Air pollution exposure assessment at schools and playgrounds in Williamsburg Brooklyn NYC, with a view to developing a set of policy solutions

Abstract

Community science offers unique opportunities for non-professional involvement of volunteers in the scientific process, not just during the data acquisition, but also in other phases, like problem definition, quality assurance, data analysis and interpretation, and the dissemination of results. Moreover, community science can be a powerful tool for public engagement and empowerment during policy formulation. This paper aims to present a pilot study on personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and raises awareness of the hazards of air pollution. As part of data acquisition conducted in 2019, high school students gathered data at their schools, schoolyards, and playgrounds using low-cost monitors AirBeam2. The data was automatically uploaded every second onto the AirCasting mobile app. Besides, a stationary network of air monitors (fixed stations) was deployed in the neighborhood to collect real-time ambient air concentrations of PM_2.5. Students involved in the project attended workshops, training sessions, and researched to better understand air pollution, as part of their science class curriculum and portfolio. This air quality monitoring was incorporated into the "Our Air/Nuestro Aire" - El Puente grassroots campaign. The main goals of this campaign included sharing the data collected with the community, engaging academic partners to develop a set of policy and urban design solutions, and to be considered into a 5-point policy platform.

Keywords: Air quality; Community science; Grassroots campaign; PM2.5; Policy solutions; Science class curriculum.

Fig. 1

Study area in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (NYC) with the green, highlighted areas showing the personal monitoring routes, and the stationary network locations identified with the red markers

Fig. 2

Personal monitoring study design

Fig. 3

Air quality project — curriculum

Fig. 4

Scientific research portfolio

Fig. 5

Summary of personal monitoring PM_2.5 hourly data

Fig. 6

Comparison of average PM_2.5 concentration between personal monitoring data (EP) and stationary network (SN) based on specific locations in Williamsburg

Fig. 7

Map depicting routes taken during personal monitoring sessions along with average PM_2.5 concentrations taken from March to May 2019

Fig. 8

Map depicting routes taken during personal monitoring sessions along with average PM2.5 concentrations taken from September to November 2019 (fall season)