1. ORISE Participant at EPA Office of Research and Development
The Air Sensor Citizen Science Toolbox: A Collaboration in Community Air Quality Monitoring and Mapping
Amanda Kaufman
ORISE Participant at EPA Office of Research and Development
Office of Research and Development
Air, Climate, and Energy Research Program
February 11, 2015

2. Coauthors EPA ORD National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL)
Ron Williams, Timothy Barzyk
EPA Region 2
Marie O’Shea, Anhthu Hoang, Patricia Sheridan
Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC)
Molly Greenberg

3. Overview Sensor technology to enable citizen science
Air pollution and communities
Introduction of EPA’s Air Sensor Toolbox
Ironbound community pilot project
EPA’s Citizen Science Air Monitor (CSAM)

4. High interest by public for more personal information
What about my exposure, my family, my neighborhood?

5. Sensor Technology is Enabling Citizen Science
Citizen Science for a variety of interests:
Individual Health
Community Exposures
Research
Education
Technology

6. Air Pollution and Communities
High densities of roadways and industrial operations  exposure to a variety of airborne pollutants
Nitrogen Oxides
Sulfur Oxides
Particulate Matter
Air Toxics
Sources tend to be concentrated in low-income urban areas
Health consequences of poor air quality = high disease rates for respiratory and cardiovascular conditions and potentially cancer
Communities hosting high densities of roadways and industrial operations are exposed to a variety of airborne pollutants
Sources tend to be concentrated in low-income urban areas like the Ironbound in Newark, NJ

7. Research in Action
Collect air quality data to characterize near-road/near-source hotspots
Determine potential impact on nearby residences & roadways
Case study of successful use of such data
Relationship between distance to roadways and industrial sources, exposure to pollutants, and disease outcome
Policy recommendations: Land use policies and building codes to provide health protection
Cities in U.S. and Europe have enacted rules and achieved positive public health outcomes

8. To help citizens more accurately and reliably collect air quality data in their community, including information on:
Low cost sensor performance information
Generalized calibration/validation approaches
Sampling methodologies
Measurement methods options
Data interpretation guidelines
Education and outreach

9. Funding
Resource
Guide

10. Ironbound Community Bound by: Highways Waterways Railroads
Newark Airport
Port Newark/Elizabeth
East Ward of Newark, NJ
There are numerous hazardous waste sights & industrial facilities located near residences
Port Newark, one of the nation’s largest seaports. Every day, 10,000 trucks stream in and out of the Ironbound, spewing diesel fumes.
The Ironbound also houses the nation’s fifth largest sewage treatment facility, a large power plant, an incinerator, several chemical refineries and multiple toxic waste dumps

11. Ironbound Community
Who lives in Ironbound?
Pop. 50,000; densely populated; diverse
3/4 of the population are foreign born- Speaking Portuguese or Spanish
¼- ½ live below the poverty level
More than ¼ of children diagnosed with asthma
Community members are aware of the environmental issues they face and they want to work to alleviate them

12. EPA’s Motivation: Research to Action
Region 2 and ORD look to become leaders in EPA’s Citizen Science Initiative by enabling community-based environmental monitoring efforts
EPA is working with community partners to:
Develop and test CS air monitoring protocol
Test effectiveness of low-cost sensor technologies for community-based data collection
Provide tools to assist the community in implementing a study design of their choice

13. Citizen Science Toolbox: Resources and Guidance
Identify pollutants of interest, appropriate sensors
Basic Operating Procedure guide for sensors
Quality assurance guidelines for sensors
EPA-led community training on sensor use
Guidance and deployment based on pollutants and sources
Basic ideas for data analysis, interpretation, and communication

14. BGI sharp-cut cyclone inlet Arduino Uno microprocessor
EPA’s Citizen Science Air Monitor (CSAM)
BGI sharp-cut cyclone inlet
personal DataRAM
nephelometer
CairClip
NO2 sensor
AirChek 52 sampling pump
Arduino Uno microprocessor
Honeywell
temp/RH sensor
CSAM
plug
Battery plug
Access door
Mention size of CSAM unit. Roughly 2’ x 1.5’ x 0.5’

15. Potential Monitoring Sites

16. Summary ORD is supporting the improvement of citizen science
Ironbound air monitoring project presents the opportunity to apply EPA research and tools to community issues
Provides foundation for future community interactions
Contacts:
Ron Williams
Amanda Kaufman
Online Resources Available at: