IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jenvss/v12y2022i4d10.1007_s13412-022-00777-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Air pollution exposure assessment at schools and playgrounds in Williamsburg Brooklyn NYC, with a view to developing a set of policy solutions

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Maria Carmen Ilie

    (Colorado School of Mines
    City University of New York)

  • Norma McCarthy

    (El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice High School)

  • Leslie Velasquez

    (El Puente Community-based Organization)

  • Masoom Moitra

    (El Puente Community-based Organization)

  • Holger Michael Eisl

    (City University of New York)

Abstract

Community science offers unique opportunities for non-professional involvement of volunteers in the scientific process, not just during the data acquisition, but also in other phases, like problem definition, quality assurance, data analysis and interpretation, and the dissemination of results. Moreover, community science can be a powerful tool for public engagement and empowerment during policy formulation. This paper aims to present a pilot study on personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and raises awareness of the hazards of air pollution. As part of data acquisition conducted in 2019, high school students gathered data at their schools, schoolyards, and playgrounds using low-cost monitors AirBeam2. The data was automatically uploaded every second onto the AirCasting mobile app. Besides, a stationary network of air monitors (fixed stations) was deployed in the neighborhood to collect real-time ambient air concentrations of PM2.5. Students involved in the project attended workshops, training sessions, and researched to better understand air pollution, as part of their science class curriculum and portfolio. This air quality monitoring was incorporated into the “Our Air/Nuestro Aire” — El Puente grassroots campaign. The main goals of this campaign included sharing the data collected with the community, engaging academic partners to develop a set of policy and urban design solutions, and to be considered into a 5-point policy platform.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Maria Carmen Ilie & Norma McCarthy & Leslie Velasquez & Masoom Moitra & Holger Michael Eisl, 2022. "Air pollution exposure assessment at schools and playgrounds in Williamsburg Brooklyn NYC, with a view to developing a set of policy solutions," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 12(4), pages 838-852, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:jenvss:v:12:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1007_s13412-022-00777-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s13412-022-00777-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13412-022-00777-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s13412-022-00777-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Brody, J.G. & Morello-Frosch, R. & Zota, A. & Brown, P. & Pérez, C. & Rudel, R.A., 2009. "Linking exposure assessment science with policy objectives for environmental justice and breast cancer advocacy: the northern California household exposure study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(S3), pages 600-609.
    2. Wing, S. & Horton, R.A. & Muhammad, N. & Grant, G.R. & Tajik, M. & Thu, K., 2008. "Integrating epidemiology, education, and organizing for environmental justice: Community health effects of industrial hog operations," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(8), pages 1390-1397.
    3. Minkler, M., 2010. "Linking science and policy through community-based participatory research to study and address health disparities," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(S1), pages 81-87.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Heather Lochotzki & Karen Patricia Williams & Cynthia G. Colen & Olorunfemi Adetona & Charleta B. Tavares & Georgina M. Ginn & Rejeana Haynes & Wansoo Im & Tanya Bils & Darryl B. Hood, 2022. "A Framework for Interfacing and Partnering with Environmental Justice Communities as a Prelude to Human Health and Hazard Identification in the Vulnerable Census Tracts of Columbus, Ohio," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-18, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dana H. Z. Williamson, 2022. "Using the Community Engagement Framework to Understand and Assess EJ-Related Research Efforts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-26, February.
    2. Dana H. Z. Williamson & Sheryl Good & Daphne Wilson & Na’Taki Osborne Jelks & Dayna A. Johnson & Kelli A. Komro & Michelle C. Kegler, 2023. "Using the Collaborative Problem-Solving Model: Findings from an Evaluation of U.S. EPA’s Environmental Justice Academy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-24, October.
    3. James L. Sadd & Manuel Pastor & Rachel Morello-Frosch & Justin Scoggins & Bill Jesdale, 2011. "Playing It Safe: Assessing Cumulative Impact and Social Vulnerability through an Environmental Justice Screening Method in the South Coast Air Basin, California," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Erin Lebow-Skelley & Sarah Yelton & Brandi Janssen & Esther Erdei & Melanie A. Pearson, 2020. "Identifying Issues and Priorities in Reporting Back Environmental Health Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-19, September.
    5. Ryan Petteway & Mahasin Mujahid & Amani Allen & Rachel Morello-Frosch, 2019. "Towards a People’s Social Epidemiology: Envisioning a More Inclusive and Equitable Future for Social Epi Research and Practice in the 21st Century," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-21, October.
    6. Jiayao Chen & Tony J. Ward & Steven Sai Hang Ho & Kin Fai Ho, 2022. "Occurrence and Risk Assessment of Personal PM 2.5 -Bound Phthalates Exposure for Adults in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-21, October.
    7. Alana M. W. LeBrón & Ivy R. Torres & Enrique Valencia & Miriam López Dominguez & Deyaneira Guadalupe Garcia-Sanchez & Michael D. Logue & Jun Wu, 2019. "The State of Public Health Lead Policies: Implications for Urban Health Inequities and Recommendations for Health Equity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-28, March.
    8. Timothy M. Barzyk & Sacoby Wilson & Anthony Wilson, 2015. "Community, State, and Federal Approaches to Cumulative Risk Assessment: Challenges and Opportunities for Integration," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-26, April.
    9. Jennifer K. Felner & Talia Kieu & Andrew Stieber & Hunter Call & Daniel Kirkland & Amanda Farr & Jerel P. Calzo, 2020. "“It’s Just a Band-Aid on Something No One Really Wants to See or Acknowledge”: A Photovoice Study with Transitional Aged Youth Experiencing Homelessness to Examine the Roots of San Diego’s 2016–2018 H," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-24, June.
    10. Ward, Melanie & Schulz, Amy J. & Israel, Barbara A. & Rice, Kristina & Martenies, Sheena E. & Markarian, Evan, 2018. "A conceptual framework for evaluating health equity promotion within community-based participatory research partnerships," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 25-34.
    11. Brown, Phil & Lyson, Mercedes & Jenkins, Tania, 2011. "From diagnosis to social diagnosis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(6), pages 939-943, September.
    12. Mary A. Fox & L. Elizabeth Brewer & Lawrence Martin, 2017. "An Overview of Literature Topics Related to Current Concepts, Methods, Tools, and Applications for Cumulative Risk Assessment (2007–2016)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-28, April.
    13. Esther Min & Deric Gruen & Debolina Banerjee & Tina Echeverria & Lauren Freelander & Michael Schmeltz & Erik Saganić & Millie Piazza & Vanessa E. Galaviz & Michael Yost & Edmund Y.W. Seto, 2019. "The Washington State Environmental Health Disparities Map: Development of a Community-Responsive Cumulative Impacts Assessment Tool," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-16, November.
    14. Dana H. Z. Williamson & Emma X. Yu & Candis M. Hunter & John A. Kaufman & Kelli Komro & Na’Taki Osborne Jelks & Dayna A. Johnson & Matthew O. Gribble & Michelle C. Kegler, 2020. "A Scoping Review of Capacity-Building Efforts to Address Environmental Justice Concerns," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-23, May.
    15. Prasanthi Puvanachandra & Anthony Mugeere & Charles Ssemugabo & Olive Kobusingye & Margaret Peden, 2024. "Voices from the Ground: Community Perspectives on Preventing Unintentional Child Injuries in Low-Income Settings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-15, February.
    16. Todd B. Ziegler & Chris M. Coombe & Zachary E. Rowe & Sarah J. Clark & Carina J. Gronlund & Michelle Lee & Angelina Palacios & Larissa S. Larsen & Tony G. Reames & Justin Schott & Guy O. Williams & Ma, 2019. "Shifting from “Community-Placed” to “Community-Based” Research to Advance Health Equity: A Case Study of the Heatwaves, Housing, and Health: Increasing Climate Resiliency in Detroit (HHH) Partnership," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-19, September.
    17. James E. S. Nolan & Eric S. Coker & Bailey R. Ward & Yahna A. Williamson & Kim G. Harley, 2021. "“Freedom to Breathe”: Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) to Investigate Air Pollution Inequities in Richmond, CA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-18, January.
    18. Jennifer S. Carrera & Kent Key & Sarah Bailey & Joseph A. Hamm & Courtney A. Cuthbertson & E. Yvonne Lewis & Susan J. Woolford & E. Hill DeLoney & Ella Greene-Moton & Kaneesha Wallace & DeWaun E. Robi, 2019. "Community Science as a Pathway for Resilience in Response to a Public Health Crisis in Flint, Michigan," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-25, March.
    19. Deborah Juarbe-Rey & Adriana Obén Pérez & Roberto Papo Christian P. Santoni & Melissa Ramírez Ramírez & Mildred Vera, 2018. "Using Risk Communication Strategies for Zika Virus Prevention and Control Driven by Community-Based Participatory Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-11, November.
    20. Leah Baskin-Graves & Haley Mullen & Aaron Aber & Jair Sinisterra & Kamran Ayub & Roxana Amaya-Fuentes & Sacoby Wilson, 2019. "Rapid Health Impact Assessment of a Proposed Poultry Processing Plant in Millsboro, Delaware," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-18, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jenvss:v:12:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1007_s13412-022-00777-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.