UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

National Center for Environmental Assessment 

Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards 

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 

MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT: Particulate Matter Air Quality Data Requested from Epidemiologic Study Authors 

FROM: Lindsay Wichers Stanek, National Center for Environmental Assessment 

Rebecca Yang, National Center for Environmental Assessment 

 Beth Hassett-Sipple, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards 

 

TO: PM NAAQS Review Dockets (EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517 and EPA-HQ-OAR2007-0492) 

DATE: July 22, 2010 

This memorandum provides information regarding the distribution of air quality data from U.S.- 

and Canadian-based epidemiologic studies evaluated in the Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) 

for particulate matter (PM), which supports the current review of the PM National Ambient Air 

Quality Standards (NAAQS). Additional descriptive statistics beyond those reported in the 

published studies provide evidence for the concentrations at which health effects are observed 

and aid the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) in developing the Health 

Risk Assessment and Policy Assessment documents. 

NCEA and OAQPS collaborated to request additional descriptive statistics from the authors of 

U.S.- and Canadian-based epidemiologic studies of short-term exposures to PM2.5 and PM10-2.5, 

as well as long-term exposure to PM2.5. Additional descriptive statistics were requested for 

studies with the following characteristics: multi-city and single-city studies evaluating mortality 

and/or morbidity effects associated with short-term exposure to PM2.5 and/or PM10-2.5

concentrations, and studies evaluating mortality and morbidity effects associated with long-term 

exposure to PM2.5 concentrations. 

On May 2, 2009 and October 20, 2009, emails were sent to study authors requesting the below 

information: 

For multi-city studies evaluating mortality and/or morbidity effects associated with short-term 

PM2.5 and/or PM10-2. 5 concentrations, the following were requested: 1) mean; 95th, 96th, 97th, 98th, 

99th percentile values; and minimum and maximum values (each as the average across modeled 

cities- e.g., the average of the 98th percentile values across the cities evaluated); 2) if applicable, 

differentiate the above air quality information by specific years and regions (as defined in the 

study); 3) identify the air quality monitors used if they were not specified in the published study; 

and, 4) for PM10-2. 5 studies, provide the above information for PM10 if available (this phrase was 

added for the October email). 
2

For single-city studies evaluating mortality and morbidity effects associated with short-term PM2.5 

ambient concentrations, the information requested for multi-city studies were also requested for 

the one city evaluated. 

For studies evaluating mortality and morbidity effects associated with long-term PM2.5 ambient 

concentrations, the following were requested: 1) mean of the ambient PM2.5 mean concentrations 

across cities reported in the study for the time period evaluated in the study; and, 2) if applicable, 

differentiate the above information by individual years, season (as defined in the study) and region 

(as defined in the study). 

It was noted that authors could alternatively provide air quality data sets. Follow-up 

correspondence occurred periodically via telephone and/or email between May 2, 2009 and 

December 11, 2009. The email correspondence received from study authors has been 

incorporated into the ORD docket for this PM NAAQS review (EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517) and 

the attachment contains the document title, document ID numbers, and date posted for these 

materials contained in the docket. 

In response to the above request, study authors provided EPA with either the requested 

concentrations across all study years or the air quality data for each individual year included in 

the study. When study authors only provided air quality data for each individual year included in 

the study EPA scientists calculated the corresponding descriptive statistics for the entire study 

period. If no additional data were received from study authors, then statistics reported in the 

published studies were not replicated in this memorandum. Data provided for the previous PM 

Criteria Documents or Staff Papers have also not been replicated in this memorandum. 

Tables 1-3 included in this memorandum provide the descriptive statistics for each study and are 

organized by size fraction and study period (short-term and long-term PM2.5 exposure and shortterm PM10-2. 5 exposure). The short-term PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 exposure tables (Tables 1 and 3) 

summarize the mean and upper percentile concentrations (95th-99th, maximum). When available, 

the overall data and the averages calculated from yearly data were included in Table 3 for PM10-

2.5. The long-term PM2.5 exposure table (Table 2) summarizes mean concentrations. Studies 

within the tables are organized alphabetical according to the principal investigator and include a 

hyperlink to NCEA’s Health and Environmental Research Online (HERO) database at 

http://epa.gov/hero, which contains scientific literature used by the EPA in developing ISAs. 

The descriptive statistics in the following tables were used within the ISA to supplement the 

published data provided in each study. These statistics were primarily used to summarize the air 

quality distribution across which PM-related health effects were observed in the summary figures 

presented in Chapter 2 of the ISA. In addition, the 98th percentiles were incorporated into some 

of the summary tables in Chapter 6 of the ISA to better characterize the upper percentiles of the 

air quality distribution. The mean concentrations provided by study authors were included in 

some of the summary tables in Chapters 6 and 7 of the ISA, if the published study did not report 

a mean concentration. In some instances, the descriptive statistics, either provided by study 

authors or calculated by EPA scientists using the air quality data sets provided by study authors, 

were found to vary slightly from those reported in the published studies. However, the difference 

between the two concentrations was not substantial. 
3

Table 1. Statistics for 24-hour PM2.5 Concentrations from Short-term Exposure Health 

Studies in μg/m3 

Study Location 

AuthorProvided 

Mean 

Study 

Mean 95% 96% 97% 98% 99% Max 

Adamkiewicz et al. 

(2004, 087925) Steubenville, OH 19.7 19.7 43.6 43.8 46.1 48.4 50.3 50.7

Adar et al., (2007, 

001458) St. Louis, MO 10.1 NP 19.9 21.3 22.2 22.4 23.0 23.2 

Auchincloss et al., 

(2008, 156234) 6 U.S. cities 16.6 16.8 26.3 27.2 29.1 30.6 34.7 47.9 

Bell et al., (2008, 

156266) 202 U.S. counties 12.9 NP 27.8 29.3 31.3 34.2 38.8 66.4 

Burnett et al., (2004, 

086247) 12 Canadian cities 12.2a 12.8b

 30.0a 31.8a 34.3a 38.1a 45.5a 85.6a 

Diez Roux et al., (2006, 

156400) 6 U.S. cities 16.6 NP 26.3 27.2 29.1 30.6 34.7 47.9 

Dubowsky et al., (2006, 

088750) St. Louis, MO 16.0 16 25.4 25.8 27.9 27.9 27.9 27.9 

Ebelt et al., (2005, 

056907) 

Vancouver, 

Canada 11.3 11.4 17.3 18.1 19.8 23.0 25.9 28.7 

Franklin et al., (2007, 

091257) 

27 U.S. 

communities 15.6 15.8c

 35.5 37.8 41.0 45.8 54.7 239.0 

Franklin et al., (2008, 

097426) 

25 U.S. 

communities 14.8 15.4c

 33.1 35.4 38.4 43.0 50.9 239.2 

Gent et al., (2003, 

052885) 

4 cities in 

southern New 

England 

13.1 13.1 30.7 32.4 32.7 33.2 37.6 44.2 

Gent et al., (2009, 

180399) New Haven, CT 16.6 17.0 33.7 35.8 38.6 40.9 46.3 83.4 

Goldberg et al., (2003, 

035202) Montreal, Quebec 17.4 17.4 39.5 44.3 46.5 53.0 59.0 72.0 

Goldberg et al., (2006, 

088641) Montreal, Quebec 17.4 17.4 39.5 44.3 46.5 53.0 59.0 72.0 

Ito et al., (2007, 

156594) New York, NY 15.1 15.1 32.0 34.0 36.0 39.0 43.0 81.0 

Klemm et al., (2004, 

056585) Atlanta, GA 19.6 19.6 34.5 35.4 37.3 38.9 41.8 48.0 

Lisabeth et al., (2008, 

155939) 

