The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #74522

Samuel Dorevitch, MD, MPH, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2121 W. Taylor, M/C 922, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-996-0806, sdorevit@uic.edu, Victoria Persky, MD, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (MC 923), University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, Peter Scheff, PhD, School of Public Health/Occupational and Evironmental Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 914 S. Wood Street, M/C 684, Chicago, IL 60612, and Serap Erdal, PhD, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Science, University of Illinios at Chicago School of Public Health, 2121 W. Taylor Street, M/C 922, Chicago, IL 60612.

Background: Thousands of public housing units across the US are being demolished. Populations at risk for severe asthma live in and around public housing developments. The particulate matter generated by demolition may represent a threat to the health of people living nearby. Methods: Before and during demolition of two high-rise public housing developments, measurements of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 and 2.5 microns (PM10 and PM2.5, respectively)were made approximately 5 days per week. Additionally, over an 8 hour period samples were collected for particle microscopy and for gravimetric comparisons of upwind and downwind samples. Results: PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations did not violate EPA standards and were similar to measurements made at regional EPA monitoring sites. During interior demolition, PM10 concentrations increased by approximately 50% (p<0.05). Microscopy demonstrates that PM samples obtained adjacent to the demolition site contain materials that are not typical of urban air pollution and were likely generated by demolition activities. An ad hoc public housing environmental task force was instrumental in modifying demolition practices to minimize exposure. Conclusions: Public housing demolition appears to increase local concentrations of PM10. The composition of particulate matter generated by demolition differs from typical urban air pollution. Although the health consequences of this exposure remain to be determined, a variety of measures shoul be implemented to protect a vulnerable population. The collaboration of researchers with concerned community members can produce change in demolition practices.

Learning Objectives:

Participants in this session can be expected to:
• Describe various measures of asthma severity and how they are impacted by particulate matter exposure.
• List several methods of characterizing the particulate matter exposure that is produced by demolition activities.
• Suggest methods of minimizing particulate matter exposure during public housing demolition.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.