AAAR 37th Annual Conference October 14 - October 18, 2019 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Evaluation of PM2.5 Exposures for an Environmental Justice Community Using a Low-Cost PM Sensor
Seung-Hyun Cho, Lisa Cicutto, Nalyn Siripanichgon, Michelle McCombs, Molly McCullough, Krysten Crews, Cindy Chang, Ryan Chartier, JONATHAN THORNBURG, Gregory Harshfield, Gregg Thomas, Michael Ogletree, Bradley Rink, RTI International
Abstract Number: 642 Working Group: Aerosol Exposure
Abstract As low-cost air sensors become readily available, communities have opportunities to collect air quality and exposure data to improve their knowledge and contribute to environmental health research and policy decisions. Citizen scientists in Globeville, Elyria Swansea, an environmental justice community in Denver, with help of researchers, conducted air quality and personal exposure measurements for PM2.5 in the Summer and Fall of 2018 and the Winter of 2019. RTI MicroPEM sensors were placed at 12 sites as a neighborhood-scale sensor network, including three sites collocated with reference monitors. Nineteen participants measured their exposures by wearing MicroPEMs and completed time-activity diaries for three 72-hour monitoring periods over three seasons. Ambient PM2.5 data showed spatial variabilities with up to 3 times difference between site pairs. The highest PM levels were measured during the Summer, followed by Winter and Fall, with the difference between Summer and Fall reaching up to 2.5 times at one site. High temporal correlation (r> 0.7) with peaks at morning-evening commuting hours were observed at most sites, suggesting traffic pollution’s influence on the community air quality. However, few sites such as parks showed PM increases in the mid-day during weekends. The individuals’ personal exposure levels varied by day and season with real-time peak concentrations matching participant-reported exposure events related to lifestyle and activity types such as smoking and cleaning. On average, personal exposures were higher than the nearby ambient sensor measurement and lower than the near-road measurement. However, for the individuals with high exposure events, their personal levels were 6-24 times higher than nearby ambient sensor levels. Low-cost sensors have value in assessing the spatial and temporal variabilities of air quality and exposure at high resolution to support epidemiologic models. Additionally, the sensors are useful tools for behavioral intervention to reduce air pollution exposure. EPA Grant Number: RD83618701