Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Real-Time Monitoring and Communication of Levels of Fine Particles, Ozone, and Black Carbon in Northern Manhattan
EPA Grant Number: R829324Title: Real-Time Monitoring and Communication of Levels of Fine Particles, Ozone, and Black Carbon in Northern Manhattan
Investigators: Kulikowski, Robert R. , Kinney, Patrick L. , Prakash, Swati
Institution: Borough President of Manhattan , West Harlem Environmental Action (WE ACT for Environmental Justice) , Columbia University in the City of New York
Current Institution: Borough President of Manhattan , Columbia University in the City of New York , West Harlem Environmental Action (WE ACT for Environmental Justice)
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 12, 2001 through October 11, 2005 (Extended to October 11, 2006)
Project Amount: $378,458
RFA: Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) (2001) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Environmental Statistics , Water , Aquatic Ecosystems , Air
Objective:
The primary objective of this project is to develop and implement real-time monitoring data management, and public communication of ambient levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone (O3), and elemental black carbon in the Northern Manhattan neighborhoods of Harlem and Washington Heights. These data, as well as their limitations, will be communicated to Northern Manhattan residents in a way that is accessible and understandable and that can be utilized by residents to reduce their exposure and health risks.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The Uptown Sky project has completed its objectives as it relates to data compilation and data management, and a framework to complete the remaining goals set forth in the Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking proposal has been established. We seek to use the data compiled and managed for this project to enhance public awareness on air pollution, and to communicate the relationship between air quality and health to enable the residents of Northern Manhattan to make informed decisions on daily activities based on air quality information made available. Such objectives aim to improve public health, and public awareness enhanced through this project also serves to contribute to longer-term campaigns to improve environmental conditions, especially as it relates to air quality, in Northern Manhattan.
The following summarizes the status of tasks listed in the EMPACT proposal for Uptown Sky:
Monitoring:
An Extended Range aethalometer measuring black carbon levels is now functioning properly and posts real-time data on a website developed for this project. We have experienced many technical problems with the monitor and have devoted much energy to ensure its repair and proper functioning.
Website:
A website called Uptown Sky (http://www.uptownsky.org Exit ) has been established to access and manage air quality data, and to educate and inform constituents in Northern Manhattan on 1) air pollution, 2) how air pollution affects health, and 3) to provide this relevant data and information on air pollution in Northern Manhattan in a manner that is easily understandable to our constituents.
A manuscript composed for the website explains in detail the definition and sources of air pollution (such as vehicles and toxic sites), the health effects of air pollution (specifically asthma), air pollution as it relates to Environmental Justice, the composition of the most common air pollutants, scientific terminology used to describe pollutants, and steps for individual and community protection against air pollution. Additionally, the web content explains policies and laws relevant to air pollution, and how these laws affect low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.
A consultant will work with WE ACT, a community based Environmental Justice organization in Northern Manhattan, to ensure accessibility for website users. It is imperative that the website be accessible to the constituents of Northern Manhattan in order to achieve the EMPACT program goals of public access and community tracking of air quality data. For this reason, WE ACT is taking great care is to ensure appropriate language for the website text, and is currently designating a health literacy consultant to translate this material from its current 12th grade reading level to language more appropriate to our constituents, specifically sixth grade reading level, and develop a corresponding translation of the material into Spanish.
Website Data Management Systems:
Ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) data continues to be obtained from DEC’s website in a text file formatted database. Although the data is frequently updated automatically, it is not consistently updated hourly. There have sometimes been gaps between the current time and the time when the measurements were last recorded in the database. These time gaps range between three to fourteen hours. Meteorological data is being collected from the website for The Weather Channel (http://www.weather.com Exit ) on an hourly basis, and from a local MET station located beside the black carbon Aethalometer at the WE ACT office in real-time. The Weather Channel data includes daily averages as well as sunrise and sunset. The local MET station particularly collects data, notably temperature, humidity and barometric pressure, at Aethalometer’s airflow sampling inlet in case the black carbon data needs to be adjusted for Standard Pressure (STP) during post analysis by investigators.
Initially we stated that black carbon data would be collected using an ESC-brand data logger. This style of data logger is primarily geared towards collecting data from multiple monitors (onsite and offsite) simultaneously. Since we are only directly collecting data from the WE ACT on-site Aethalometer in real-time, a standard rack-mounted computer was used in place of the ESC data logger. A purpose-designed program was developed and installed on this computer to specifically communicate with the WE ACT Aethalometer in order to collect, archive, and post the black carbon readings to the website.
