Albany South End Community Air Quality Study OCTOBER 2019 DIVISION OF AIR RESOURCES Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor | Basil Seggos, Commissioner Acknowledgements University at Albany Science & NYS Department of Health Technology Entry Program • Patricia Fritz • Pascale Maximin • Nicole Vitillo • Mayra Santiago NYS Department of Transportation • Andrew Haynes • Thomas Waring NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Air Resources • Region 4 Office • Mobile Sources and – Gary McPherson Technology Development – Don Welsted – Temple Bailey • Environmental Justice – David Barnes – Lisa King-DeJesus – Brian Frank – Rosa Mendez – Tom Giorgio – Gil LaDuke • Fleet Operations – Shida Tang – Matt Adalian – Marilyn Wurth – Rocco Desimone • Air Quality Surveillance • Air Resources Interns – Amanda Carpenter – Hunter Agnew – Mike Costello – Ben Coyle – