Grantee Research Project Results
Statewide Air Quality Study- MMP 2.0 Earmark
EPA Grant Number: EM840663Title: Statewide Air Quality Study- MMP 2.0 Earmark
Investigators: Fuller, Sheeron
Institution: Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control
EPA Project Officer: Brooks, Donald
Project Period: December 1, 2023 through November 30, 2027
Project Amount: $440,000
RFA: Congressionally Directed Spending (2023)
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Air , Air Toxics
Description:
The communities surrounding the upper Route 9 Corridor in New Castle County, Delaware have voiced concerns regarding local air quality due to surrounding industry and traffic. For decades, residents of the communities along the Route 9 corridor have been exposed to air pollution including air toxics associated with industrial facilities and mobile sources that are located close to homes, schools, and parks. Monitoring air toxics presents an opportunity to begin to address many of the problems that have negatively impacted the health, well-being, and quality of life of generations of Delawareans living in these communities.
Located west and south of the Port of Wilmington, the community is surrounded by various industrial facilities along Route 9 as well intersected by the Interstate 495 and 295 corridors, with the Delaware River to the east. Residents are specifically concerned that their communities continually show up as hotspots of air pollution in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) pollution modeling products that are not detected by the State’s regulatory air monitoring network.
To address these concerns Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Division of Air Quality (AQ) seeks to conduct a yearlong study using select air sensors and volatile organic compound (VOC) canister sampling deployed in a central location relative to the communities. AQ will be seeking to contract third-party support for technical advisement on sensor selection and deployment. Support will also be sought for data analysis and outreach.
Objective:
Project Objectives Include:
· Deploy air sensors and collecting samples for a yearlong study to evaluate major pollutants and volatile organic compounds to address community concerns regarding air pollution in the Route 9 corridor.
· Compare data to collocated sensors and sampling performed at AQ’s MLK NCore/PAMS site in Wilmington, DE to provide quality assurance for the sensors and to test the air monitoring network’s representativeness.
· Continue outreach efforts with the Route 9 Corridor communities to address concerns and educate about how AQ monitors and controls for air pollution.
Data analysis objectives:
· Compare data with collocated sensors and regulatory monitors and sample data to trends to determine if there is a significant difference in pollutant concentrations detected in the Route 9 community vs DAQ’s monitoring network, this includes descriptive statistics, seasonal analysis, etc.
· Comparison of data to relevant EPA standards and benchmarks
· Evaluate sensor data for bias with regulatory monitors
· Verify the algorithms produced for low-cost sensors (e.g., Purple Air) are applied accurately and correctly to sensor data recorded.
· Determine how reproducible results are from one sensor to the next
Approach:
The MMP 2.0 van will require significant modifications to support AQ’s needs. Electric power up to 15 amps at 120V will need to be available via outlets to power equipment internally. The ability to mount equipment on the roof of the vehicle and access inlets by staff will require a custom platform to protect the roof’s integrity. Additionally, HVAC will be required to keep equipment between 20-30°C at all times of year.
AQ will (following the State of Delaware Procurement & Purchasing Policies and Procedures) and through a vendor modify an electric cargo van to support several types of sensors. The van will be modified to support the following:
· Inlets for equipment that need them/and or options for future use
· Mounting for external equipment
· Rack mounting for instrument installation with room for flexibility
· Temperature control; heating and cooling
· Consideration for staff workstation
· Cell modem for data transmittal
· Computer for data acquisition
Dust, air toxics, and industrial sources are the most common concerns voiced by communities. However, Delaware is in non-attainment for the 2015 ozone standard in New Castle County, so ozone and ozone precursors are also of interest. Equipment to include:
· Continuous PM2.5 / PM10 monitor
· Black Carbon via Aethalometer
· Volatile Organic Compound sampler
· BTEX auto-GC
· Ozone analyzer
· Nitrogen dioxide analyzer
· Sulfur dioxide analyzer
· Meteorological sensor package
The redevelopment of the MMP program will enable AQ to use it for deployment to address community air quality concerns throughout the state. The MMP 2.0 will also serve as a platform for AQ to test new equipment, test air sensors, address data quality assurance questions, and to test the air monitoring network’s representativeness. When not being used for projects or air monitoring studies the MMP 2.0 will serve as an outreach tool addressing electric vehicle adoption and educating on AQ’s air monitoring program. Operation of PM2.5 or other NAAQS pollutants air monitoring in accordance with all EPA requirements leading to collection of quality assured ambient air quality data to help ensure that more Americans are living and working in areas that meet high air quality standards.
Expected Results:
- The air pollution data collected by the Mobile Monitoring Platform (MMP) will be analyzed, summarized, reported to the public, and shared on the Division of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) website.
- Report expenditures of grant funds via completion of procurement or taking delivery of air monitoring equipment for enhancing ambient air monitoring activities of PM2.5 or other National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) pollutants.
- Report status of setting up and installing of equipment to begin use of actual equipment as part of local air quality studies.
- Report draws down of federal funds upon delivery and acceptance of grant funded equipment.
- Submit semi-annual progress reports electronically to the federal Project Officer within 30 days of end of reporting period.
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.