Quantification of traffic-related emissions and exposures at U.S.-Mexico Border Crossings using real-time portable sensors

As the urban population continues to grow, a greater number of people risk exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), and therefore also risk-averse health effects. The impacts of traffic-related and regional industrial pollution on the health of community residents are of particular concern in the border cities of PdN. Traffic-related air pollution is especially prevalent in cities with multiple ports of entry (POE) such as El Paso, Texas. Border crossings present additional challenges for both sides of the border, including economic, social, and health issues. Long delays in idling commercial and passenger vehicles are common at many POE. Exposure to traffic emissions related to border crossings occurs while people are waiting in line or on foot to cross the border. In-cabin air quality data will be collected using three different monitoring instruments. The pollutants analyzed in this study will be nitrogen dioxide, (NO2), particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), and Ozone (O3). Ozone is an EPA regulated criteria pollutant, although not directly emitted from the vehicles but is a photochemical product involving another critical traffic pollutant, NO2. Another set of the same three air quality monitors will be placed inside the vehicle with the inlets coming through the top of the vehicle to measure the out-cab pollutant concentrations. Air pollution measurements will be conducted during 30 drives across the POE, conducted over two weeks. Instruments will collect 1-second data during each run which is estimated to be 1-2 hours, resulting in a total of around 7200 data points per run, each run will consist of a 1-mile drive in each direction, into Mexico and back. The study will conduct community PM air monitoring on both sides of the border. This will be implemented using low-cost PM sensors (by Purple Air Inc.) to cover a larger area and provide real-time concentrations for communities to monitor. Community monitors will help calculate differences in exposure between citizens on the POE and those in the surrounding communities.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $120000
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747128

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Center for Advanced Researchh in Transportation Emissionss, Energy and Health

  Texas A&M Transportation Instiitute
  College Station, Texas  United States  77843
• Project Managers:

  Yung, Haylee

• Performing Organizations:

  The University of Texas at El Paso

  500 W University Ave
  El Paso, TX  United States  79902
• Principal Investigators:

  Chavez, Mayra

  Li, Wen-Whai

  Vazquez, Leonardo

  Williams, Evan

• Start Date: 20210301
• Expected Completion Date: 20220731
• Actual Completion Date: 20230331
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers
• Source Data: 05-57-UTEP

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality; Border crossings; Environmental monitoring; Pollutants; Pollution; Ports of entry; Traffic congestion
• Geographic Terms: United States-Mexico Border
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01845602
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747128
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: May 18 2022 2:20PM