Public Health & Particulate Matter Columbus / Palomas Air Quality Study Thomas Ruiz, M.S. Border / Environmental Justice Liaison New Mexico Environment Department– Office of the Secretary

This Presentation  Public health and particulate matter (PM) –Health effects from elevated PM –Recent findings  Columbus / Palomas Air Monitoring Study –Project review –Presentation of data (1-year) –Implications of this study

Target Organ: Lungs  PM10 is among the most harmful of all air pollutants.  When inhaled these particles evade the respiratory system's natural defenses and lodge deep in the lungs.

Serious Health Effects from PM10

Who is at risk in New Mexico? Mesilla Valley Inn

Pregnant Women & Particulate Matter Latzin, et al University of Bern  Study and Findings –Focused on maternal exposure to PM10 and distances from their residence to major roads during pregnancy. –Pregnant women exposed to high levels of PM10 have increased risk of giving birth to infants with compromised respiratory status. –Worse degree of respiratory illness in infants whose mothers lived less than 150 meters from a major road and when mother was exposed during third trimester –(Reuters Health Information – November 2008)

Air Quality Monitoring and School Absenteeism in the Columbus- Palomas, Mexico Region  Larry Olsen, Dr.P.H., CHES, Principal Investigator  Mohammed Y. Hussain, PhD, Program Manager  Thomas Ruiz, MS, Co-Principal Investigator  Sonya Andron, MPH, Co-Principal Investigator  Daniel Galindo, MS, Field Coordinator  Hugo Vilchis, MD, MPH

Research  Funded by the Southwest Consortium for Environmental Research Policy (SCERP) –$58,000 grant awarded –Based on community EH priorities  Binational study  Record every 6 days for 12 months  Air quality awareness and education  Two PM10 air monitors and one PM2.5 monitor

PM10 Concentration at Two Sites

PM10 Concentration at Two Sites – One Year Summary

PM2.5 Concentration PM2.5 Concentration Columbus (INS Inspection Station), New Mexico

Observations w/ Respect to Wind  Based on Santa Teresa wind data: –Most of the exceedances in Palomas were low wind events (<20 mph)  High wind event is >18 m/s or 40 mph  As reported to EPA under the NEAP –Days with exceedances in Palomas had gusts up to 20 mph. –PM2.5 exceedances at Port of Entry could be linked to traffic flow  Increased around holidays

Relevance of this Work  Increase in monitoring to complete picture of the border area  Modeling of weather related phenomenon such as high wind days  University research  Public information  Health studies

Future Work  E-BAM study (possible) –Commenced in Sunland Park, NM and Anapra, MX in October ’08 –Continuous sampling –Real-time accurate results  Tree planting –Trees provided by NMED –Successful in Anapra (US and Mexico)

Contact Information Thomas Ruiz, M.S Border / Environmental Justice Liaison New Mexico Environment Department Office of the Secretary (575)