project 1 analyses has been accomplished.
II. PM Monitoring
PM Monitoring and locations: Monitoring locations identified by Project 1 are found in Table 1.
County/locations monitored during the YR5 project period include Jefferson KY, Allegheny PA, and Queens NY, which concludes our monitoring effort.
Table 1 summarizes the status of the field monitoring effort to date.
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Table 1. Monitoring Schedule
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Order
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County (Sample ID)
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Start Date
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End Date
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1
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King, WA (SEA)
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October 25, 2007
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December 1, 2007
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2
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Sacramento CA (SAC)
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January 12, 2008
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March 13, 2008
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3
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Maricopa AZ (PHX)
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June 1, 2008
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July 20, 2008
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4
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Hennepin MN (MSP)
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September 15, 2008
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October 30, 2008
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5
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Harris TX (HOU)
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January 11, 2008
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February 20, 2009
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6
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Pinellas FL (TSP)
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April 13, 2009
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May 31, 2009
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7
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Jefferson KY** (LOU)
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August 3, 2009
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September 14, 2009
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8
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Allegheny PA** (PIT)
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October 12, 2009
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November 21, 2009
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9
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Queens NY** (NYC)
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November 13, 2009
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December 18, 2009
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** Completed in year 5
Jefferson County KY: The negotiation for a monitoring site in Jefferson KY and the justification for selecting this site were described in detail in our previous progress report. The monitoring site selected was located behind Bates Elementary School. Drs. Han and Geyh, and Ms. Mihalic began site set up July 29, 2009. Site setup took 4 days. Ms. Polyak and Ms. Mihalic were responsible for site management. The site was shutdown and packed for shipment to Pittsburgh PA by Drs. Rule and Geyh on September 14, 2009.
Allegheny County PA: The negotiation for a monitoring site in Allegheny county PA was initiated on November 2008, through Dr. Allen Robinson at Carnegie Mellon University, who contacted us with Mr. Darrel Stern at the Allegheny County health department. Mr. Stern had forewarned us that the county did not have available inside space in any of their operating monitoring sites, but we were offered three monitoring sites that had recently been discontinued. Drs. Breysse and Rule traveled to Pittsburgh on July 13 to meet with Mr. Stern and choose a site where space and power would be adequate to house our instruments. All three sites were located in residential areas, but were overgrown by weeds and were impossible to assess with a close inspection. Only one of the sites was deemed adequate for our purposes, and was located on a safe area. The site was located next to a baseball field, and consisted of a small trailer housing a met station. The outside fenced space was too small for our instruments, but we were given permission to temporarily extend the fence into the adjacent empty grassy area and were assured there would be enough power. As with other sites, some paperwork had to be obtained, in this case a Certificate of Insurance naming the City of Pittsburgh as an additional insured to protect them from liability. The certificate was obtained by Dr. Geyh through our Legal office. We contracted to have temporary fencing installed to extend the boundary around the trailer to accommodate the cyclones and filter samplers. Drs. Geyh and Rule began site setup October 12, 2009. Unfortunately, power was found to be insufficient for all our instruments, and a decision had to be made to only install the integrated samplers (cyclones and filter collectors). Sampling commenced October 15, 2009. Due to the reduced setup and proximity to Baltimore, team members (Ms. Mihalic, Ms. Polyak. Dr. Geyh and Dr. Han) took turns to go once a week to collect samples and perform calibration. Drs. Han and Rule dismantled the site on November 21 for shipment to Baltimore.
Queens County NY: Negotiation for a monitoring site in Queens county NY was initiated by Mr. Dirk Felton on August 2009. As part of the negotiations, Dr. Chilrud helped find somebody from Queens College that could perform daily equipment checks and collect weekly samples. On October 20, 2009 Drs. Rule and Breysse traveled to New York to meet with Dr. Steve Chilrud and Mr. James Ross, who drove them to meet with Mr. David Wheeler and Mr. Mike Chirstopherson of the NY State Dept of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and with Mr. Kale Clauson from Queens College. The monitoring station currently in operation had no room available to set up the JHPMRC equipment. However, the site where the monitoring station had previously been located, located across from an athletic complex in the roof of an elementary School had ample power and room available, and was deemed appropriate after the site visit. Site set up consisted of only the integrated samplers, as time-resolved data from the NYSDEC monitoring station could complement our data from this site. Setup was the responsibility of Drs. Rule and Han, and commenced November 12th with monitoring starting November 13. Daily checks were performed by Mr. Kale Clauson. Weekly sample collection and calibration was performed by Mr. James Ross. Drs. Rule and Han dismantled the site on December 18 2009.
Yields for bulk PM collected from deployment of the HSCS are reported in Table 2.
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Table 2. Bulk PM mass results to date
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Site (County)
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Coarse PM (mg)
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Fine (mg)
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King
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89
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705
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Sacramento
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111
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397
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Maricopa
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1181
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1510
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Hennepin
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291
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822
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Harris
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658
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1266
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Pinellas
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449
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837
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Louisville
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348
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867.3
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Allegheny
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274
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1149
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Queens
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137
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401
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III. Data Management
Details of Project 2 data management have been described previously. To date, all data files generated by the continuous instruments have been reviewed for problems, processed and uploaded to the project 2 database. In addition, analytical results from all filter based and bulk samples to date have been incorporated to the data base. Refer to Table 3.
IV. PM Characterization
Table 3 contains the analyses that have been completed to date:
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Table 3. Bulk PM mass: results to date
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Analysis
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Sample analyzed
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SAC
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PHX
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MSP
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HOU
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TSP
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LOU
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PIT
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NYC
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Anion analysis for bulk
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coarse and fine
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P
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P
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P
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P
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P
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P
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P
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P
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Total metals analysis for bulk
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coarse and fine
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P
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P
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P
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P
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P
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P
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P
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P
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Soluble metals analysis for bulk
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coarse and fine
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P
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P
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P
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P
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P
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P
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P
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P
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Insoluble metals analysis for bulk
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coarse and fine
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P
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Supplemental Keywords:Bulk particle collection, particle characterization, metals speciation, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, anions, Health, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, PHYSICAL ASPECTS, Health Risk Assessment, Physical Processes, Risk Assessments, particulate matter, Epidemiology, particulate matter components, human exposure, long term exposure, aersol particles, atmospheric particles, ambient particle health effects, exposure, atmospheric aerosol particles, ultrafine particulate matter, atmospheric particulate matter, acute cardiovascular effects, cardiovascular disease, human health riskRelevant Websites:www.jhsph.edu/particulate_matter
Progress and Final Reports:Original AbstractMain Center Abstract and Reports:R832417 Center for the Study of Childhood Asthma in the Urban Environment Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center). 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||
