UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards 

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 

February 3, 2011 

MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT: Supplemental Analysis of PM10 Air Quality from Locations Evaluated by Zanobetti and 

Schwartz (2009) 

FROM: Scott Jenkins, OAR/OAQPS/HEID /s/ 

TO: PM NAAQS Review Docket EPA-OAR-2007-0492

Overview

The purpose of this memorandum is to update the analysis of PM10 air quality concentrations in locations 

evaluated in the epidemiological study by Zanobetti and Schwartz (2009). The analysis of these air 

quality concentrations was originally reported by Schmidt and Jenkins (2010). In that original analysis, 

PM10 concentrations were reported in each study location for all available years from 1999 to 2005 (the 

overall timeframe of the study). However, in some locations, Zanobetti and Schwartz (2009) evaluated 

associations with mortality in only a subset of the years 1999 to 2005. To better match the years for which 

Zanobetti and Schwartz evaluated associations with health effects, Table 1 below reports PM10

concentrations for each study location, based only on the years evaluated in that specific location. 

The methods and monitors used to generate the air quality concentrations in Table 1 have been described 

previously (Schmidt and Jenkins, 2010) and will not be repeated here. In some locations, appropriate 

PM10 air quality data were not available for all of the years during which Zanobetti and Schwartz 

evaluated associations with mortality (e.g., because data completeness requirements, as described in 

Schmidt and Jenkins (2010), were not met). In these locations, we used the available PM10 data that both 

met completeness requirements and overlapped with the study period for that location. 
2

Table 1. PM10 Air Quality Concentrations in Locations Evaluated by Zanobetti and Schwartz 

(2009) 

Study Area Years of Study

Average of 3-year 

design values

(μg/m3) 

Average of 98th percentile 

values

(μg/m3) 

Akron, OH 1999-2004 63 50 

Albuquerque, NM 2000-2005 151 113 

Allentown, PA 2000-2005 63 45 

Atlanta, GA 1999-2005 128 74 

Bakersfield, CA 1999-2005 184 121 

Baltimore, MD 2000-2005 92 68 

Birmingham, AL 1999-2005 154 122 

Charleston, SC 1999-2005 59 42 

Chicago, IL 2000-2005 113 91 

Cincinnati, OH 1999-2004 88 60 

Cleveland, OH 1999-2004 116 90 

Columbia, SC 2002-2005 144 85 

Columbus, OH 1999-2004 100 73 

Davenport, IA 2000-2005 146 108 

Davie, FL 1999-2005 50 39 

Denver, CO 2000-2005 97 68 

Des Moines, IA 2000-2005 95 66 

Detroit, MI 2000-2005 165 105 

Easton, PA 2000-2005 121 94 

El Paso, TX 2000-2002 217 155 

Erie, PA 2004-2005 56 42 

Gary, IN 1999-2002 147 93 

Harrisburg, PA 2000-2005 68 51 

Los Angeles, CA 2000-2005 109 89 

Louisville, KY 2001-2005 71 56 

Memphis, TN 2001-2005 80 55 

New Haven, CT 2001-2005 89 79 

New York, NY 2000-2005 57 

Omaha, NE 2000-2005 138 84 

Phoenix, AZ 1999-2001 202 187 

Pittsburgh, PA 2000-2005 139 112 

Provo, UT 1999-2005 108 77 

Raleigh, NC 2000-2005 58 45 

Sacramento, CA 2000-2005 103 66 

Salt Lake City 1999-2005 283 98 
3

Study Area Years of Study

Average of 3-year 

design values

(μg/m3) 

Average of 98th percentile 

values

(μg/m3) 

Scranton, PA 2000-2005 65 47 

Seattle, WA 1999-2005 46 

Spokane, WA 1999-2002 98 73 

St. Louis, MO 1999-2005 165 138 

Steubenville, OH 1999-2003 104 83 

Tampa, FL 1999-2002 112 78 

Taylors, SC 2000-2005 59 47 

Toledo, OH 2001-2003 72 61 

Washington, PA 1999-2005 77 56 

Wilkes-Barre, PA 2000-2005 69 49 

Wilmington, DE 2000-2005 68 51 

Winston, NC 1999-2005 60 47 

Average across cities 110 77 

References

Schmidt, M.; Jenkins S.M. (2010). Analyses of PM10 and PM10-2.5 Data for the PM NAAQS Review. 

Memorandum to PM NAAQS review docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0492. 

Zanobetti A; Schwartz J. (2009). The effect of fine and coarse particulate air pollution on mortality: A 

national analysis. Environ Health Perspect, 117: 898-903.