Corpus Christi, 

TX NP NP 17.0 17.6 19.3 23.6 27.8 41.9 

Liu et al., (2009, 

192003) Windsor, Ontario 7.1 NP 14.5 19.0 19.0 19.0 20.5 20.5 

Luttmann-Gibson et al., 

(2006, 089794) Steubenville, OH 19.7 19.7 43.6 43.8 46.1 48.4 50.3 50.7

Mar et al., (2004, 

057309) Spokane, WA NP 9.8c

 19.7 20.6 23.0 25.8 28.9 34.8 

McCormack et al., 

(2009, 199833) Baltimore, MD 12.4 NP 24.9 26.0 28.7 32.0 34.1 45.2 

Metzger et al., (2004, 

044222) Atlanta, GA 19.7c NP 35.6c 36.5c 38.4c 39.8c 42.0a 47.8c 

O’Neill et al., (2007, 

156006) 6 U.S. cities 16.6 16.5 26.3 27.2 29.1 30.6 34.7 47.9 
4

Study Location 

AuthorProvided 

Mean 

Study 

Mean 95% 96% 97% 98% 99% Max 

Ostro et al., (2006, 

087991) 9 CA counties 19.9 19.4c

 53.0 56.9 62.0 68.2 82.0 160.0 

Ostro et al., (2007, 

091354) 9 CA counties 18.4 19.3 47.7 51.3 56.2 61.2 70.1 116.1 

Ostro et al., (2008, 

097971) 9 CA counties 18.4 19.3 47.7 51.3 56.2 61.2 70.1 116.1 

Ostro et al., (2009, 

191971) 6 CA counties 19.7 19.4 48.5 53.2 57.6 61.3 69.0 96.2 

Park et al., (2005, 

057331) Boston, MA 10.9 11.4 23.9 25.9 27.4 30.6 34.6 73.0

Park et al., (2008, 

156845) Boston, MA 11.8 12.0 24.9 26.5 28.2 30.8 36.3 73.0 

Peel et al., (2005, 

056305) Atlanta, GA 19.7c 19.2 35.6c 36.5c 38.4c 39.8c 42.0c 47.8c 

Pope et al., (2008, 

191969) 

3 metropolitan 

areas in Utah NP 11.1c

 31.2c 34.1c 38.6c 44.5c 54.6c 118c

Rabinovitch et al., 

(2004, 096753) Denver, CO 10.6c

 10.8 22.3c 23.2c 25.9c 29.3c 31.7c 43.1c

Rabinovitch et al (2006, 

088031) Denver, CO 7.4c, d 7.4c, d 13.4c, d 14.3c, d 14.6c, d 17.2c, d 21.9c, d 22.1c, d

Rich et al., (2004, 

055631) 

Vancouver, 

Canada 8.2 8.2 16.3 19.1 20.0 21.3 29.7 140.3 

Rich et al., (2008, 

156910) 

2 monitoring sites 

in NJ 13.4 NP 31.1 33.1 34.8 37.6 41.5 61.4 

Rosenthal et al., (2008, 

156925) Indianapolis, IN NP NP 30.6a, c NP NP 36.0a, c 41.3a, c NP 

Sarnat et al., (2006, 

090489) Steubenville, OH 19.7 19.6 43.6 43.8 46.1 48.4 50.3 50.7 

Schreuder et al., (2006, 

097959) Spokane, WA 10.8 10.6 25.1 26.1 27.5 29.6 32.8 45.8 

Slaughter et al., (2005, 

073854) Spokane, WA 10.8 NP 25.1 26.1 27.5 29.6 32.8 45.8 

Symons et al., (2006, 

091258) Baltimore, MD 16.5 16.0 36.6 39.8 45.2 50.1 55.8 69.3 

Tolbert et al., (2007, 

090316) Atlanta, GA 17.1 17.1 33.3 34.3 35.9 38.7 40.7 65.8 

Villeneuve et al., (2006, 

090191) 

Edmonton, 

Canada NP 8.5 19.0 19.2 21.0 24.0 30.2 103.0 

Wilson et al., (2007, 

091141) 

Edmonton, 

Canada 13.0 NP 27.0 27.8 28.9 31.6 33.4 41.0 

Zanobetti and Schwartz 

(2009, 188462) 112 U.S. cities 13.2 13.3c

 28.2 29.7 31.6 34.3 38.6 57.4 

Zhang et al., (2009, 

191970) Contiguous U.S. 13.9c 13.9 29.3c

 31.6c 33.9c 37.6c 40.5c 77.1c

NP=not provided 

a

 FRM data reported; TEOM data available 

b

 Population-weighted 

c

 Calculated from seasonal averages, yearly averages, and/or averages over multiple locations d

 TEOM data reported; FRM data available 
5

Table 2. Statistics for 24-hour PM2.5 Concentrations from Long-term Exposure Health 

Studies in μg/m3 

Study Location 

Authorprovided 

Mean 

Study 

Mean 

Allen et al., 

(2009, 156209) 5 U.S. cities 16.1 15.8 

Bell et al., (2007, 

091059) 

13 counties in MA 

and CT 12.0 11.9 

Chen et al. 

(2005, 087942) Southern California 23.7a 29.0

Diez Roux et al., 

(2008, 156401) 6 U.S. cities 18.7 21.7 

Laden et al., 

(2006, 087605) 6 U.S. cities 16.4a NP 

Meng et al., 

(2007, 093275) 

LA and San Diego 

Counties 19.1 NP 

Miller et al., 

(2007, 090130) 

36 U.S. metropolitan 

areas 

12.9 13.5 

O’Neill et al., 

(2007, 156006) 6 U.S. cities 18.7 16.5 

Rich et al., 

(2009, 180122) 

20 monitoring sites 

in NJ 13.7 13.8b

NP=not provided 

a

 Calculated from seasonal averages, yearly averages and/or averages over multiple locations b

 Calculated over three pregnancy trimesters 

Table 3. Statistics for 24-hour PM10-2.5 Concentrations from Short-term Exposure Health 

Studies in μg/m3

Study Location 

Authorprovided 

Mean 

Study 

Mean 95% 96% 97% 98% 99% Max 

Burnett et al., 

(2004, 086247) 

12 Canadian cities 11.0 11.4a

 26.9 29.0 31.5 35.0 40.5 150.9 

Klemm et al., 

(2004, 056585) 

Calculated from 

yearly averages 

Atlanta, GA 9.7 NP 18.2 18.8 19.8 20.8 22.4 34.2 

Overall 9.7 9.7 16.8 17.4 18.0 18.6 20.2 25.2 

Mar et al., (2004, 

057309) Spokane, WA NP 10.8b

 23.6 24.9 26.8 32.2 40.6 50.9 

Metzger et al., 

(2004, 044222) 

Calculated from 

yearly averages 

Atlanta, GA 9.7 NP 18.9 19.5 20.2 20.9 22.6 34.2 

Overall 9.7 NP 18.8 19.4 20.1 21.0 22.7 34.2 

Peel et al., (2005, 

056305) 

Calculated from 

yearly averages 

Atlanta, GA 9.7 NP 18.9 19.5 20.2 20.9 22.6 34.2 

Overall 9.7 9.7 18.8 19.4 20.1 21.0 22.7 34.2 
6

Study Location 

Authorprovided 

Mean 

Study 

Mean 95% 96% 97% 98% 99% Max 

Peng et al., (2008, 

156850) 108 U.S. counties 12.3 NP 26.5 28.3 30.9 34.7 41.9 81.3 

Tolbert et al., 

(2007, 090316) 

Calculated from 

yearly averages 

Atlanta, GA 9.1 NP 17.9 18.6 19.5 21.0 23.4 50.3 

Overall 9.0 9.0 18.8 19.6 20.8 21.9 23.8 50.3 

Zanobetti & 

Schwartz (2009, 

188462) 

47 U.S. cities 11.8 11.6c

 31.1 33.3 35.9 40.2 47.2 88.3 

NP=not provided 

a Population-weighted 

b

 Calculated from PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations c Calculated from seasonal averages, yearly averages and/or averages over multiple locations
7

Attachment 

DOCUMENT TITLE DOCUMENT ID DATE 

POSTED 

Email to authors of recent U.S. and Canadian epidemiological 

studies

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0050 05/21/2009 

Email to authors of recent U.S. and Canadian epidemiological 

studies evaluating health effects associated with exposure to 

particulate matter (PM) from Beth Hassett-Sipple on October 

20, 2009 

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0104 01/15/2010 

Email to Jason Sacks, USEPA - June 1, 2009 EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0064 8/26/2009 

Zanobetti Data: Descriptive PM2.5 in 112 Cities (By Region) EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0064.1 08/26/2009

Zanobetti Data: Descriptive PM2.5 in 112 Cities (Overall) EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0064.2 08/26/2009

Zanobetti Data: Descriptive PM-Coarse in 47 Cities (By 

Region)

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0064.3 08/26/2009

Zanobetti Data: Descriptive PM-Coarse in 47 Cities (Overall) EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0064.4 08/26/2009

