Identification of Effects of Regulatory Actions on Air Quality in Goods Movement Corridors in California

Details

• Personal Author:
  Jerrett M ; Meng Y-Y ; Pickett M ; Ritz B ; Seto E ; Su JG
• Description:
  Few studies have assessed the impact of regulatory actions on air quality improvement through a comprehensive monitoring effort. In this study, we designed saturation sampling of nitrogen oxides (NOX) for the counties of Los Angeles and Alameda (San Francisco Bay) before (2003-2007) and after (2008-2013) implementation of goods movement actions in California. We further separated the research regions into three location categories, including goods movement corridors (GMCs), nongoods movement corridors (NGMCs), and control areas (CTRLs). Linear mixed models were developed to identify whether reductions in NOX were greater in GMCs than in other areas, after controlling for potential confounding, including weather conditions (e.g., wind speed and temperature) and season of sampling. We also considered factors that might confound the relationship, including traffic and cargo volumes that may have changed due to economic downturn impacts. Compared to the pre-policy period, we found reductions of average pollutant concentrations for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and NOX in GMCs of 6.4 and 21.7 ppb. The reductions were smaller in NGMCs (5.9 and 16.3 ppb, respectively) and in CTRLs (4.6 and 12.1 ppb, respectively). After controlling for potential confounding from weather conditions, season of sampling, and the economic downturn in 2008, the linear mixed models demonstrated that reductions in NO2 and NOX were significantly greater in GMCs compared to reductions observed in CTRLs; there were no statistically significant differences between NGMCs and CTRLs. These results indicate that policies regulating goods movement are achieving the desired outcome of improving air quality for the state, particularly in goods movement corridors where most disadvantaged communities live. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety Transportation
• Keywords:
  Air Pollutants Air Pollution Sampling Air Quality Monitoring Climatic Factors Nitrogen Dioxides Particulates Policy
• ISSN:
  0013-936X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  50
• Issue:
  16
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20063763
• Citation:
  Environ Sci Technol 2016 Aug; 50(16):8687-8696
• Contact Point Address:
  Jason G. Su, 50 University Hall, Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720-7360, United States
• Email:
  jasonsu@berkeley.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  University of Washington
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Science and Technology
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fb2c1d8d61129c3f5fe00c4ec0091323a257f2381025206886155fbd5037d72023371900e34bf24b6d71e543b6dc309ba41997d8aa35469cd2590c06872c1aea
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222319/cdc_222319_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.68 MB ]