1 PM NAAQS: Update on Coarse Particle Monitoring and Research Efforts Lydia Wegman, Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards, EPA Presentation at the WESTAR Spring Business Meeting April 3, 2007

2 PM NAAQS Review: Overview and Schedule EPA working to complete all NAAQS reviews within 5-year timeframe as required by Clean Air Act Final decision on PM standards signed September 2006; next PM NAAQS review begun October 2006 Estimated completion dates for key milestones in next review:  Kickoff Workshop: July 2007  Integrated Review Plan: December 2007  Science Assessment: September 2009  Risk/Exposure Assessment: April 2010  Policy Assessment: May 2010  Proposed Rule: December 2010  Final Rule: September 2011 Significant new research on PM completed or underway to help inform science assessment  Speciated monitoring program to help characterize PM components  Variety of new scientific studies focusing on PM health effects

3 NCore Multi-pollutant Network: Overview of Requirements for PM Between 60 and 75 stations must be operational by January 1, 2011  Most sites will be in urban areas, but approximately 20 will be in rural areas  NCore monitoring plans are due July 1, 2009  Many sites will be operational well before the 2011 deadline Proposed NCore sites are already partially operational in many States with ongoing equipment procurement and operator training Required coarse particle (PM ) measurements (all sites)  Total mass sampled on at least a 1-in-3 day frequency or using an approved continuous method when such a method is available  Mass speciation on at least 1-in-3 day frequency Speciation issues under consideration  Currently available dichotomous samplers are a logical choice. Other sampling configurations may be appropriate  Analysis options will likely share some characteristics with the PM 2.5 speciation network. Additional options include other source markers, endotoxins, and other “non-traditional” parameters  The PM speciation “piece” will likely be the last measurement to be implemented so we have time to work out these issues

4 NCore Multi-pollutant Network: Additional Information and Requirements Other required measurements include:  Fine particle mass and speciation (1-in-3 day frequency)  Continuous fine particle mass  Ozone  Trace level precursor gases (CO, SO 2, NO Y )  Basic meteorology We will be working with States to review the locations of candidate sites in advance of the plan due date Operator training is being provided on the new monitoring methods needed for NCore Candidate NCore Site Locations More information:

5 Research to Inform the Next Review: The EPA Air Research Program Majority of EPA-sponsored air research is focused on supporting the review of the primary (health-based) NAAQS for PM  Accomplished through a combination of in-house efforts and the EPA grants program One major goal of current research efforts is to inform decisions about coarse particles (PM ) in the next review Ongoing studies evaluate health effects of coarse particles in general while planned studies will also focus on the differences between urban and rural particles

6 Research to Inform the Next Review: Highlights of Ongoing Studies Panel study:  EPA scientists are studying a population of asthmatics to determine whether health-related endpoints change in response to fluctuations in ambient levels of coarse (PM 10 ) and/or fine PM  Volunteers are being evaluated for markers of a variety of cardiovascular endpoints Human clinical studies:  In two studies, EPA scientists are exposing either mild asthmatics or healthy individuals to coarse concentrated ambient particles (PM ) from Chapel Hill, North Carolina  Changes are being evaluated in a variety of cardiac and pulmonary endpoints A series of recent and ongoing animal/cell culture studies are also investigating the effects of coarse particles (PM ) on cardiopulmonary-related health endpoints

7 Research to Inform Next Review: Highlights of Planned Research on Urban vs. Rural Particles A series of projects will compare coarse particles from urban areas with coarse particles from rural areas  Health effects work evaluating cardiopulmonary-related endpoints will be conducted in humans, animals, and cultured cells and will attempt to link effects with specific sources  Exposure work will evaluate the spatial distribution and composition of coarse PM in urban versus rural areas This work will be conducted through a combination of in-house efforts and the EPA grants program  Includes an RFA that will fund multiple studies on coarse PM with an urban versus rural emphasis The current plan is that this work, to the extent possible, will be complete in time to inform the next review of the PM NAAQS (e.g., published by early 2009 at the latest)

8 Research to Inform Next Review: Highlights of Planned Research on Particle Size A series of projects will compare health effects and exposures across size fractions  Health effects work will evaluate the relative potency of coarse, fine, and ultrafine PM in human volunteers, animals, and cultured cells  Exposure work will characterize the relationship between ambient levels and human exposures for particles in different size fractions This work will be conducted through in-house efforts The current plan is that this work, to the extent possible, will be complete in time to inform the next review of the PM NAAQS (e.g., published by early 2009 at the latest)