Citation:

Holder, A. Particulate Matter Research Study in the Guayama and Salinas area of Puerto Rico: Research Updates for January, 2024. IN: Puerto Rico PM Study Newsletter Email, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, 2, (2024).

Impact/Purpose:

This is a monthly technical newsletter developed by the research team conducting a particulate matter (PM) field study in a community in Puerto Rico concerned about exposure to dust transported from a nearby coal-fired power plant. The newsletter supports Region 2's communication with stakeholders, including with community members interested in learning about the ongoing progress and preliminary data for the research study. After clearance by ORD, the Region plans to develop a Spanish translation version to support community member communications. This project is a special Region 2 - ORD collaborative effort tied to the EPA Administrators Journey to Justice.

Description:

Members of the Puente Jobos community in Puerto Rico shared with EPA concerns they have about particulate matter in their community and whether the location of the regulatory air monitoring site represents the community's exposure. EPA developed a research study design that involves placing a combination of real-time air monitoring sensors measuring PM2.5 and PM10 throughout the community and locating one instrument that collects samples to measure the chemical composition of PM10. The field monitoring study began collecting data with the real-time sensors in mid-June, 2023. This monthly technical summary provides an overview of January's PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations from the sensors to be shared with community members.

Record Details: