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Region IV – Air Directors Meeting May 22, 2012. Air Toxics Monitoring Project Memphis.
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Region IV – Air Directors Meeting May 22, 2012 Air Toxics Monitoring Project Memphis
In April 2011, the Shelby County Health Department, working with the University of Memphis and Middle Tennessee State University, applied for an EPA grant to study air toxics in Shelby County. In late August 2011, the Shelby County Health Department’s Pollution Control Section was notified by EPA that the grant application was “sufficiently meritorious so as to be recommended for award”. • This $574,404 grant proposal is 100% federally funded by the EPA. • A comprehensive air toxics study has never been conducted across Shelby County, TN. This three-year study will provide data that can examine and compare health risk and air quality across different communities throughout Shelby County.
The study is designed to: measure ambient concentrations of air toxics in Shelby County communities (sampling at 100 different census tracts), assess the significance of seasonal and industrial/urban/suburban environments on air toxics concentrations, identify the socioeconomic and racial determinants of individual exposure to air toxics, identify possible areas of high concentrations and major contributors of air toxic pollutants, and evaluate the extent to which concentrations predicted by the use of dispersion models represents the actual emission levels of industrial and transportation sources. • The study will provide a better understanding of the type and origin of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are critical precursors to ozone formation. Most air toxics are a subset of VOCs.
The study will rely on a major collaboration between the University of Memphis and Middle Tennessee State University, to perform air toxics sampling and analysis. The Shelby County Health Department’s Pollution Control Section will assure the project’s timelines are met, federal quarterly reports are developed, and the final report is completed. • The study is designed to involve the community and through outreach provide a better understanding of air toxics. In addition, the study is a collaborative agreement with EPA, and EPA’s experience will be utilized in providing community awareness and outreach. • Finally, the study develops educational and analytical partnerships with the University of Memphis and Middle Tennessee State University to develop tools to improve the health of the local community.
Chief Collaborative Personnel Dr. Chunrong Jia is currently an assistant professor in Environmental Health Sciences at the School of Public Health, the University of Memphis. He has substantial experience in field sampling and laboratory analysis of air toxics, and handling of large air toxics databases. He has developed and applied statistical techniques and models to interpret exposure measurements and estimate health risks. He will be responsible for sampling plan, field sampling, data organization, analysis and interpretation, and preparation of manuscripts and reports. Dr. Ngee-Sing Chong is a professor of chemistry and director of the electron microscopy center at Middle Tennessee State University. He has completed over 10 air monitoring projects in urban and residential areas near industrial facilities. He will be responsible for laboratory analysis of air toxics samples, quality control, and assist in preparation of manuscripts and reports.
Project Status • Conducting monthly conference calls with EPA, U of M, MTSU and Shelby County Health Department representatives, including our epidemiology personnel from the Shelby County Health Department. • Establishing Budget • Developing Community Involvement Plan • Developing Risk Assessment Plan • Developing QAPP • Developing Stakeholders Group • Estimate monitoring phase to begin fall 2012.
