Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Performance Evaluation of the 3M Charcoal Vapor Monitor for Monitor Low Ambient Concentrations of VOCs
EPA Grant Number: R828678C014Subproject: this is subproject number 014 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R824834
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Airborne PM - Rochester PM Center
Center Director: Oberdörster, Günter
Title: Performance Evaluation of the 3M Charcoal Vapor Monitor for Monitor Low Ambient Concentrations of VOCs
Investigators: Morandi, Maria T. , Croisant, Sharon Petronella , Kwon, Jaymin , Phillips, Michael , Harrist, Ronald , Whitmore, Roy , Stock, Tom
Institution: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston , Research Triangle Institute , California State University - Fresno , The University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston
Current Institution: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston , California State University - Fresno , Research Triangle Institute , The University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: January 2, 2001 through December 31, 2005 (Extended to December 31, 2008)
RFA: Targeted Research Center (2004) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Targeted Research
Objective:
This was a collaborative effort among EPA Region 6, the TCEQ, the NUATRC, the City of Houston, TERC, Harris County, and EHCMA. The 2-year study investigated the correlation between outdoor, indoor, and personal exposure to specific air toxics and compare exposure and self-reported health data from a population living in a defined neighborhood impacted by industrial sources to a matched population living in an area minimally impacted by industrial sources. HEATS attempted to provide data on source-contribution ratios, averaging time comparisons, and amount and duration of exposure. The results attempt to address whether, and to what degree, personal exposure differs from ambient results collected at fixed-monitoring sites. Linking personal exposure data for air toxics to ambient air monitoring data will allow resources to be more effectively targeted in specific geographical or societal areas of concern. The study also had a parallel communication, outreach, and education plan, as recommended by the NUATRC’s Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP). This plan helped ensure that the study aims, processes and goals were adequately communicated to the study participants and greater community, which will help ensure good data quality. It also ensured that the study results were communicated fully to the regulatory community, local leaders and the community, which helped maximize the utility of the study.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The first phase (August 30, 2006-August 31, 2007) of the study was dedicated to laboratory testing of passive sampling devices. During this phase, IRB approvals were obtained and the QA/QC plan was developed. The second phase (September 1, 2007-September 30, 2007) involved recruitment of participants and field-testing of all methods on a sub-sample of the population. Recruitment efforts for the main study began contemporaneously. Phase 3 (October 1, 2007-September 30, 2008) began after the laboratory and field-testing were completed. Two distinct sampling phases were completed. Personal exposure measurements were collected during warm and cool weather conditions. A distinct health effects survey component sought to identify self-reported health effects from the exposure study population. The study concluded (Phase IV, October 1, 2008-April 30, 2009) with data analysis and preparation of a final report. However, because Hurricane Ike and resolution of measurement issues directly impacted the HEATS study, the draft final report was delayed until October 2009.
The main objective of HEATS was to determine if personal exposures to a group of selected hazardous pollutants for adults residing in the Ship Channel area of Houston, Harris County, TX, that has a high density of point source emissions for these contaminants, were higher than those experienced by residents of the Aldine area, located in the same county, where few such sources are present. Indoor, outdoor, and personal concentrations for a group of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of indoor and outdoor origin were monitored for a random sample of adults in each area, selected based on socio-demographic characteristics to be representative of the general population of non-smoking households. Seventy-eight adults were recruited from a corresponding number of houses, as well as 35 children ages 6 to 20 years, also one per household. Forty of the adults resided in the Ship Channel area, and 38 in Aldine. In addition, VOC concentrations were sampled at the closest ambient monitoring site to each residence during personal monitoring days. VOC concentrations and exposures were monitored using passive devices, the main one being the Perkin Elmer (PE) tube with Carbopack X together with organic vapor monitors (OVMs) for a fraction of the indoor samples. In addition, air exchange rates were calculated and information on household and participant characteristics, indoor/outdoor time location budgets, and personal activities were also collected. The study also included administration of questionnaires related to health symptom patterns and environmental risk perception.
