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Johnston JE, Quist AJL, Navarro S, Farzan SF, Shamasunder B. Cardiovascular health and proximity to urban oil drilling in Los Angeles, California. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2024; 34:505-511. [PMID: 37553411 PMCID: PMC10850428 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-023-00589-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although ~18 million people live within a mile from active oil and gas development (OGD) sites in the United States, epidemiological research on how OGD affects the health of nearby urban residents is sparse. Thousands of OGD sites are spread across Los Angeles (LA) County, California, home to the largest urban oil production in the country. Air pollution and noise from OGD may contribute to cardiovascular morbidity. OBJECTIVE We examined the association between proximity to OGD and blood pressure in a diverse cohort of residents in LA. METHODS We recruited residents in South LA who lived <1 km from an OGD site. We collected three blood pressure measurements for each participant and used the second and third measurements to calculate averages for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) separately. We conducted multivariable linear regression to examine the relationship between distance to OGD sites and continuous SBP and DBP, adjusting for BMI, smoking status, distance to freeway, sex, age, and use of antihypertension medications, with a random effect for household. We examined effect measure modification by BMI category and smoking category. RESULTS Among the 623 adult participants, we found that for every 100 meter increase in distance from the OGD site, DBP was reduced by an average of 0.73 mmHg (95% CI: -1.26, -0.21) in this population. We observed stronger effects of proximity to OGD site on DBP among never smokers and among participants with a healthy BMI. The associations observed between proximity to OGD site and SBP were weaker but followed the same patterns as those for DBP. IMPACT Our study suggests that living near urban oil drilling sites is significantly associated with greater diastolic blood pressure in urban Los Angeles communities. This research improves understanding of impacts from living nearby drilling operations on the health and welfare of this community, which is critical to inform public health relevant strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill E Johnston
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Population & Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Arbor J L Quist
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Population & Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Shohreh F Farzan
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Population & Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bhavna Shamasunder
- Department of Urban & Environmental Policy, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Chan M, Shamasunder B, Johnston JE. Social and Environmental Stressors of Urban Oil and Gas Facilities in Los Angeles County, California, 2020. Am J Public Health 2023; 113:1182-1190. [PMID: 37499202 PMCID: PMC10568508 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2023.307360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Objectives. To examine patterns of cumulative environmental injustice with respect to operations of urban oil and gas development in Los Angeles County, California. Methods. Using CalEnviroScreen (CES) 4.0, oil and gas data permit records, and US census data, we examined the association between CES score (grouped into equal quintiles, with the lowest representing low cumulative burden) and oil and gas development (presence or absence of an oil and gas production well) within 1 kilometer of a census block centroid. Results. Among census blocks in the highest quintile of CES score, we observed 94% increased odds of being within 1 kilometer of a well compared with census blocks in the lowest quintile of CES score (odds ratio = 1.94; 95% confidence interval = 1.83, 2.10). In our multivariable model, the proportion of Black residents and higher quintiles of CES score were also associated with increased odds of a nearby oil and gas well. Conclusions. These findings suggest that oil and gas facilities are operating in neighborhoods already cumulatively burdened and with higher proportions of Black residents. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(11):1182-1190. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307360).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa Chan
- Marissa Chan is with the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Bhavna Shamasunder is with Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA. Jill E. Johnston is with the University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Bhavna Shamasunder
- Marissa Chan is with the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Bhavna Shamasunder is with Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA. Jill E. Johnston is with the University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Jill E Johnston
- Marissa Chan is with the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Bhavna Shamasunder is with Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA. Jill E. Johnston is with the University of Southern California, Los Angeles
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Zirogiannis N, Byrne A, Hollingsworth AJ, Konisky DM. Polluting under the Radar: Emissions, Inequality, and Concrete Batch Plants in Houston. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:11410-11419. [PMID: 37491207 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Small industrial sources collectively release large amounts of pollution, including particulate matter (PM) that contributes to air quality problems in the United States and elsewhere. We study one such type of industrial facility, concrete batch plants, and analyze PM emissions and siting patterns of 131 plants located in Harris County, Texas. We find that concrete batch plants in Harris County are collectively a major pollution source, contributing between 38 and 111 tons of primary PM2.5 emissions (between 26%-76% of PM2.5 from the median Texas oil refinery) and between 109 and 493 tons of primary PM10 emissions (between 64%-290% of PM10 from the median refinery). Estimates from an integrated assessment model suggest that health damages from the PM2.5 emissions alone amount to $29 million annually, reflecting two additional premature deaths per year. We further find that concrete batch plants in Harris County are disproportionately located in census tracts with more low-income, Hispanic, and Black populations, thereby raising important environmental justice questions. On the basis of these findings, we argue that small pollution sources require more air quality monitoring and emissions reporting and that regulatory agencies should consider cumulative environmental and health impacts of these sources as part of the permitting process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Zirogiannis
- Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Bloomington, 1315 East Tenth Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - April Byrne
- Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Bloomington, 1315 East Tenth Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Alex J Hollingsworth
- Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Bloomington, 1315 East Tenth Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
- National Bureau of Economic Research, 1050 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - David M Konisky
- Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Bloomington, 1315 East Tenth Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
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González DJX, Morton CM, Hill LAL, Michanowicz DR, Rossi RJ, Shonkoff SBC, Casey JA, Morello‐Frosch R. Temporal Trends of Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Population Exposures to Upstream Oil and Gas Development in California. GEOHEALTH 2023; 7:e2022GH000690. [PMID: 36968155 PMCID: PMC10035325 DOI: 10.1029/2022gh000690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
People living near oil and gas development are exposed to multiple environmental stressors that pose health risks. Some studies suggest these risks are higher for racially and socioeconomically marginalized people, which may be partly attributable to disparities in exposures. We examined whether racially and socioeconomically marginalized people in California are disproportionately exposed to oil and gas wells and associated hazards. We longitudinally assessed exposure to wells during three time periods (2005-2009, 2010-2014, and 2015-2019) using sociodemographic data at the census block group-level. For each block group and time period, we assessed exposure to new, active, retired, and plugged wells, and cumulative production volume. We calculated risk ratios to determine whether marginalized people disproportionately resided near wells (within 1 km). Averaged across the three time periods, we estimated that 1.1 million Californians (3.0%) lived within 1 km of active wells. Nearly 9 million Californians (22.9%) lived within 1 km of plugged wells. The proportion of Black residents near active wells was 42%-49% higher than the proportion of Black residents across California, and the proportion of Hispanic residents near active wells was 4%-13% higher than their statewide proportion. Disparities were greatest in areas with the highest oil and gas production, where the proportion of Black residents was 105%-139% higher than statewide. Socioeconomically marginalized residents also had disproportionately high exposure to wells. Though oil and gas production has declined in California, marginalized communities persistently had disproportionately high exposure to wells, potentially contributing to health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. X. González
- Division of Environmental Health SciencesSchool of Public HealthUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and ManagementUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Claire M. Morton
- Mathematical and Computational Science ProgramStanford UniversityStanfordCAUSA
| | | | | | | | - Seth B. C. Shonkoff
- Division of Environmental Health SciencesSchool of Public HealthUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
- PSE Healthy EnergyOaklandCAUSA
- Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryEnergy Technologies AreaBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Joan A. Casey
- Department of Environmental Health SciencesColumbia UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health SciencesUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
| | - Rachel Morello‐Frosch
- Division of Environmental Health SciencesSchool of Public HealthUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and ManagementUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
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Gonzalez DJX, Nardone A, Nguyen AV, Morello-Frosch R, Casey JA. Historic redlining and the siting of oil and gas wells in the United States. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2023; 33:76-83. [PMID: 35418707 PMCID: PMC9556657 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-022-00434-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The presence of active or inactive (i.e., postproduction) oil and gas wells in neighborhoods may contribute to ongoing pollution. Racially discriminatory neighborhood security maps developed by the Home-Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) in the 1930s may contribute to environmental exposure disparities. OBJECTIVE To determine whether receiving worse HOLC grades was associated with exposure to more oil and gas wells. METHODS We assessed exposure to oil and gas wells among HOLC-graded neighborhoods in 33 cities from 13 states where urban oil and gas wells were drilled and operated. Among the 17 cities for which 1940 census data were available, we used propensity score restriction and matching to compare well exposure neighborhoods that were similar on observed 1940 sociodemographic characteristics but that received different grades. RESULTS Across all included cities, redlined D-graded neighborhoods had 12.2 ± 27.2 wells km-2, nearly twice the density in neighborhoods graded A (6.8 ± 8.9 wells km-2). In propensity score restricted and matched analyses, redlined neighborhoods had 2.0 (1.3, 2.7) more wells than comparable neighborhoods with a better grade. SIGNIFICANCE Our study adds to the evidence that structural racism in federal policy is associated with the disproportionate siting of oil and gas wells in marginalized neighborhoods.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J X Gonzalez
