Amanda KaufmanORISE Participant
Ron WilliamsResearch Chemist
National Exposure Research LaboratoryOffice of Research and Development
April 8, 2016
EPA’s Air Sensor Toolbox for Citizen Scientists
NC BREATHE Conference
Air Pollution has a Compelling History
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Donora – 1948 London –1952 New York City – 1966
Birmingham – 1972 Los Angeles – 1988 Atlanta – 1996
Citizen “Air” Science is Not New
• Citizen Science has been and will continue to be an important element in promoting environmental health and well-being
• Public outcry on visibility and acidification in the 70s and 80s
o Regional Haze Programs
o Acid Rain Program
• Community driven local actions
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Grand Canyon National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Next Generation Air Monitoring
• EPA understands importance of sensors and how quickly new technologies are advancing and revolutionizing regional, community, fence-line, and personal monitoringo Championing cutting-edge research o Working with States to plan and foster use of new
technologieso Promoting citizen science, outreach and educationo Stimulating technology developments through STAR
grant program, SBIR funding for small businesses, Open Source Challenges
Mobile monitoring for geospatial mapping of pollutants (GMAP) 4“Village Green” park bench
monitors air quality
Jointly funded Innovation Project with NIEHS
Air Sensor Toolbox for Citizen Scientists
• Air Sensor Guidebook• Technical Evaluation Reports• Standard Operating Procedures for Air Sensors• Key Links – Community Air Monitoring Training, Air Sensors
Workshops, EPA Next Generation Air Monitoring• Recent Technical Findings – EPA CAIRSENSE Project• News – articles, blogs, podcasts, videos• Reports for the Citizen Science Air Monitoring Project in Newark, N.J.• Resources from the Air Quality Sensor Performance
Evaluation Center (AQ-SPEC)• Resources from the European Joint
Commission Research Centre
Air Sensor Guidebook
• A-to-Z resource for anyone interested in conducting an air monitoring project
• Topics include:• Air Quality 101• What to look for in a sensor• How to collect useful data• Sensor performance guidance• Maintaining your sensor• Potential questions from state and local
officials• Technical considerations
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Sensor Evaluation Reports• Laboratory and field evaluations of select sensors on the market• Evaluated performance characteristics:
• R2 (coefficient of determination) – sensor response compared to FEM/FRM• Effect of relative humidity and temperature on sensor response• Uptime• Ease of operation/installation• Mobility
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Additional Resources
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Community Air Monitoring Training
• EPA hosted A Glimpse into EPA’s Air Sensor Toolbox on July 9, 2015o 30 community and tribal action group representatives participated in-person [800+ via webinar]
• Workshop Goals:
o To share tools, best practices, and resources from EPA’s Air Sensor Toolbox for Citizen Scientists o To educate interested groups and individuals on how to conduct successful air monitoring projects
• Follow-upo Training has inspired participants to consider:
§ Appropriate redesigns of air monitoring projects, including alternative sensor choices§ Recruiting air quality experts to assist with quality assurance/quality control§ Establishing partnerships with local environmental experts to help with data interpretation (e.g.,
EPA Regional Offices, local universities)o Workshop presentations videotaped and available on-line [http://www2.epa.gov/air-research/air-
sensor-toolbox-citizen-scientists]
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Ongoing
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Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) Projects• Region 2 - Citizen Science Toolbox - Collaboration between
ORD/R2/Ironbound Community Corporation to provide Ironbound community with a “Toolbox” appropriate for initiating a community-based, participatory environmental monitoring study
• Region 1, 4, 7, 8 – Community Air Sensor Network (CAIRSENSE) -Direct low cost sensor colocation with Federal Reference Monitors in Atlanta and Denver
• Region 5 - Application of lower cost air monitoring technologies for local-scale air quality investigation in an environmental justice community
• Region 7- Field evaluation of lower cost continuous measurement of air pollutants
