Sorting Code: Particulate Matter "Supersites" Program, 99-NCERQA-X1
Title: Gulf Coast Aerosol Research and Characterization Program (GC-ARCH)
Principal Investigator: David Allen, The University of Texas at Austin
Co-Principal Investigator: Matthew Fraser, Rice University
Co-investigators: D. Collins, Texas A&M; S. Dasgupta, Texas Tech; S. Hering, Aerosol Dynamics; P. Hopke, Clarkson University; A. Russell, Georgia Tech; A. Wexler, University of Delaware
Collaborating institutions: Brookhaven National Laboratory, City of Houston, Houston Regional Monitoring Network, Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission, Mickey Leland National Urban Air Toxics Research Center, NOAA, Texas Hazardous Substance Research Center, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, Southern California Center for Airborne Particulate Matter, Southern Oxidants Study, University of Texas Houston Health Science Center
Lead Institutions: The University of Texas at Austin, Rice University
Project Period: 12/1/99 - 9/30/03
Project Cost: $3,650,000
Project Summary:
A fine particulate matter (fine PM) "Supersite" for Southeastern Texas is proposed. This Supersite would be located in a region where approximately 2.5 million people may be exposed to annual average PM concentrations in excess of 15 mg/m3. Significant fine PM exposures are not the only rationale, however, for choosing Southeastern Texas as a location for a PM Supersite. The Houston area is home to the largest concentration of petrochemical manufacturing facilities in the United States, and as a consequence the industrial source signatures for PM and PM precursors are strong, particularly for organics. Emissions from typical urban anthropogenic sources and biogenic sources are also significant. Finally, exposure studies, toxicological studies, and a large ambient air quality field study are planned for the summer of 2000 in Southeastern Texas. These studies will provide valuable data sets that can be combined with the data to be collected by the program described in this proposal.
Objectives: The specific objectives of the research program described in this proposal will be
1. to collect physicochemical data on fine PM that can be used to characterize spatial and temporal variability in fine PM source contributions and composition, in Southeastern Texas
2. to characterize spatial and temporal variability in fine PM source contributions and composition, throughout the southeastern United States, and
3. to examine the physical and chemical process that govern PM formation and transformation in Southeastern Texas
Three additional objectives will be addressed by integrating the measurements made in this program with measurements to be made in separately funded studies. These objectives will be:
4. to develop a combined database on PM, gas phase air pollutants and meteorological variables, suitable for testing models of the formation and fate of fine PM; this objective will be achieved by coordinating with a large, integrated ozone and PM field study planned by the Southern Oxidants Study
5. to examine exposures to fine PM from specific source categories in Southeastern Texas; this objective will be achieved by coordinating with an exposure study currently underway in Houston, funded by the Mickey Leland National Urban Air Toxics Research Center, and
6. to relate the physicochemical data on fine particulate matter to mammalian cell responses; this objective will be achieved by coordinating with an EPA funded project currently underway at the University of Texas Houston Health Science Center.
Approach: The proposed measurements would be made at 3 core sites. The core sites will be tied to approximately 20 peripheral, fine PM monitoring sites operated by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and other organizations. Measurements will be made over a 16 month period, beginning in June, 2000. To maximize leveraging opportunities, a 6 week intensive sampling program, during August and September 2000, will be embedded in the 16 month field program. The specific measurements to be made, and the relationship of the measurements to the study objectives, are described in detail in the proposal.
Expected Results: The three primary objectives of the Supersites program, as described in the Request for Applications, are to characterize particulate matter and its sources, support health effects and exposure research, and to conduct methods testing. The proposed program will address each of these program goals and will test a number of scientific hypotheses.
Characterizing particulate matter and its sources: Spatial and temporal variability in fine PM source contributions and composition will be assessed in Southeastern Texas and throughout the Southeastern United States. In addition, the chemical and physical processes that control fine PM formation in regions with substantial emissions of organics will be examined. Some of the hypotheses that will be examined are (a more complete list is given in the proposal):
Collaboration with investigators performing PM exposure and toxicology studies will allow the following hypotheses related to health effects and exposure to be examined:
Finally, methods testing, and evaluation of different methods of characterizing PM will be quantitatively examined in both the 6 week and 16 month programs.
Supplemental Keywords: air; fine particulate matter, measurement methods; EPA Region 6; Texas
To Texas Air Quality Study (TexAQS 2000)
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