Monitoring the Air for Lead Near the Mcclellan-Palomar Airport and Gillespie Field


vvEPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Pacific Southwest, Region 9
Serving Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Island, and 148 Tribes
Air Division
75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
June 2013
800-EPA-WEST • www.epa.gov/region9
MONITORING THE AIR FOR LEAD NEAR THE
MCCLELLAN-PALOMAR AIRPORT AND GILLESPIE FIELD
EPA National Study: Air Monitoring for Lead at Airports
In December 2008, EPA strengthened the health based National Ambient Air Quality Standard for lead based
on new scientific evidence about lead and health, revising it from the level of 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter
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(|ig/m ) averaged over a calendar quarter established in 1978, to 0.15 ug/m averaged over three consecutive
months. In December 2010, EPA also revised air monitoring requirements for this lead standard. State and local
air quality agencies are now required to monitor near industrial facilities with estimated lead emissions of 0.5
tons or more per year and at airports with estimated emissions of 1.0 ton or more per year. EPA also required a
1-year monitoring study of 15 airports with estimated lead emissions between 0.5 and 1.0 ton per year in an
effort to better understand how these emissions affect the air near airports. The study will help EPA determine
whether airports that emit less than 1.0 tons per year have the potential to cause the surrounding areas to exceed
the lead standard.
The data from this 1-year monitoring study and other airport studies will help EPA better understand the
potential impacts of leaded aviation gasoline usage. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible
for overall regulation of aircraft fuels (see section below titled, "FAA's Actions to Reduce Lead Concentrations
at Airports"). EPA is responsible for regulating emissions from aircraft engines (see section below titled, "How-
Data from McClellan-Palomar and Gillespie Field May Be Used").
Monitoring at McClellan-Paiomar Airport and Gillespie Field
Airports for the 1-year monitoring study were selected
based on factors such as the level of piston-engine
aircraft activity and the predominant use of one runway
due to wind patterns. With 2008 lead emissions
estimated at 0.90 tons per year at Gillespie Field and
0.59 tons per year at McClellan- Palomar, these two
airports in San Diego County were chosen for the study.
In February 2012, EPA worked in partnership with the
San Diego Air Pollution Control District (APCD) to
install a monitor by the primary runways at these two
airports to gather data for this study. The McClellan-
McClellan-Palomar Airport
San Diego County, CA

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Palomar Airport and the Gillespie Field monitors were sited at locations representative of the highest expected
air lead concentration. Recently obtained data indicate
that concentrations of lead at the specific McClellan-
Palomar Airport monitor location measured a maximum
three-month average of 0.17 jig/m', which exceeds the
national ambient air quality standard for lead that EPA
revised in 2008. Concentrations at the Gillespie Field
monitor measured a maximum three-month average of
0.07 ug/nr , which is below the national standard. The
San Diego APCD also measures lead at its El Cajon
station, approximately 4.2 kilometers southeast of
Gillespie Field. This monitor shows a maximum three-
month average of 0.01 ug/m , well below the national
standard. This monitor is representative of average levels
across the city of El Cajon.
Information from other airports that have been studied in greater detail indicates that air lead concentrations
decrease within short distances from the take-off areas. Efforts are also underway to study localized impacts
near the McClellan-Palomar Airport to determine how quickly lead concentrations decrease as one moves away
from the take-off area. Preliminary results from this additional short-term sampling effort show levels
decreasing by one to two orders of magnitude from the take-off area to the edge of the airport property.
How Data from McCiellan-Palomar and Gillespie Field May Be Used
The 1-year airport air monitoring study will help EPA to better understand impacts from the use of leaded
aviation gasoline and to inform future airport monitoring needs. EPA is currently collecting and evaluating
information nationwide regarding lead emissions and air concentrations of lead resulting from aviation gasoline
(avgas) combustion by piston-engine aircraft. The information, along with information from McClellan-
Palomar and Gillespie Field will be used to determine whether there is potential for "endangerment" from
avgas. Endangerment refers to the potential for these emissions to cause or contribute to air pollution that may
reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. If EPA finds that there is potential for
endangerment, EPA would establish lead emission standards from this source and the FAA would establish
standards for the composition of aircraft fuel to control lead emissions. More information about this evaluation
is available at: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/aviation.htm
FAA's Actions to Reduce Lead Concentrations at Airports
Aircraft that use leaded fuel are used for many purposes including business and personal travel, aerial surveys,
agriculture, firefighting, law enforcement, medical emergencies, express freight, and instructional flying. The
collective, continued service of aircraft that use leaded fuel in an operationally safe manner is essential.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been actively working with the aviation industry to develop an
unleaded fuel replacement by 2018. In the interim, the FAA is working with airport sponsors to promote the use
of currently available reduced-lead and unleaded fuel formulations, to identify and consider operational changes
at the airports, and implementation of vapor controls for airport fuel storage and dispensing systems that would
mitigate lead emissions. In consultation with airport operators and the EPA, the FAA is working to develop lead
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emission mitigation measures for the airports of concern. For more information, please visit the FAA websites
listed in the "Other Resources" section below.
Health Effects of Lead
Lead can impact human health in several ways, including effects on the nervous system, red blood cells and
cardiovascular and immune systems. Infants and young children are especially sensitive to even low levels of
lead, which may contribute to behavioral and learning problems and lower IQ. Infants and young children can
also be more highly exposed to lead because they often put their hands and other objects into their mouths that
may be contaminated with lead from dust or soil. Children have increased sensitivity due to their developing
nervous systems.
Health Protective Standards for Lead in Outside Air
To protect the public from harmful levels of lead in outside air, EPA established a National Ambient Air
Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead. In late 2008, EPA substantially strengthened this standard by revising it to
be 10 times tighter than the previous standard. This standard is particularly important for improving health
protection, particularly for children. Outdoor concentrations of lead have greatly declined over the past few
decades, in large part due to regulations that removed lead from fuels used in cars and trucks. However, lead
continues to be emitted into the air from sources such as aircraft that depend on leaded fuel. These aircraft
include certain small airplanes used for activities, including business and personal travel, aerial surveys,
agriculture, firefighting, law enforcement, medical emergencies, express freight and instructional flying. Lead is
not contained in kerosene-based jet fuel which is used by most commercial aircraft with turbine or turbo
propeller engines.
Where Lead is Found
Lead can be found in the air, soil, water, consumer products and inside our homes. Much of the lead in the
environment comes from past use of leaded gasoline in cars and trucks, some types of industrial facilities and
past use of lead-based paint in homes. To learn more about lead, where it is found and its health effects, please
refer to the websites listed below.
Concerns About Lead Exposure
To learn more about lead exposure, please visit:
California Department of Public Health's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/CLPPB/Pages/
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/CLPPB/Documents/CLPPB-LearnAboutLead(EVpdf
San Diego County, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
http://www.sdcountv.ca.gov/hhsa/programs/phs/child lead poisoning prevention program/
U.S. EPA
http://www.epa.gov/lead/parents.html
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Other Resources
For more information on FAA's activities, please visit:
http://www.faa.gov/news/
http://www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/
For more information on lead in air, please visit:
http://www.epa.gov/airqualitv/lead/
Contact Information
For questions regarding the study, contact Niloufar Nazmi Glosson, U.S. EPA Region 9, at
Glosson.niloufar@epa.gov or (415) 972-3684.
For questions regarding San Diego APCD's program, contact Robert J. Kard, Air Pollution Control Officer, or
Mahmood Hossain, Chief, Monitoring and Technical Services, San Diego APCD, at (858) 586-2600.
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