SERA	Particulate Matter

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency	Longitudinal Panel Studies

Filling the Critical Need for PM Data

Particulate Matter (PM) is a complex mixture of chemically diverse materials
and has a little understood, but consistent association with negative health
effects. The National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) conducts
extensive research to aid in the understanding of the health effects of PM
exposure.

The Particulate Matter Longitudinal Panel Studies represent a series of human exposure studies
implemented by various internal U.S. EPA organizations (the NERL and the National Health and
Environmental Effects Research Laboratory) as well as Agency-sponsored external research
organizations (Harvard University, New York University, University of Washington, Research
Triangle Institute). Beginning in 1997, studies were conducted in eight metropolitan areas. These
studies were fundamental in understanding the associations between personal exposure to PM,
PM measured at ambient sites, and health effects, especially for susceptible sub-populations.
Susceptible sub-populations included chronic obstructive-pulmonary disease (COPD) patients,
individuals with cardiovascular disease, the elderly, and asthmatics. Collected data are being used
to develop databases representing actual human exposures. These data fill a critical scientific
need for the Agency in identifying potentially important exposure variables, as well as providing
inputs for modeling and risk assessment.

Several studies showed that, for individuals with little exposure to non-ambient sources,
correlations between personal exposure and ambient PM concentration are high. Still, even for
these studies, correlations varied by individual depending upon their activities and the
microenvironments they occupied. Individual personal PM exposures and the relationship to
ambient concentrations may vary by season, residential and geographical setting, and subject
groupings. Building type and ventilation characteristics strongly influence both exposure levels
and the relationship with ambient concentrations.

What Comes Next

Data from the completed field studies will be validated and databases will be developed to
examine the effects of air shed (location/season), population demographics, and residential setting
(apartment versus stand-alone homes) on the relationship between personal exposure and indoor,
outdoor, and ambient air concentrations for PM/gases. Results will be presented in the peer-
reviewed literature. The combined database will be made publically available. Ultimately, these
studies will provide accurate exposure data and models that will help provide the sound scientific
basis needed for implementing the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for PM.


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Particulate Matter Longitudinal Panel Studies

Benefits

Collected data are being used to develop databases representing actual human exposures
These data fill a critical scientific need for the Agency in identifying potentially important
exposure variables, as well as providing inputs for modeling and risk assessment

Purpose

These studies will provide accurate exposure data and models that will help provide the sound
scientific basis needed for implementing the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for PM.
This effort supports the EPA's goals of sound science and clean air

Milestones

Field studies in eight metropolitan areas have been completed
• Numerous peer-reviewed journal articles have been published based on results from the
exposure studies

Participants

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National
Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory and National Exposure Research
Laboratory, Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division
Harvard University, New York University, University of Washington, and Research
Triangle Institute

National Exposure Research Laboratory

For More
Information:

PM Monitoring Studies

Dr. Roy Zweidinger,
NERL

zweidinger.roy(S?epa.gov

Human Exposure
Monitoring

Dr. Linda Sheldon, NERL

sheldon.linda(S?epa.gov

Ronald Williams
williams.ronald(S?epa.gov
Lance Wallace

wallace.lance(S?epa.gov

Source Apportionment
/ Receptor Modeling

Dr. Charles Lewis,
NERL

lewis. charlesw(S?epa. gov

For more information visit the
National Exposure Research Laboratory
Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division Website:
http://www.epa.gov/heasd/

For more information on this and other NERL science projects, visit our Website

http://www.epa.gov/nerl/

WEBSITE ANNOUNCEMENT

December 2001


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