This equipment is continues to be protected from electrical sags, spikes, and outages using industrial-strength backup batteries.
All data stored on the data logger and the Website Management Center (WMC) is backed up in real-time to a dedicated backup server to provide a second tier of backup redundancy.
Copies of all proprietary software products developed for the purpose-built data logger are maintained on the WE ACT premises in case they need to be re-installed in the event of a possible computer failure or emergency replacement. The data in the backup server can then be copied back to the data logger and/or the WMC that individually act as the first tiers of backup redundancy respectively.
Telephone hotline:
All the computer equipment for the telephone hotline purchased with funds from the grant has been installed and tested. We have placed an order with the phone company to obtain a memorable telephone number that spells a word associated with air monitoring (e.g. 1-646-MONITOR) to serve as Uptown Sky’s hotline. There is currently a backlog on such orders, but we expect to have the line installed by the end of January. Because of the configuration of the telephone exchange in our area obtaining a number that is both memorable and available has proven to be more of a challenge than we originally anticipated.
Traditional media and outreach
A promotional flier and an air pollution fact sheet on Uptown Sky and air quality have been created and will be distributed to Northern Manhattan residents at community board meetings, churches, community based organizations, schools, libraries, and other locales frequented by community members. A workshop at an upcoming community board health committee meetings will introduce Uptown Sky to residents and explain how it can be used as a tool to protect their health from exposure to air pollution. A short news article describing Uptown Sky will be featured WE ACT’s online newsletter, In a WE ACT Minute to be emailed to WE ACT’s membership by the last week of January 2007. A townhall meeting will also take place to encourage community dialogue on this topic.
Radio and Television:
WE ACT and the Manhattan Borough President’s Office have arranged to jointly reach out to news stations to promote Uptown Sky’s website and hotline. A press event will serve to enhance public awareness on air quality issues, and to publicize Uptown Sky, the upcoming town hall meeting.
Print materials:
WE ACT has produced flyers and multi-colored fact sheets that displays the Uptown Sky URL and hotline number and provides information about air pollution. Additionally magnets and pens will advertise Uptown Sky’s URL and hotline number.
Future Activities:
The final stage of Uptown Sky will focus on public communication to make the data obtained and compiled for the purposes of the website and hotline accessible to the residents of Northern Manhattan. As explained throughout the report, such activities include further website development, establishing a hotline, holding a press conference and a townhall meeting, presenting on Uptown Sky at community venues, and further developing print materials for distribution. These activities are in the planning phase due to significant changes in the project schedule throughout the duration of the project due largely to WE ACT staff personnel changes. The Investigators of this project are fully committed to carrying out this project to its completion and have established a workplan for doing so.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 15 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Northern Manhattan, air pollution, ambient air, particulate matter, black carbon, ozone, UV Index, meteorological conditions, air quality index, AQI, monitoring, data management, aethalometer, human health, community health, public health, environmental justice, urban health, communities of color, low-income communities, community awareness, public knowledge, health literacy, community based organization, Harlem, Washington Heights, Manhattan Borough President, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Columbia University, pollution alert, asthma, media, air, global climate, mobile sources, sensitive populations, population, race, ethnic groups, particulates, socioeconomic, community-based, public good, environmental chemistry, social science, ecology, conservation, environmental assets, sociological, observation, e-map, measurement methods, northeast, transportation,, RFA, Health, Scientific Discipline, Air, Geographic Area, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, particulate matter, Bioavailability, Health Risk Assessment, air toxics, Environmental Chemistry, Epidemiology, State, Monitoring/Modeling, Disease & Cumulative Effects, Environmental Monitoring, Biochemistry, tropospheric ozone, particulates, health effects, ambient air quality, sensitive populations, urban air, atmospheric measurements, EMPACT, monitoring, PM 2.5, air pollutants, effects assessment, particulate, stratospheric ozone, airway disease, pulmonary disease, ozone, continuous monitoring, ambient air, air pollution, children, carbon black, particles, human exposue, clinical studies, human exposure, sensitive subgroups, ecological risk, urban soot, ambient particulates, Acute health effects, PM2.5, allergic response, measurement methods , atmospheric chemistryRelevant Websites:
http://www.weact.org/ Exit
http://www.mbpo.org/ Exit
http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/ Exit
http://www.dec.state.ny.us Exit
Progress 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.