Grantee Research Project Results
1998 Progress Report: Measurement and Source Apportionment of Human Exposures to Toxic Air Pollutants in the Minneapolis - St. Paul Metropolitan Area
EPA Grant Number: R825241Title: Measurement and Source Apportionment of Human Exposures to Toxic Air Pollutants in the Minneapolis - St. Paul Metropolitan Area
Investigators:
Institution: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency , University of Minnesota , The University of Texas at Austin
Current Institution: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency , University of Minnesota
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: February 10, 1997 through February 9, 2000 (Extended to February 9, 2001)
Project Period Covered by this Report: February 10, 1998 through February 9, 1999
Project Amount: $553,658
RFA: Air Quality (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Air
Objective:
The two major objectives of the project are to:(1) apportion the relative contributions of point, area, and mobile sources to measured ambient concentrations of selected toxic air pollutants (i.e., a suite of volatile organic compounds) in three communities in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area; and (2) apportion the relative contributions of measured ambient (outdoor) concentrations and indoor residential concentrations to measured personal exposures for the selected air toxics in these same three communities.
Progress Summary:
We completed an emission inventory and air dispersion modeling study to predict concentrations of specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the twin cities metropolitan area. Based upon the air dispersion modeling results, we selected three neighborhoods for our exposure monitoring study (Phillips, Battle Creek, and East St. Paul?see the 1997 Annual Report for descriptions of neighborhoods). Neighborhood monitoring sites were identified in each neighborhood and leases were established to conduct air monitoring at those locations.We conducted a pilot monitoring study to evaluate the performance of the OVMs (also called badges) under cold temperature conditions (described in the 1997 Annual Report).
We received additional funding from the University of Minnesota to add particles to the study. The Institutional Review Board approved the addition of particles. A subset of study participants will now wear personal particle samplers (PM2.5) in addition to the OVMs. Those participants will have particle sampling done in their homes. The neighborhood sampling sites also will be equipped with both PM10 and PM2.5 samplers. The addition of particle sampling delayed the startup of sampling by approximately 1 year and, as a result, we are requesting a 1-year, no-cost extension to the grant.
In December 1998 and January 1999, we conducted a pilot study in which project staff wore the sampling equipment over a period of 10 days. Based upon the results of this pilot study, we made modifications to the procedures for outfitting study participants with monitoring equipment.
Beginning in 1999, we ran advertisements and began recruiting potential study participants with a goal of identifying 40?50 potential participants in each neighborhood. In subareas of the neighborhoods where the response was limited, we placed fliers door-to-door. By mid-April, we had sufficient numbers in the pools for each neighborhood. In early April, we began enrolling participants (visiting their homes and conducting an enrollment interview with completion of a questionaire). By late April, we had enrolled 23?25 participants in each neighborhood. We began personal monitoring on the evening of April 20. The sampling events to date have occurred without significant problems.
Future Activities:
The first round of sampling will occur from mid-April to early June 1999, and is now underway. So far, the personal and neighborhood sampling has gone smoothly with nearly 100 percent data capture. The second round will occur from mid-June to early August, and the third round in October and November. Database development is underway.Journal Articles on this Report : 3 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 22 publications | 15 publications in selected types | All 15 journal articles |
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Perlin SA, Sexton K, Wong DW. An examination of race and poverty for populations living near industrial sources of air pollution. Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology 1999;9(1):29-48. |
R825241 (1998) R825241 (Final) |
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Phillips CV, Sexton K. Science and policy implications of defining environmental justice. Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology 1999;9(1):9-17. |
R825241 (1998) R825241 (Final) |
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Sexton K, Adgate JL. Looking at environmental justice from an environmental health perspective. Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology 1999;9(1):3-8. |
R825241 (1998) R825241 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
midwest, EPA Region 5, community based, indoor air., Health, Scientific Discipline, Air, Geographic Area, air toxics, Environmental Chemistry, State, Risk Assessments, mobile sources, indoor air, Atmospheric Sciences, ambient air quality, Minnesota, air pollutants, dispersion model, ambient monitoring, chemical mixtures, metal concentrations, emissions inventory, human exposure, toxicity, aerosol, indoor air quality, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), human health, atmospheric chemistry, dispersion modeling, emission inventoriesProgress 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.