• Region 2 - Efficacy of Citizen Science Air Monitoring for Building Awareness of Exposures for Citizens in a US Caribbean Urban Neighborhood Impacted by Heavy Industrial Contamination
Citizen Science Collaborations (1)
Ongoing
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Regional Sustainability and Environmental Sciences Research Program (RESES) Projects
• Region 10 - Making a Visible Difference in N/NE Portland: Engaging Communities; Using Citizen Science to Assess and Address Children’s Environmental Health from Transit and Air Pollution
• Regions 4, 6, 7 - CitySpace and Air Sensor Network: Evaluating Spatial Gradients of Urban Air Pollution with Low-Cost Air Sensor Technology
Additional Projects
• Ron Williams and I serve as primary contacts for citizen science groups trying to understand sensor technology and asking questions about the Air Sensor Toolbox for Citizen Scientists
Citizen Science Collaborations (2)
Training Citizen Scientists in Newark, NJ
• Collaboration between EPA and Ironbound Community Corporation
• Overall goal was to characterize urban pollution using portable sensors, especially near roadways
• EPA provided full day of citizen training on CSAM use• Four sensors were deployed by citizens in the Ironbound
community – 21 locations over 6 months• Data summary and interpretation were shared with the
public in a community meeting
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TECHNOLOGY 21st Century Skills COMMUNICATION
Making Sense of Air Quality
Kids make a hand-held air sensors
True or False: Before the industrial revolution, there was no air pollution.
FALSE
Name one of the major causes of air pollution.
a. Solar Panelsb. Watering Lawnsc. Carsd. Biking
Name the main component of air.
a. Arsenicb. Nitrogenc. Leadd. Helium
True or False: Air pollution is a problem only in big cities.
FALSE
What does AQI stand for?
a. Air Quality Indexb. Air Quality Informationc. Ambient Quality Indexd. Air Questions Information
Which two air pollutants pose the greatest threat to human health?
a. Lead and Ozoneb. Particles and
Nitrogenc. Ozone and
Particlesd. Sulfur and Carbon
Monoxide
WOW! Making Sense of Air QualityLesson plans with game cards
Investing in the Future - Education
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Citizen Science: Getting There from Here
• How do we make the best use of citizen science as a tool in protecting public health and the environment?
• Keys to success:o Embracing the community needs and issues
o Outreach and mentorships to build trust
o Collaborative mentality
o It’s not just “data” – it’s understanding
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Considerations Moving Forward (1)
• Citizen science and collection of environmental data is not new • New, widely available, low-cost technologies are increasing opportunities for
citizen science to explore air pollution issueso How can we [EPA + public] make the best use of these opportunities?
• Significant value is gained when EPA and citizen scientists collaborateo EPA is committed to open, honest, and transparent communication
• EPA has 3 major focus areas to better collaborate with citizen science groups, o Sensor Technology Development and Evaluation (including data
quality) – EPA is encouraging a third-party verification programo Data management (i.e. Big Data) – widespread use of sensors will
generate enormous amounts of data. EPA cannot be the keeper, yet EPA must take a leadership role working with citizen scientists to understand the fundamentals of science and what information is most valuable to both them and EPA.
o Interpretation & Communication of the data – critical to data utility for everyone; EPA is already working to develop this messaging. 15
Considerations Moving Forward (2)
• While citizen science data cannot directly be used to determine whether an area (or source) is in compliance with air quality regulations, quality data or analyses have a wide range of potential uses:o Can inform network design to ensure monitors are located in high
concentration areas.o Can provide screening level data to inform decisions on sources that might be
appropriate candidates for additional inspections/controlso Can improve spatial and temporal characterization of ambient air pollutants for
use in local assessments of potential health/welfare impacts
• It is essential that EPA work with citizen science groups:o To build a platform of trust and collaboration – environmental advocateso To identify the types of questions/issues they can address with sensor datao To assess how their results can be used to inform local actions to improve
public health and the environment
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Thank you!