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Anthony Nardone
- University of California (UC) Berkeley-UC San Francisco (UCSF) Joint Medical Program, UC Berkeley School of Public Health and UCSF School of Medicine, Berkeley and San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Andrew V Nguyen
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Joan A Casey
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
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Shamasunder B, Chan M, Navarro S, Eckel S, Johnston JE. Mobile daily diaries to characterize stressors and acute health symptoms in an environmental justice neighborhood. Health Place 2022; 76:102849. [PMID: 35780656 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Low-income communities and communities of color face multiple, cumulative environmental and social burdens. Methods development in environmental justice research has largely focused on spatial and quantitative approaches. Less attention has been paid to developing methodologies that help collect information on everyday stressors and quality of life experiences for residents in overburdened communities. Mixed methods approaches can be one way to structure study designs that help consider how residents experience environmental and socioeconomic impacts in a localized community context. In neighborhoods burdened by cumulative stressors, traditional cross-sectional epidemiological research designs can also be challenging, as well as limited or narrow in their application. However, repeat sampling of measures within a vulnerable population can approach a quasi-experimental design and help consider variations within residents in a single neighborhood as well as better parse relationships between exposures and outcomes. Through a community-academic partnership with university partners, local community partners, and a local promotores de salud (community health workers) network, we pilot tested a novel mobile daily diary approach in both English and Spanish in an urban, predominantly immigrant community in South Los Angeles as a potential method to collect information on daily stress, environmental quality, and health status/symptoms. We collected resident responses via a once per day 7-day SMS/text messaging survey. We sought to gather granular data on daily resident experiences of air pollution and environmental hazards. Residents reported acute health symptoms and stressors, with repeat measures demonstrating how residents might rank, categorize, or cope with stressors. We find that residents in environmental justice communities record variation in their daily diary responses and document changes in environmental quality, stressors, and odors. Refining this type of method could enable a more rigorous examination of co-occurrences of environmental quality and acute health symptoms. This approach supports the inclusion of residents in the research process and helps more systematically integrate open-ended environmental health relevant data in environmental justice efforts. Used with measured data such as air monitoring or health measures, mixed methods generated data can help support efforts that aim to alleviate sources of daily stress, alongside efforts to reduce overall pollution burdens. Mobile daily diaries can be one way to capture variable responses to environmental quality, acute health symptoms, and stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavna Shamasunder
- Urban & Environmental Policy Department and Public Health Program, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Marissa Chan
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave., Bldg. 1, 14th Floor, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | | | - Sandrah Eckel
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Jill E Johnston
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Fanti G, Spinazzè A, Borghi F, Rovelli S, Campagnolo D, Keller M, Borghi A, Cattaneo A, Cauda E, Cavallo DM. Evolution and Applications of Recent Sensing Technology for Occupational Risk Assessment: A Rapid Review of the Literature. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:4841. [PMID: 35808337 PMCID: PMC9269318 DOI: 10.3390/s22134841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decade, technological advancements have been made available and applied in a wide range of applications in several work fields, ranging from personal to industrial enforcements. One of the emerging issues concerns occupational safety and health in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and, in more detail, it deals with how industrial hygienists could improve the risk-assessment process. A possible way to achieve these aims is the adoption of new exposure-monitoring tools. In this study, a systematic review of the up-to-date scientific literature has been performed to identify and discuss the most-used sensors that could be useful for occupational risk assessment, with the intent of highlighting their pros and cons. A total of 40 papers have been included in this manuscript. The results show that sensors able to investigate airborne pollutants (i.e., gaseous pollutants and particulate matter), environmental conditions, physical agents, and workers' postures could be usefully adopted in the risk-assessment process, since they could report significant data without significantly interfering with the job activities of the investigated subjects. To date, there are only few "next-generation" monitors and sensors (NGMSs) that could be effectively used on the workplace to preserve human health. Due to this fact, the development and the validation of new NGMSs will be crucial in the upcoming years, to adopt these technologies in occupational-risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Fanti
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, 22100 Como, Italy; (A.S.); (F.B.); (S.R.); (D.C.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (A.C.); (D.M.C.)
