Diesel exhaust exposure in south Seattle's public parks: A community engagement study

Previous research indicates that elevated levels of diesel exhaust from commercial traffic pose a significant health risk to residents of south Seattle, yet little is known about the spatial variations in diesel exhaust exposure levels within individual neighborhoods. South Park and Georgetown, two of Seattle's most diverse and affordable neighborhoods, contain the primary commercial traffic corridors from the port of Seattle to interstates and state highways. Of the 8 public parks in these neighborhoods, 6 are located on arterial roads where much of this traffic is concentrated. Since users of public parks are exposed to ambient air pollution for prolonged periods of time, diesel exhaust is of particular concern in these areas. This study, a unique collaboration between the University of Washington and local community groups, is a fine-scale assessment of diesel exhaust exposure at the neighborhood level. Using a community engagement approach, we will recruit advisory board members and community volunteers to design and implement a diesel exhaust monitoring plan that will allow us to determine whether diesel exhaust concentrations in these public parks exceed neighborhood averages. During 3 public meetings in spring 2012, community members will select an exposure monitoring method from a toolkit of options presented by the research team. Methods will likely include real-time monitoring of volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and/or ultrafine particles during neighborhood walkabouts. The community may also elect to include video-based traffic detection, nitrogen oxide sampling, or bicycle monitoring in the exposure assessment strategy. The first of three sampling campaigns will take place in August 2012. Preliminary results on concentrations of diesel exhaust in public parks as they compare to average levels in South Park and Georgetown will be available by October 2012.