Zanobetti Data: List Cities and Counties EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0064.5 8/26/2009 

Email regarding Bell Quality Data Response to Request EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0087 01/13/2010

Email to Rebecca Yang, Student Services Contractor, USEPA 

from Zu-Ming Zhang on 12/02/2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0088 01/13/2010

Email to Rebecca Yang, Student Services Contractor, USEPA 

from Synnove F. Knutsen, Professor and Chair, Loma Linda 

University on 12/01/2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0089 01/13/2010

Email to Rebecca Yang from Lindsay Stanek on 11/30/2009 EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0090 01/13/2010

Email to Rebecca Yang, USEPA from Karen Fung on 

12/01/2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0091 01/13/2010

Email to Rebecca Yang, USEPA from Tim Larson, University 

of Washington on November 27, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0092 01/13/2010

Email to Beth Hassett-Sipple, USEPA from Tim Larson, 

University of Washington on May 19, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0093 01/13/2010

Email to Beth Hassett-Sipple, USEPA from Elizabeth 

Sheppard, University of Washington on July 20, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0094 01/13/2010

Email to Lindsay Stanek and Beth Hassett-Sipple, USEPA 

from Steven Dutton, USEPA on November 18, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0095 01/13/2010

Email to Beth Hassett-Sipple, USEPA from Ying-Ying Meng, 

UCLA Center for Health Policy Research on November 16, 

2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0096 01/13/2010

Email to Rebecca Yang, USEPA from J. Morel Symons, E.I. 

Du Pont de Nemours and Company on November 10, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0097 01/13/2010

Email to Rebecca Yang, USEPA from Lynda Lisabeth, 

University of Michigan on November 09, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0098 01/14/2010

Email to Paul Villeneuve, Health Canada from Li Chen, Health 

Canada on October 29, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0099 01/14/2010

Email to Rebecca Yang, USEPA from Paul Villeneuve, Health 

Studies on November 03, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0100 01/14/2010

Email to Rebecca Yang, USEPA from Arden Pope, Brigham 

Young University on October 30, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0101 01/14/2010

Email to Rebecca Yang, USEPA from Lyndsey Darrow, Emory 

University on October 30, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0102 01/14/2010

Email to Frank Rosenthal, Purdue University from Beth 

Hassett-Sipple, USEPA on October 29, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0103 01/15/2010

Email to Beth Hassett-Sipple, USEPA from Karin Yeatts, 

University of North Carolina on June 15, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0105 01/15/2010

Email to George O'Connor, Boston University School of EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0106 01/20/2010
8

Medicine from Beth Hassett-Sipple, USEPA on October 20, 

2009

Email to Rebecca Yang, Student Services Contractor, USEPA 

from Michael Brauer, Director, School of Environmental 

Health, The University of British Columbia on December 8, 

2009 

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-0107 01/20/2010 

Email to Beth Hassett-Sipple, USEPA/RTP from Bart Ostro, 

Chief, Air Pollution Epidemiology Section, Office of 

Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) on July 

21, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-109 02/04/2010 

Email to Beth Hassett-Sipple, USEPA/RTP from Rick Burnett 

on July 21, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-110 02/12/2010 

Email to Rebecca Yang, USEPA/RTP from Meridith Franklin 

on October 28, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-111 02/12/2010 

Email to Beth Hassett-Sipple, USEPA/RTP from Janneane F. 

Gent, Research Scientist, Yale University on October 21, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-112 02/12/2010 

Email to Beth Hassett-Sipple, USEPA/RTP from Cynthia Curl, 

MWSA Air Project Manager, University of Washington on 

August 10, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-113 02/12/2010 

Email to Beth Hassett-Sipple, USEPA/RTP from Greg Diette 

on June 25, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-114 02/12/2010 

Email to Paul Villeneuve from Li Chen on October 29, 2009 EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-115 02/12/2010 

Email to USEPA: Beth Hassett-Sipple, Lindsay Stanek, 

Rebecca Yang, and Pradeep Rajan from Lyndsey Darrow, 

Paige Tolbert, Emory University on October 21, 2009

EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0517-116 02/12/2010 

Email from Francine Laden, Harvard School of Public Health, 

to Beth Hassett-Sipple, USEPA on May 21, 2009 

EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0492-0122 7/15/10