NERL Research Abstract EPA's National Exposure Research Laboratory GPRA Goal 1 - Clean Air APM # 512 Significant Research Findings Particulate Matter Monitoring Studies in Phoenix, Fresno, and Baltimore in Support of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards Scientific Problem and Policy Issues In 1997, a new National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2 5) was promulgated. The new standard was developed largely on the basis of epidemiological studies that found relatively consistent but poorly understood associations between daily variations in the mass of ambient PM and various adverse health effects. PM is a complex mixture of chemically diverse materials, and there was little information on how the chemical and physical properties, other than the mass, varied. This left important research questions, including Which of the chemical and physical properties of PM may be associated with the adverse health effects? What are the sources of these particles? and How do ambient PM measurements at a central site actually relate to the real human exposures to particles from indoor, outdoor and personal sources? In addition, the anticipated development of State Implementation Plans (SIPs) to meet the NAAQS for PM suggested the need for a variety of implementation-related research efforts to help guide the development of cost-effective control strategies. Research In response to some of the issues listed above, NERL established PM research Approach monitoring platforms in three urban areas (Phoenix, AZ, Baltimore, MD, Fresno, CA). These areas were selected because the PM was expected to represent a wide range in PM size and composition characteristics. In addition, these cities had planned epidemiological studies on PM. The NERL site data were intended to document how the chemical and physical properties of the ambient PM in those cities varied on a daily basis. Continuous monitors were used to provided average hourly fine and coarse particle mass and meteorological data. Integrated 24-hour samples were collected on filters for determination of mass and composition (elements, organic carbon, and elemental carbon). National Exposure Research Laboratory - September 2000 ------- Results and Results from monitoring in the three cities have helped understanding of the Implications variability, distribution, and composition of PM, both across urban areas and between regions of diverse characteristics (Phoenix: arid with lots of wind- blown dust; Fresno: pollution with high nitrate concentrations, and; Baltimore: a city with a high sulfate background typical of the eastern U.S.). The Phoenix monitoring site data (02/1995- 06/1998) is one of the few PM data sets available that provides a long time-series of daily measurements for research studies. The data were recently used in an EPA sponsored workshop on state-of-the-art receptor modeling techniques (UNMIX and PMF) that may provide new tools for the States to use in developing control strategies to implement NAAQS. Epidemiological studies used the Phoenix data to relate morbidity/mortality to PM size and composition in addition to mass to better understand factors associated with risk. The Baltimore monitoring site (02/1997-09/1998) and Fresno site (06/1997- 06/1999) each supported combined exposure-epidemiological studies conducted by NERL and the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL). Data from the NERL monitoring sites were used to assess temporal and spatial variability across the urban area. Relationships between personal, indoor, outdoor, and ambient monitors in these studies were generally strong. PM2 5 mass showed little spatial variability between the NERL community sites and outdoor exposure locations. Research The epidemiological studies in Phoenix were conducted in collaboration with Collaboration University of Washington. The exposure and epidemiology studies in *tu1l1. . Baltimore and Fresno were conducted in collaboration with NHEERL and their Publications TT „ cooperative agreement partner (Department or Epidemiology-University or North Carolina-Chapel Hill). The Fresno data has also been provided to the California Air Resources Board in support of their own epidemiological studies. Publications and presentations related to the NERL platform database and the above studies are listed here. Evans, G.F., Highsmith, R.V., Sheldon, L.S., Suggs, J.C., Williams, R.W., Zweidinger, R.B., Creason, J.P., Walsh, D., Rodes, C.E., Lawless, P.A. The 1999 Fresno Particulate Matter Exposure Studies: Comparison of community, outdoor and residential PM mass measurements. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association. In press. Landis, M.S., Norris, G.A., Zweidinger, R.B., Williams, R.W., Suggs, J.C. Relationship Between a Community Monitor and Personal Exposure to PM2 5 Mass and Trace Elements in Baltimore, Maryland. Presented at: PM2000: Particulate Matter and Health-The Scientific Basis for Regulatory Decision-Making. Specialty Conference and Exhibition. January; Charleston, SC. Pittsburgh, PA: Air & Waste Management Association. 2000. Mar, T.F., Norris, G. A., Koenig, J.Q., Larson, T.V. Associations between air pollution and mortality in Phoenix, 1995-1997. Environmental Health Perspectives 108: 347-353, 2000. National Exposure Research Laboratory - September 2000 ------- Norris, G.A., Zweidinger, R.B., Bloemen, H.J., Purdue, L.J., Bowser, J., Stevens, R.K. Composition and sources of particulate matter in Phoenix, AZ. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association. Submitted. Williams, R., Suggs, J., Zweidinger, R., Evans, G., Creason, J., Kwok, R., Rodes, C., Lawless, P., Sheldon, L. The 1998 Baltimore Particulate Matter Epidemiology-Exposure Study: Part 1- comparison of ambient, residential outdoor, indoor and apartment particulate matter monitoring. Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology. In press. Willis, R.S. Workshop on UNMIX and PMF as Applied to PM2 5, February 2000. EPA/600/A- 00/048. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC. June 2000. The documented and quality assured databases for each of the three platforms are being made available on the Internet as part of the Office of Research and Development Environmental Information Management System (EIMS). Data analysis and modeling studies will continue and be incorporated into additional reports and articles. Monitoring at the Fresno platform location has continued under EPA's SuperSite program and will provide continued and expanded PM measurement data. For general information regarding the PM monitoring studies, contact: Roy B. Zweidinger, Ph.D. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Exposure Research Laboratory (MD-47) Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 Phone: (919)541-2324 E-mail: zweidinger.roy@epa.gov For inquiries concerning the Phoenix and Baltimore data analysis: Gary Norris, Ph.D. Matthew Landis, Ph.D. U.S. EPA U.S. EPA NERL (MD-47) NERL (MD-47) Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 Phone: (919)541-1519 Phone: (919)541-4841 E-mail: norris.gary@epa.gov E-mail: landis.matthew@epa.gov For inquiries concerning exposure studies: Ronald Williams U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Exposure Research Laboratory (MD-47) Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 Phone: (919)541-2957 E-mail: williams.ronald@epa.gov Future Research National Exposure Research Laboratory - September 2000 ------- |