# Presentation: 664591

## The Critical Role of Air Quality Monitoring in the Estimation of Air Pollutant Health Risks

**Dan Costa, Sc.D., DABT**
**National Program Director for Air Research**
**Office of Research & Development / USEPA**
**April 9, 2008**
**costa.dan@epa.gov**

## “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

**George Bernard Shaw**** **

## Outline of this Presentation 

- _Who is_ ORD Clean Air Research?
- Brief history of health research links to AQ monitoring
- Epidemiologic underpinnings of the current PM & O3 NAAQS
- Toxicologic basis of “biologic plausibility” for PM
- “Codependence” of AQ monitoring and health research
- How can we promote AQ-health for mutual benefit?
- Workshop planned for April 16-17, 2008 in RTP.
- Issues targeted for discussion
- Major drivers from the health community
- Expected outcomes from this workshop
- What does the future hold?
- AQ monitoring – AQ modeling – Health / Envir. Research

## PM, Ozone (NAAQS) and AT have been integrated into one Multi-Year Plan (MYP)
Focus on 2 Long Term Goals
 Support to NAAQS process
 Develop a Multipollutant res. program 
Emphasis is on integration 
Leveraging across projects / programs / offices 
Enhanced communication with our client offices
A shift in research approach – multipollutant; source to health outcome and accountability
Near Road – prototype model for “source to health outcome”

- PM, Ozone (NAAQS) and AT have been integrated into one Multi-Year Plan (MYP)
- Focus on 2 *Long Term Goals*
-  Support to NAAQS process
-  Develop a Multipollutant res. program
- Emphasis is on _integration_
- Leveraging across projects / programs / offices
- Enhanced communication with our client offices
- A shift in research approach – _multipollutant_; _source to health outcome_ and _accountability_
- Near Road – prototype model for “source to health outcome”

## What Comprises the Clean Air Research Program?

## NRC Reports: Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter

_***NRC Reports***_***: Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter***

## Historic AQ-Health Linkages in Standard Setting

- EPA’s AQ data bases are clearly recognized for their use in _compliance_ & _providing timely AQ information to the public_.
- Also - critical to _developing the science_ for standard setting.
- Human data (epi & clinical) are the foundation of the NAAQS
- It was epi that first elucidated *today’s* PM problem, & it is this collective epi that forms the core of the risk assessment.
- Human & animal _toxicology_ gave credibility to the epi by establishing “*biologic plausibility*” – namely that PM and/or its attributes (size / components) could indeed affect health.
- Recent O3 epi has opened a new dimension to this NAAQS.

## AP Health Science Supporting the NAAQS Has Largely Been Built Using Data and Samples from Monitoring 

**AP Health Science Supporting the NAAQS Has Largely Been Built Using Data and Samples from Monitoring **

## A few examples...

## Epi-based Mortality Estimates for PM2.5

**Excess-risk estimates for PM****2.5**** for total nonaccidental, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality in single-pollutant  models for U.S. and Canadian studies**

- L.  Fairley (2003), Santa Clara County
- M.  Klemm and Mason (2003), Topeka
- N.  Tsai et al. (2000), Newark
- O.  Klemm and Mason (2003), Steubenville
- P.  Tsai et al. (2000), Elizabeth
- Q.  Tsai et al (2000), Camden
- R.  Lipfert et  al. (2000), Philadelphia
- S.  Ostro et al. (1995), Southern California
- T.   Mar et al. (2003), Phoenix
- U.  Ostro et al. (2003), Coachella Valley

- A.  Burnett and Goldberg (2003), 8 Canadian cities
- B.  Klemm and Mason (2003), 6 U.S. cities
- C.  Moolgavkar (2003), Los Angeles
- D.  Klemm and Mason (2003), St. Louis
- E.  Klemm and Mason (2003), Boston
- D.  Klemm and Mason (2003), Kingston-Harriman
- G.  Klemm and Mason (2003), Portage
- H.  Ito (2003), Detroit
- I.    Chock et al. (2000), Pittsburgh (age <75 yr)
- J.   Chock et al. (2000), Pittsburgh (age 75+ yr)
- K.   Klemm and Mason (2000), Atlanta

**AA.  Ostro et al. (2006), 9 counties in CA**
**BB.  Ostro et al. (2006), 9 counties in CA (age >65 yr)**
**CC.  Burnett et al. (2004), 12 Canadian cities**
- DD.  Ito et al. (in press), Washington, DC
- EE.  Villeneuve et al. (2003), Vancouver, Canada
- FF.   Slaughter et al. (2005), Spokane
- GG. Goldberg et al. (2006), Montreal, Canada (age 65+yr)
- HH.  Klemm et al. (2004), Atlanta (age 65+ yr)
- II.     Klemm et al. (2004), Atlanta (age <65 yr)

**Epi-based Mortality Estimates for PM****2.5**

**Source: PM Staff Paper 2005**

## Epi-based Morbidity Estimates for PM2.5

**Excess-risk for PM****2.5**** for hospital and emergency dept. visits for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in single-pollutant models for U.S. and Canadian studies**

- HH.  Lin et al. (2002), Toronto, Canada (age 6-12 yr, boys)
- II.     Lin et al. (2002), Toronto, Canada (age 6-12 yr, girls)
- JJ.   Peel et al. (2005, Atlanta
- KK.  Lin et al. (2005), Toronto, Canada (age <16 yr, boys)
- LL.   Lin et al., (2005), Toronto, Canada (age <16 yr, girls)

**AA.  Dominici et al. (2006), 204 U.S. counties (age >65 yr)**
- BB.  Slaughter et al. (2005), Spokane (age 15+ yr)
- CC.  Metzger et al. (2004), Atlanta
- DD.  Slaughter et al. (2005), Spokane
- EE.  Chen et al. (2005), Vancouver, Canada (age 65+ yr)
- FF.  Chen et al. (2004), Vancouver, Canada (age 65+ yr)
- GG. Yang et al. (2004), Vancouver, Canada (age >3 yr)

- A.  Moolgavkar (2003), Los Angeles
- B.  Burnett et al. (1997), Toronto
- C.  Ito (2003), Detroit
- D.  Stieb et al. (2000), St. John
- E.  Sheppard (2003), Seattle
- F.  Thurston et al. (1994), Toronto
- G.  Delfino et al. (1997), Montreal
- H.  Delfino et al. (1998), Montreal

**Epi-based Morbidity Estimates for PM****2.5**

**Source: PM Staff Paper 2005**

## Tox Findings using PM Filters

## A new dimension to the O3 story...

## Source: O3 Staff Paper 2006

**Source: O****3**** Staff Paper 2006**

## Epi-based Asthma Morbidity in Kids for O3 

**Epi-based Asthma Morbidity in Kids for O****3**** **
**(Predictions)**

**Source: O****3**** Staff Paper 2006**

## Is the Science Advancing?

- After the close of the PM CD in 2004, a Provisional Review of new findings between then and 2006
- Greater monitor density seems to refine the health assessment
- Regional differences were discernible: speciation issue?
- New research efforts focusing on speciation and multipollutant complex
- EPA STAR (PM Center / grants) and intramural program
- Health Effects Institute – National Particle Components Toxicity Initiative (NPACT)

## Spatial Variability: Refinement  Increased Effect Estimates in LA

**Spatial Variability: Refinement ******** Increased Effect Estimates in LA**

**Source:   Jerrett et al. (2005)**

## Slide 18

## Continued Efforts to Refine PM2.5 Spatial & Temporal Variability for Use in Epi Studies

**Continued Efforts to Refine PM****2.5**** Spatial & Temporal Variability for Use in Epi Studies**

- 187 counties from STN evaluated for 52 PM2.5 components

**Source: Bell et al., 2007**

## Coordinated AQ Monitoring & Health Research

- There has been a productive history - NAS, CAAAC and other oversight groups have all called for more coordination
- “Products” have been of mutual benefit
- Health science has provided supplemental political support for the monitoring network
- Improvement in the science– better estimates for standard setting
- November 2006 – EPA/HEI Meeting on AQ-Health in Boston
- Some common needs – sometimes talking past one another
- Issues of data communication
- Misperceptions of actions by each community
- Clear need for finding and communicating common needs and program coordination

## Needs as Outlined in Meeting Summary*

- How specific size fractions, chemical components, sources or environments (e.g., urban and non-urban areas) of PM affect exposures that are linked to various health outcomes?
- The relationship between various health endpoints and different lag periods (e.g., less than one day, single day, and multi-day distributed lags)?
- How spatial and/or temporal heterogeneity of PM exposures vary with different size fractions and/or components?

***NRC-NAS Research Priorities for Particulate Matter -2004 **

## So...What has EPA been doing to aid this effort?

- ORD-OAQPS held a “Family” Meeting in October 2007
- Also included representatives from State, Regions, HEI
- Competing priorities, resources, institutional inertia, and misperceptions – how best to utilize the EPA’s *monitoring network* and *science investments*
- ORD-OAQPS AQ-Health Workshop – RTP April 16-17, 2008
- Expanded the invitees to include academic and private sector health folks in addition to expanded EPA, State, Regional and local reps
- _White papers_ have been prepared on each target areas for background to ensure minimal loss of time establishing the platform for discussion

## Workshop Outline 

- Elemental and Organic Carbon Measurements
- Chemical Speciation Network (CSN) Carbon Issues
- Accessing Ambient Air Monitoring Data
- Access to EPA’s Air Quality Data for Health Researchers
- Ambient Air Monitoring for Health Research
- Air Quality Sampling: Benefits and Costs of Daily health Targeted Monitors for fine Particle Components
- Thoracic Coarse PM Components & Potential Public Health Impacts
- Ambient Air Monitoring Network: Network Design and Site Selection Approval
- Ambient Air Monitoring Realities - EPA/State/Local Representatives
- Ambient Air Monitoring Method Implementation

## What Do We Gain from Improved AQ-Health Links?

**A ‘better’ metric for PM? - **_**Daily**_** speciated data is needed...**
- Better coverage of select large pop. Areas improves exposure
- A clear need for those areas in attainment as well as those not
- Obviously more frequent data reduces exposure misclassifications and helps deal with lags and temporal uncertainties
**Archived filters – available to fill in missing PM mass and analytes?**
- If filters are not saved – can they be? Takes a few years to build up data base.
- Also allows for targeted empirical study to address relative toxicity of _components_ and _sources_.
**Harmonized carbon measurements allow epi linkages over time for several important ongoing studies; mobile source issue**
**Communication of monitoring plans prevents disruption and can provide health community support for monitor maintenance**
**Coordination of ORD-OAQPS (S/L) may stretch for resources (?)**
**Platform for future advanced-AQ Modeling & Health coordination**
- Refinement of models will enhance exposure estimates over space and time