| | - Andrea Spinazzè
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, 22100 Como, Italy; (A.S.); (F.B.); (S.R.); (D.C.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (A.C.); (D.M.C.)
| | - Francesca Borghi
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, 22100 Como, Italy; (A.S.); (F.B.); (S.R.); (D.C.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (A.C.); (D.M.C.)
| | - Sabrina Rovelli
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, 22100 Como, Italy; (A.S.); (F.B.); (S.R.); (D.C.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (A.C.); (D.M.C.)
| | - Davide Campagnolo
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, 22100 Como, Italy; (A.S.); (F.B.); (S.R.); (D.C.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (A.C.); (D.M.C.)
| | - Marta Keller
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, 22100 Como, Italy; (A.S.); (F.B.); (S.R.); (D.C.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (A.C.); (D.M.C.)
| | - Andrea Borghi
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, 22100 Como, Italy; (A.S.); (F.B.); (S.R.); (D.C.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (A.C.); (D.M.C.)
| | - Andrea Cattaneo
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, 22100 Como, Italy; (A.S.); (F.B.); (S.R.); (D.C.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (A.C.); (D.M.C.)
| | - Emanuele Cauda
- Center for Direct Reading and Sensor Technologies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA;
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA
| | - Domenico Maria Cavallo
- Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, 22100 Como, Italy; (A.S.); (F.B.); (S.R.); (D.C.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (A.C.); (D.M.C.)
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Johnston JE, Okorn K, Van Horne YO, Jimenez A. Changes in neighborhood air quality after idling of an urban oil production site. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:967-980. [PMID: 34037015 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00048a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Oil and gas development is occurring in urban, densely populated neighborhoods; however, the impacts of these operations on neighborhood air quality are not well characterized. In this research, we leveraged ambient air monitoring adjacent to an oil and gas production site in Los Angeles, California during active and idle periods. This study analyzed continuous methane (CH4) and non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) measurements, together with triggered grab samples and 24 hour integrated canister samples collected by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Ambient air pollutant levels and trends were evaluated during active and idle well operations to assess changes in neighborhood air quality after the suspension of oil and gas production. We find that mean concentrations of methane, NMHC, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, styrene, n-hexane, n-pentane, ethane, and propane decreased following the stop in production activities. Using a source apportionment approach, we observed that the "natural gas" drilling source contributed 23.7% to the total VOCs measured during the active phase, and only 0.6% to the total measured VOCs in the idle phase. Near urban oil and gas production sites, residents may face poorer air quality due to the oil and gas activities which may pose adverse health and environmental risks among proximate communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill E Johnston
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
| | - Kristen Okorn
- Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
| | - Amanda Jimenez
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
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Jeanjean M, Lees J, Allen BL, Cohen AK. Interdisciplinary community-based participatory health research across the industrial region of the Étang de Berre : The EPSEAL Fos Crau study. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique 2021; 69:297-305. [PMID: 34256985 DOI: 10.1016/j.respe.2021.04.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We conducted a community-based participatory environmental health study in three towns: two in the heart of Marseille's industrial zone (Fos-sur-Mer and Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône), and one on the periphery located about 30 km away (Saint-Martin-de-Crau). METHODS We first conducted a cross-sectional survey of a random sample of residents in each of the three towns. We asked study participants to self-report a wide variety of health issues (Port-Saint-Louis: n = 272, Fos-sur-Mer: n = 543, Saint-Martin-de-Crau: n = 439). We then conducted focus groups with residents and other stakeholders to share preliminary data in order to propose areas of reflection and collaboratively produce contextually-situated knowledge of their health and environment. We directly standardized the prevalences (by age and gender) to the French metropolitan population to make our results more comparable. RESULTS Study participants who lived closer to the core industrial zone (residents of Fos-sur-Mer and Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhone) had higher prevalences of eye irritation, nose and throat problems, chronic skin problems and headaches than people who lived further away (residents of Saint-Martin-de-Crau). Residents also offered diverse qualitative insights about their environment and health experiences. DISCUSSION We observed elevated prevalences of diseases that affected residents across the industrial zone (Fos-sur-Mer and Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône) compared to those living outside (Saint-Martin-de-Crau), and qualitative evidence of how residents made sense of their health experiences strengthening an understanding of their own empirical observations which helps to produce knowledge about health in an industrial context. The results of the workshops show an important benefit from the co-production of local knowledge. CONCLUSION We encourage future researchers to do in-depth, community-based research to comprehensively describe the health of residents in other heavily polluted zones, product local knowledge and to help identify policy solutions, engender trust among the local people, and identify opportunities for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Jeanjean
- Centre Norbert Elias (UMR 85 62), Laboratoire de sciences sociales appliquées, Marseille, France and Institut écocitoyen, Fos-sur-Mer, France.
| | - Johanna Lees
- Centre Norbert Elias (UMR 85 62), Laboratoire de sciences sociales appliquées, Marseille, France
| | - Barbara L Allen
- Department of Science, Technology and Society, Virginia Tech University-National Capital Region, Falls Church, VA, USA
| | - Alison K Cohen
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
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Okorn K, Jimenez A, Collier-Oxandale A, Johnston J, Hannigan M. Characterizing methane and total non-methane hydrocarbon levels in Los Angeles communities with oil and gas facilities using air quality monitors. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 777:146194. [PMID: 34602658 PMCID: PMC8485894 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, sensor networks have been proven valuable to assess air quality on highly localized scales. Here we leverage innovative sensors to characterize gaseous pollutants in a complex urban environment and evaluate differences in air quality in three different Los Angeles neighborhoods where oil and gas activity is present. We deployed monitors across urban neighborhoods in South Los Angles adjacent to oil and gas facilities with varying levels of production. Using low-cost sensors built in-house, we measured methane, total non-methane hydrocarbons (TNMHCs), carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide during three deployment campaigns over four years. The multi-sensor linear regression calibration model developed to quantify methane and TNMHCs offers up to 16% improvement in coefficient of determination and up to a 22% reduction in root mean square error for the most recent dataset as compared to previous models. The deployment results demonstrate that airborne methane concentrations are higher within a 500 m radius of three urban oil and gas facilities, as well as near a natural gas distribution pipeline, likely a result of proximity to sources. While there are numerous additional sources of TNMHCs in complex urban environments, some sites appear to be larger emitters than others. Significant methane emissions were also measured at an idle site, suggesting that fugitive emissions may still occur even if production is ceased. Episodic spikes of both compounds suggested an association with oil and gas activities, demonstrating how sensor networks can be used to elucidate community-scale sources and differences in air quality moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Okorn
- Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Correspondence: , P: (303) 735-8054, A: 1111 Engineering Dr., Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Amanda Jimenez
- Preventative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | | | - Jill Johnston
- Preventative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Michael Hannigan
- Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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Johnston JE, Enebish T, Eckel SP, Navarro S, Shamasunder B. Respiratory health, pulmonary function and local engagement in urban communities near oil development. