Impact/Purpose:

1) Assess new and standard air monitoring devices to characterize PM and gaseous air pollutants that are being used in this task.

2) Develop advanced directional analysis techniques (with receptor modeling) to assess transboundary transport of air pollutants and other source impacts. Hypothesis to be tested: Can these wind sector analysis techniques help us identify source location and contribution of transboundary and other sources.

Objectives will be achieved by development of a detailed electronic database for application in the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) to perform statistical assessments and directional techniques on measurements from Border XXI studies, namely the Lower Rio Grande Valley Transboundary Air Pollution Project (TAPP) done in and near Brownsville, TX and Ambos Nogales Air Programs on Arizona/Sonora border. Research includes analysis of submicron PM and gaseous pollutant data from El Paso as part of "Measurement and Modeling of Air Pollutants in El Paso, Texas" study.

Description:

Purpose of research is to use PM2.5, PM10, and gaseous species with meteorology to assess source emission impacts and transboundary air pollution in the U.S.-Mexico border region; this is being done by performing directional analysis techniques based on wind direction analysis and source apportionment/statistical modeling. Border XXI studies in selected air sheds ("Lower Rio Grande Valley Transboundary Air Pollution Project" for Brownsville, Texas and "Ambos Nogales Air Programs" for Arizona/Sonora) are being used to enhance air quality and exposure assessments regarding transboundary air pollution. This work is expected to greatly enhance EPA's U.S.-Mexico Border XXI efforts in Air Quality Workgroup research and is also serving as crucial input for the NERL TD, "Measurement and Modeling of Air Pollutants in El Paso, Texas" (NERL Task # MOD 5) which includes analysis of submicron PM and gaseous pollutants.

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT

Start Date:01/01/2001

Completion Date:09/01/2002

Record ID: 15839

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Project Information:

Progress :An 11-paper, accepted special issue of the Science of the Total Environment entitled, "U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Air Pollution Studies" is being guest edited by Shaibal Mukerjee. The manuscripts include 2 manuscripts on this directional analysis assessment of transboundary air pollution for Brownsville, TX and Nogales, Arizona/Mexico. An additional, submitted manuscript on the communication strategy of transboundary assessments as part of the TAPP has been submitted to the journal, Environmental Management.

ABSTRACT/ORAL
Date Cleared-Citation
27-OCT-99 -Mukerjee, S. Transboundary influences in the lower Rio Grande Valley. Abstract presented at: TAPP Public Meeting, Brownsville, TX, October 27, 1999.

23-NOV-99-Mukerjee, S. Lower Rio Grande Valley transboundary air pollution project (TAPP). Abstract presented at: 1999 Border Environmental Technical Conference, Las Cruces, NM, November 17-19, 1999.

JOURNAL
Date Cleared-Citation
21-SEP-00-Mukerjee, S., Shadwick, D.S., Smith, L., Somerville, M.C., Dean, K.E., and Bowser, J.J. Techniques to assess cross-border air pollution and application to a U.S.-Mexico border region. Accepted by: Science of the Total Environment.

07-JUL-00-Smith, L., Mukerjee, S., Monroy, G.J., and Keene, F.E. Preliminary assessments of spatial influences in the Ambos Nogales region of the US-Mexican border. Accepted by: Science of the Total Environment.

31-OCT-00-Mukerjee, S. Selecetd air quality trends and recent air pollution investigations in the U.S-Mexico border region. Accepted by: Science of the Total Environment.

08-NOV-00-Mukerjee, S. Communication strategy of transboundary air pollution assesments in a U.S.-Mexico Border XXI Program project. Re-submitted to: Environmental Management.

Relevance : Directional analysis and wind sector analysis techniques developed here is expected to greatly enhance U.S.-Mexico Border XXI efforts in Air Quality Workgroup research. Also work will enhance EPA epidemiological investigations in El Paso regarding ultrafine PM effects in children at schools.

Clients :U.S.-Mexico Border XXI Air Quality Workgroup

Project IDs:

ID Code :643

Project type :OMIS