Grantee Research Project Results

2018 Progress Report: Putting Next Generation Sensors and Scientists in Practice to Reduce Wood Smoke in a Highly Impacted, Multicultural Rural Setting (NextGenSS)

EPA Grant Number: R836185
Title: Putting Next Generation Sensors and Scientists in Practice to Reduce Wood Smoke in a Highly Impacted, Multicultural Rural Setting (NextGenSS)
Investigators: Karr, Catharine J. , Seto, Edmund , Austin, Elena , Black, Jessica
Current Investigators: Karr, Catharine J. , Larson, Timothy V. , Yost, Michael , Simpson, Christopher , Black, Jessica , Austin, Elena , Riley, Erin , Seto, Edmund
Institution: University of Washington
Current Institution: University of Washington , Heritage University
EPA Project Officer: Callan, Richard
Project Period: August 1, 2016 through July 31, 2019 (Extended to July 31, 2020)
Project Period Covered by this Report: August 1, 2017 through July 31,2018
Project Amount: $749,999
RFA: Air Pollution Monitoring for Communities (2014) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Particulate Matter , Environmental Justice , Air Quality and Air Toxics , Airborne Particulate Matter Health Effects , Air

Objective:

The objectives are to:

1. Deploy next-generation, low-cost particle sensors in student-directed studies pertaining to heavy wood smoke impacts in their rural community.
2. Evaluate sensor effectiveness in these collaborative studies.
3. Identify effective community engagement strategies through multigenerational and multicultural outreach.

Progress Summary:

Accomplishments for Year 2 were the following:

1. We are refining the interactive air pollution curriculum with the main components Air Pollution Basics, Air Pollution Sensors, Air Pollution and Health, and Experiment Design and Planning.
2. We deployed a laser-based, low-cost, 5-bin particle counter in conjunction with a micro-aethalometer Aethlabs MA200 at the Yakama Nation/Washington Department of Ecology-operated Toppenish air monitoring site.
3. We deployed the low-cost particle counter at a second Yakama Nation site.
4. We worked with our colleagues and EnvironMentors at Heritage University to develop projects for the high school students at White Swan High School. Four high school students presented their research at the Washington, DC, EnvironMentors National Fair in July 2018.
5. We held a Community Spring Fair at White Swan High School for the High School students to present their posters to their community.
6. We held a Project Advisory Council meeting to receive feedback from community members.

Future Activities:

In Year 3, we will continue to engage with our Project Advisory Council to receive feedback and input on activities. We plan to focus our efforts in mentoring the undergraduate students so that they are more prepared when working with the high school students. We plan to continue revising our curriculum with trainee feedback to tailor it to our student population with the goal sharing this curriculum with the broader community. We plan to maintain the current curriculum's format of short PowerPoint presentation of the material followed by a hands-on interactive activity. We plan to use low-cost sensors throughout the community via student-directed projects or with help from the Project Advisory Council members.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 12 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

Ambient air, sensitive populations, children, human health, particulates, epidemiology, NW, northwest, US EPA Region 10, agriculture, Hispanic, Native American, farmworker

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

2017 Progress Report

2019 Progress Report

Final Report