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 197:111088. [PMID: 33794173 PMCID: PMC8579779 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Modern oil development frequently occurs in close proximity to human populations. Los Angeles, California is home to the largest urban oil field in the country with thousands of active oil and gas wells in very close proximity to homes, schools and parks, yet few studies have investigated potential health impacts. The neighborhoods along the Las Cienagas oil fields are situated in South LA, densely populated by predominantly low-income Black and Latinx families, many of whom are primarily Spanish-speakers. METHODS A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted between January 2017 and August 2019 among residents living <1000 m from two oil wells (one active, one idle) in the Las Cienagas oil field. We collected self-reported acute health symptoms and measured FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in the first second of exhalation) and FVC (forced vital capacity). We related lung function measures to distance and direction from an oil and gas development site using generalized linear models adjusted for covariates. RESULTS A total of 961 residents from two neighborhoods participated, the majority of whom identify as Latinx. Participants near active oil development reported significantly higher prevalence of wheezing, eye and nose irritation, sore throat and dizziness in the past 2 weeks. Among 747 valid spirometry tests, we observe that living near (less than 200 m) of oil operations was associated with, on average, -112 mL lower FEV1 (95% CI: -213, -10) and -128 mL lower FVC (95% CI: -252, -5) compared to residents living more than 200 m from the sites after adjustments for covariates, including age, sex, height, proximity to freeway, asthma status and smoking status. When accounting for predominant wind direction and proximity, we observe that residents living downwind and less than 200 m from oil operations have, on average, -414 mL lower FEV1 (95% CI: -636, -191) and -400 mL lower FVC (95% CI: -652, -147) compared to residents living upwind and more than 200 m from the wells. CONCLUSIONS Living nearby and downwind of urban oil and gas development sites is associated with lower lung function among residents, which may contribute to environmental health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill E Johnston
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Temuulen Enebish
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sandrah P Eckel
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Bhavna Shamasunder
- Department of Urban & Environmental Policy, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Lin Y, Gao X, Qiu X, Liu J, Tseng CH, Zhang JJ, Araujo JA, Zhu Y. Urinary carboxylic acid metabolites as possible novel biomarkers of exposures to alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 147:106325. [PMID: 33340988 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have found that alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (alkyl-PAHs) were more abundant in petrogenic sources (e.g., crude oil and its refined products) than pyrogenic sources of incomplete combustion. While urinary hydroxylated metabolites of unsubstituted PAHs have been widely used as biomarkers of PAHs exposures, little information is available as to the occurrence of alkyl-PAH metabolites. In this study, we have detected carboxylic acid metabolites of alkyl-naphthalene (2-NAPCA) and alkyl-phenanthrene (2-PHECA) in 314 urine samples repeatedly collected from 45 Los Angeles residents before, during, and after they spent ten weeks in Beijing in summers of 2014-2017. We found that traveling from Los Angeles to Beijing led to 348% (95% CI: 243 to 485%) and 209% (95% CI: 149 to 282%) increases in 2-NAPCA and 2-PHECA concentrations, respectively, which returned to baseline levels after participants came back to Los Angeles. The concentration ratio between 2-PHECA and hydroxy-phenanthrenes was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in Beijing (median: 0.40, IQR: 0.27-0.53) than in Los Angeles (median: 0.51, IQR: 0.32-0.77), where more than 5,000 active gas and oil wells were located. From 2014 to 2017, the concentration ratio of 2-PHECA to hydroxy-phenanthrenes increased by 28.7 (95%CI: 12.3 to 47.6) %/yr in Los Angeles and 18.6 (95%CI: 7.9 to 30.3) %/yr in Beijing, likely resulted from both cities' efforts to reduce pyrogenic emissions (e.g. vehicle exhaust). These results provided indirect evidence supporting the use of 2-PHECA to hydroxy-phenanthrene ratio as an index to reflect the relative exposure contributions from petrogenic and pyrogenic sources. While our study suggested that urinary PAHCAs may be novel biomarkers of exposure to alkyl-PAHs, future studies with external exposure characterization are warranted to further validate these biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Xueyao Gao
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Xinghua Qiu
- State Key Joint Laboratory for Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, and Center for Environment and Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China.
| | - Jinming Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory for Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, and Center for Environment and Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
| | - Chi-Hong Tseng
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Junfeng Jim Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory for Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, and Center for Environment and Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China; Nicholas School of the Environment and Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jesus A Araujo
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Yifang Zhu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.
