Grantee Research Project Results
2019 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: R836185Title: Putting Next Generation Sensors and Scientists in Practice to Reduce Wood Smoke in a Highly Impacted, Multicultural Rural Setting (NextGenSS)
Investigators: Karr, Catharine J. , Larson, Timothy V. , Yost, Michael , Simpson, Christopher , Black, Jessica , Austin, Elena , Riley, Erin , Seto, Edmund
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, 2018 through July 31,2019
Project Amount: $749,999
RFA: Air Pollution Monitoring for Communities (2014) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Environmental Justice , Air Quality and Air Toxics , Air , Airborne Particulate Matter Health Effects , Particulate Matter
Objective:
We propose 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, and 3) Identify effective community engagement strategies through multigenerational and multi-cultural outreach.
Progress Summary:
Accomplishments for year 3 were the following:
1) We continued and enhanced our collaboration with Yakama Nation Environmental Management Program. Specifically, we established a new research relationship with Yakama Nation Head Start preschools, placed low cost particulate matter monitors indoors and outdoors in four locations (two schools, two Head Starts), continued black carbon monitoring, and submitted a successful grant proposal to NIH funded UW EDGE Center: Partnership to characterize PM2.5 in five population centers on the Yakama Nation Reservation and Evaluation of Indoor Air Cleaners.
2) We planned a field trip to EPA Region 10 for three White Swan High School (WSHS) students and one Heritage University (HU) mentor to learn about the wide array of environmental health careers and to share their research. They also met with the EPA Region 10 Deputy Administrator and the Senior Tribal Policy Advisor.
3) We organized a community event where three WSHS students and three HU mentors share their research posters. Representatives from the Heritage University Nursing School were also present and provided some health screenings to community attendees.
4) Three student research projects were completed in this time frame, and they address: variability in air quality between different classrooms at WSHS, spatial variability in ambient PM2.5 and association with temperature, and comparison between indoor and outdoor air quality in home.
5) Three WSHS students presented at the Washington DC EnvironMentors National Fair in July 2019.
6) We trained three HU mentors in deploying and downloading data from Purple Air monitors and introduced mentors to R coding.
7) We continued collaboration with HU mentors on refining the interactive air pollution curriculum.
8) We had a Project Advisory Council meeting to receive feedback from community members.
Future Activities:
We plan on doing the following activities:
1) Organize and prepare the air quality curriculum for wider sharing.
2) Leverage ongoing partnership, building with UW EDGE Center project activities with the Yakama Nation Environmental Management program: mobile air quality monitoring, PM sample collection and compositional analysis, HEPA air cleaner pilot testing.
3) Continue Purple Air monitoring and assessment.
4) Continue black carbon monitoring and data preparation.
5) Prepare qualitative analysis manuscript evaluating perceived impact of the project on the Yakama Nation Environmental Management Program activities, priorities, and capacity.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 12 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Ambient air, sensitive populations, children, human health, particulates, epidemiology, NW, northwest, EPA Region 10, agriculture, Hispanic, Native American, farmworkerProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe 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.