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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Brennan Martin, MPH, Statistics, Department of Health, 108 Cherry St, Burlington, VT 05401, 802-999-3833, bmartin@vdh.state.vt.us, Mark Woodin, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, 200 College Avenue, Anderson Hall, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, and Vithal Deshpande, Environmental Protection, Department of Public Works, City of Somerville, Massachusetts, 1 Franey Road, Somerville, MA 02145.

Exposure to high levels of particulates has been linked to adverse health outcomes such as asthma, lung cancer, and death from myocardial infarction. Many communities are concerned about different types of particulate air pollution, but lack the resources to collect measurements that would identify if there is a problem and, if so, what direction interventional policy should take. We studied fine particulate air pollution (Ан 0.3 microns) in the city of Somerville, Massachusetts, an urban community of approximately 80,000 residents. Somerville is a high population density, Environmental Justice Community as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. Sampling was done in August of 2005. Particulate data were obtained from eight sites in Somerville. The areas measured reflect different motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic patterns and different neighborhood types (for example, business versus residential). The data were collected using a hand held particulate counter. These data were then used to generate a profile of fine particulate air pollution for the city. Locations that were identified as being near high levels of traffic had an average particulate level of 40,197 particles/L. Locations removed from high levels of traffic had an average particulate level of 33,226 particles/L. Even communities with limited resources can use simple data collection techniques to gather the data they need to answer pressing questions about particulate air quality. Also, collaboration between a university and community need not be expensive or human resource intensive.

Learning Objectives: After viewing this poster, attendees will be able to

• Understand how to assess outdoor air quality in an urban setting.
• Identify what types of urban areas may have potentially problematic air particulate levels.
• Learn methods for constructing a meaningful university-city partnership in the face of limited resources.

Keywords: Air Quality, Urban Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No