However, investigators used hypotheses-testing methods with statistical weights to partially compensate for lower than expected recruitment and enrollment rates to form some conclusions from the study. Personal exposures were higher than residential indoor or outdoor concentrations in both areas. Although there were no statistically significant differences in personal exposures between the two areas, ambient fixed site measurements were higher in the Ship Channel for several compounds with outdoor sources, consistent with the higher emission density in that area. Although personal exposures compared by some participant characteristics such as work status, or residential characteristics such as air exchange rates, were statistically different, inclusion of these variables did not alter the results of hypothesis testing. Likewise, the patterns of self-reported health symptoms were comparable in the two areas, with the exception of a higher prevalence of dermal conditions (eczema) in children, and skeletal-related symptoms (bone pain and bone joint problems) in adults in the Ship Channel. Differences in risk perception were also unremarkable, except for greater confidence in television as a source of information among Ship Channel residents, as well as higher trust that city/county health departments, and private industry are carrying out their missions of protecting people from health risks.
Conclusions:
The main conclusion investigators reached from the study is that, based on the analysis of the data collected, personal exposures in these two areas are similar and do not appear to reflect the differences in the type and density of point source emissions or the ambient concentrations as measured at fixed sites in each of the areas.
Supplemental Keywords:
Asthma, particulate matter, morbidity, airway disease, allergic airway disease, exposure, ozone, respiratory disease, air pollution, human exposure, water quality, environmental tobacco smoke, urban environment, airborne urban contaminants, RFA, Health, PHYSICAL ASPECTS, Scientific Discipline, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, HUMAN HEALTH, Aquatic Ecosystems & Estuarine Research, Genetics, Health Risk Assessment, Risk Assessments, Aquatic Ecosystem, Health Effects, Physical Processes, Biochemistry, asthma, particulate matter, morbidity, airway disease, allergic airway disease, exposure, ozone, respiratory disease, air pollution, human exposure, water quality, environmental tobacco smoke, urban environment, airborne urban contaminantsProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractMain Center Abstract and Reports:
R824834 Airborne PM - Rochester PM Center Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R824834C001 Air Toxics Exposures Among Teenagers in New York City and Los Angeles - A Columbia-Harvard Study (TEACH)
R824834C002 Cardiopulmonary Response to Particulate Exposure
R824834C003 VOC Exposure in an Industry Impacted Community
R824834C004 A Study of Personal Exposure to Air Toxics Among a Subset of the Residential U.S. Population (VOC Project)
R824834C005 Methods Development Project for a Study of Personal Exposures to Toxic Air Pollutants
R824834C006 Relationship Between Indoor, Outdoor and Personal Air (RIOPA)
R824834C007 Development of the "Leland Legacy" Air Sampling Pump
R824834C008 Source Apportionment of Indoor Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Urban Residences
R824834C009 Development of a Personal Cascade Impactor Sampler (PCIS)
R824834C010 Testing the Metals Hypothesis in Spokane
R828678C001 Air Toxics Exposures Among Teenagers in New York City and Los Angeles—A Columbia-Harvard Study (TEACH)
R828678C002 Cardiopulmonary Effects of Metal-Containing Particulate Exposure
R828678C003 VOC Exposure in an Industry Impacted Community
R828678C004 A Study of Personal Exposure to Air Toxics Among a Subset of the Residential U.S. Population (VOC Project)
R828678C005 Oxygenated Urban Air Toxics and Asthma Variability in Middle School Children: A Panel Study (ATAC–Air Toxics and Asthma in Children)
R828678C006 Relationship between Indoor, Outdoor and Personal Air (RIOPA). Part II: Analyses of Concentrations of Particulate Matter Species
R828678C007 Development of the “Leland Legacy” Air Sampling Pump
R828678C008 Source Apportionment of Indoor PAHs in Urban Residences 98-03B
R828678C009 Development of a Personal Cascade Impactor Sampler (PCIS)
R828678C010 Testing the Metals Hypothesis in Spokane
R828678C011 A Pilot Geospatial Analysis of Exposure to Air Pollutants (with Special Attention to Air Toxics) and Hospital Admissions in Harris County, Texas
R828678C012 Impact of Exposure to Urban Air Toxics on Asthma Utilization for the Pediatric Medicaid Population in Dearborn, Michigan
R828678C013 Field Validation of the Sioutas Sampler and Leland Legacy Pump – Joint Project with EPA’s Environmental Technology Validation Program (ETV)
R828678C014 Performance Evaluation of the 3M Charcoal Vapor Monitor for Monitor Low Ambient Concentrations of VOCs
R828678C015 RIOPA Database Development
R828678C016 Contributions of Outdoor PM Sources to Indoor and Personal Exposures: Analysis of PM Species Concentrations” Focused on the PM Speciation and Apportioning of Sources
R828678C017 The Short and Long-Term Respiratory Effects of Exposure to PAHs from Traffic in a Cohort of Asthmatic Children
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.