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Collier-Oxandale A, Wong N, Navarro S, Johnston J, Hannigan M. Using Gas-Phase Air Quality Sensors to Disentangle Potential Sources in a Los Angeles Neighborhood. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT (OXFORD, ENGLAND : 1994) 2020; 233:117519. [PMID: 34220277 PMCID: PMC8248942 DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
In the late summer of 2016, our team deployed a network of low-cost air quality sensing systems in partnership with community-based organizations in a neighborhood in South Los Angeles, California. Residents of this community were concerned about possible emissions from local oil and gas activity, however in addition to these potential emissions, the neighborhood is also subject to a complex mixture of pollutants from other nearby sources including major highways. For this deployment, metal-oxide VOC sensors were quantified to provide methane (CH4) and total non-methane hydrocarbon (TNMHCs) concentration estimates. This data along with other sensor signals, meteorological data, and community member observations was used to examine the composition and possible origins of observed emissions. The sensor network displayed expected environmental trends and highlighted short-term elevations in CH4 and/or TNMHCs, which we were then able to investigate more closely. The results indicated that sources of both combusted and volatilized hydrocarbons were likely affecting air quality throughout the community, including near the site of the local oil and gas activity. This deployment may serve as a model for how multi-sensor systems deployed in networks can be leveraged to better understand sources in complex areas, potentially supporting future community-based air quality research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jill Johnston
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
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15
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Deziel NC, Brokovich E, Grotto I, Clark CJ, Barnett-Itzhaki Z, Broday D, Agay-Shay K. Unconventional oil and gas development and health outcomes: A scoping review of the epidemiological research. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:109124. [PMID: 32069745 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2018] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hydraulic fracturing together with directional and horizontal well drilling (unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development) has increased substantially over the last decade. UOG development is a complex process presenting many potential environmental health hazards, raising serious public concern. AIM To conduct a scoping review to assess what is known about the human health outcomes associated with exposure to UOG development. METHODS We performed a literature search in MEDLINE and SCOPUS for epidemiological studies of exposure to UOG development and verified human health outcomes published through August 15, 2019. For each eligible study we extracted data on the study design, study population, health outcomes, exposure assessment approach, statistical methodology, and potential confounders. We reviewed the articles based on categories of health outcomes. RESULTS We identified 806 published articles, most of which were published during the last three years. After screening, 40 peer-reviewed articles were selected for full text evaluation and of these, 29 articles met our inclusion criteria. Studies evaluated pregnancy outcomes, cancer incidence, hospitalizations, asthma exacerbations, sexually transmitted diseases, and injuries or mortality from traffic accidents. Our review found that 25 of the 29 studies reported at least one statistically significant association between the UOG exposure metric and an adverse health outcome. The most commonly studied endpoint was adverse birth outcomes, particularly preterm deliveries and low birth weight. Few studies evaluated the mediating pathways that may underpin these associations, highlighting a clear need for research on the potential exposure pathways and mechanisms underlying observed relationships. CONCLUSIONS This review highlights the heterogeneity among studies with respect to study design, outcome of interest, and exposure assessment methodology. Though replication in other populations is important, current research points to a growing body of evidence of health problems in communities living near UOG sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole C Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States.
| | - Eran Brokovich
- Natural Resources Administration, Ministry of Energy, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Itamar Grotto
- Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer, Sheva, Israel.
| | - Cassandra J Clark
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Zohar Barnett-Itzhaki
- Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel; Research Center for Health Informatics, School of Engineering, Ruppin Academic Center, Israel.
| | - David Broday
- Department of Environmental, Water, and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Keren Agay-Shay
- Department of Population Health, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel.
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16
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Sun L, Shi H, Bai M. Intelligent oil well identification modelling based on deep learning and neural network. ENTERP INF SYST-UK 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/17517575.2020.1722252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Liyan Sun
- Department of Petroleum Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Enhanced Oil Recovery, Daqing, China
| | - Haidong Shi
- School of Earth Sciences, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing, China
| | - Mingxing Bai
- Department of Petroleum Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing, China
- Department of Petroleum Engineering, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an, China
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Abstract
Childhood asthma affects many children placing them at significant risk for health care utilization and school absences. Several new developments relevant to the field of pediatric asthma have occurred over the last 5 years; yet, there is much more to learn. It is poorly understood how to prevent the disease, optimally address environmental challenges, or effectively manage poor adherence. Moreover, it is not clear how to customize therapy by asthma phenotype, age group, high risk groups, or severity of disease. Highlights of advances in pediatric asthma are reviewed and multiple essential areas for further exploration and research are discussed.
