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RARE PROJECT: QUANTIFYING THE IMPACT OF AN AUTOBODY SHOP COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN LAWRENCE, MA ON SHOP EMISSIONS AND RESIDENTIAL EXPOSURES TO HDI AND OTHER ISOCYANTES
Impact/Purpose:
The research objectives are as follows:
(1) Use dispersion modeling, based on emissions data gathered both from shop owners and from in-shop/stack monitors, to delineate the ambient concentration zone of influence of emissions from the auto body shops, both before and after additional shops come into compliance with use of spray guns and other emission reduction strategies.
(2) Compare dispersion model predictions against ambient monitoring data in the zone of influence of the shops, in order to "ground-truth" modeled estimates.
(3) Quantify human exposures to HDI, using dispersion model results and human activity information (e.g., time residents spend in high, medium, and low concentration zones) (and personal residential monitoring data if possible), for the population affected by the auto body shops, both before and after interventions at the shops.
(4) Based on the outcomes of the other objectives, determine the effectiveness of controls in reducing emissions and residential exposures.
Description:
This is an ORD Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) study with EPA Region 1. For the past several years Region 1 has been managing an EPA grant for an auto body shop compliance assistance project in Lawrence, MA to address residents' concerns about auto body shops as a source of community air toxins. Lawrence is one of the 25 poorest cities in the US with the highest pediatric asthma rate in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is an environmental justice community, with a population that is ~70% Hispanic and an average income of less than $10,000 per year. Currently, of the 45 auto body shops present in the 7 square mile area, there is a reported compliance rate of only 20%. The residents are concerned about the close proximity of these shops to their homes and are particularly concerned about the high asthma rate that they attribute to shop emissions. There is currently limited information on non-occupational exposures to isocyanates. Based on occupational studies, exposures to this class of chemicals, e.g., Hexamethylene Di-isocyanate (HDI), which is unique to polyurethane paints used in the shops during spray painting operations, can result in increased airway obstruction or occupational asthma. This RARE project is intended to quantify the impact of Lawrence's auto body shop training program and use of laser gun technology on reducing emissions of and human exposures to isocyanates in the affected population. Project outcomes will include (1) a quantitative comparison of pre-and post intervention ambient concentrations; (2) a quantitative comparison of pre-and post- intervention human exposures; and (3) an evaluation of dispersion modeling and exposure modeling predictions against stationary and personal exposure monitoring data.