Description
- Abstract:
- Air and noise pollution are major environmental stressors across U.S. cities. Yet, current research on their correlations is limited and somewhat inconsistent. Our research takes a combined environmental and epidemiologic approach to investigate the spatio-temporal relationships between air pollution, noise, and health in Providence neighborhoods. The Breathe Providence project is a network of 25 air quality monitors preferentially distributed in communities vulnerable to poor air quality and its related health outcomes. The instrumentation, supplied by UC Berkeley’s BEACO2N team, measures Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Ozone (O3), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and aerosols at 5-second intervals. In collaboration with the Community Noise Lab in the School of Public Health, we co-located equipment for 3 months to examine the temporal and spatial distribution of air pollutants and noise at a high resolution. Optimus + Red Class 1 sound level meters were set up at four Breathe Providence monitoring sites. Each site had characteristic differences in neighborhood type (industrial, commercial, residential), road proximity to throughfares, and highway proximity. There was a noticeable difference in noise levels across each of the sites under typical conditions. Between May 30th to June 7th, much of the Northeast was impacted by poor air quality due to transport of smoke from the Canadian wildfires. The impact of the wildfires is used as a case study to compare “baseline” trends of air quality and noise with a disruptive, network-wide air pollution event. Additionally, the dataset will be evaluated within the context of both short-term and chronic health outcomes of air and noise pollution. Examples include cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, myocardial infarction, and emergency room visits. Finally, we will consider the results along with other environmental determinants that may contribute to a disproportionate burden experienced by different populations within Providence.
- Notes:
- Funding provided by Clean Air Fund
Access Conditions
- Use and Reproduction
- All rights reserved
- Rights
- In Copyright
- Restrictions on Use
- All Rights Reserved
Citation
Chen, Vivien, Lee, Nina, Berg, Grace, et al.,
"Assessing the Co-Burdens of Air Quality and Noise Pollution in Providence, Rhode Island"
(2023).
Breathe Providence Digital Collection.
Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library.
https://doi.org/10.26300/15wa-7v26
Relations
Collection:
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Breathe Providence Digital Collection
This collection holds research and engagement materials for Breathe Providence, a community-focused air monitoring network in Providence, Rhode Island based at Brown University. The monitors continuously measure concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), ozone (O₃), …...