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Thorson J, Collier-Oxandale A, Hannigan M. Using A Low-Cost Sensor Array and Machine Learning Techniques to Detect Complex Pollutant Mixtures and Identify Likely Sources. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 19:E3723. [PMID: 31466288 PMCID: PMC6749282 DOI: 10.3390/s19173723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 08/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
An array of low-cost sensors was assembled and tested in a chamber environment wherein several pollutant mixtures were generated. The four classes of sources that were simulated were mobile emissions, biomass burning, natural gas emissions, and gasoline vapors. A two-step regression and classification method was developed and applied to the sensor data from this array. We first applied regression models to estimate the concentrations of several compounds and then classification models trained to use those estimates to identify the presence of each of those sources. The regression models that were used included forms of multiple linear regression, random forests, Gaussian process regression, and neural networks. The regression models with human-interpretable outputs were investigated to understand the utility of each sensor signal. The classification models that were trained included logistic regression, random forests, support vector machines, and neural networks. The best combination of models was determined by maximizing the F1 score on ten-fold cross-validation data. The highest F1 score, as calculated on testing data, was 0.72 and was produced by the combination of a multiple linear regression model utilizing the full array of sensors and a random forest classification model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Thorson
- Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
| | | | - Michael Hannigan
- Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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Louisias M, Ramadan A, Naja AS, Phipatanakul W. The Effects of the Environment on Asthma Disease Activity. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2019; 39:163-175. [PMID: 30954168 PMCID: PMC6452888 DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2018.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Asthma is highly prevalent and causes significant morbidity in children. The development of asthma depends on complex relationships between genetic predisposition and environmental modifiers of immune function. The biological and physical environmental factors include aeroallergens, microbiome, endotoxin, genetics, and pollutants. The psychosocial environment encompasses stress, neighborhood safety, housing, and discrimination. They all have been speculated to influence asthma control and the risk of developing asthma. Control of the factors that contribute to or aggravate symptoms, interventions to eliminate allergen exposure, guidelines-based pharmacologic therapy, and education of children and their caregivers are of paramount importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margee Louisias
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Fegan Building, 6th floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amira Ramadan
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Fegan Building, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Ahmad Salaheddine Naja
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Fegan Building, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Fegan Building, 6th floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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20
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Collier-Oxandale A, Casey JG, Piedrahita R, Ortega J, Halliday H, Johnston J, Hannigan MP. Assessing a low-cost methane sensor quantification system for use in complex rural and urban environments. ATMOSPHERIC MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES 2018; 11:3569-3594. [PMID: 33442426 PMCID: PMC7802090 DOI: 10.5194/amt-11-3569-2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Low-cost sensors have the potential to facilitate the exploration of air quality issues on new temporal and spatial scales. Here we evaluate a low-cost sensor quantification system for methane through its use in two different deployments. The first was a one-month deployment along the Colorado Front Range and included sites near active oil and gas operations in the Denver-Julesberg basin. The second deployment was in an urban Los Angeles neighborhood, subject to complex mixtures of air pollution sources including oil operations. Given its role as a potent greenhouse gas, new low-cost methods for detecting and monitoring methane may aid in protecting human and environmental health. In this paper, we assess a number of linear calibration models used to convert raw sensor signals into ppm concentration values. We also examine different choices that can be made during calibration and data processing, and explore cross-sensitivities that impact this sensor type. The results illustrate the accuracy of the Figaro TGS 2600 sensor when methane is quantified from raw signals using the techniques described. The results also demonstrate the value of these tools for examining air quality trends and events on small spatial and temporal scales as well as their ability to characterize an area - highlighting their potential to provide preliminary data that can inform more targeted measurements or supplement existing monitoring networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Collier-Oxandale
- Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Joanna Gordon Casey
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | | | - John Ortega
- National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, 80301, USA
| | | | - Jill Johnston
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Michael P. Hannigan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
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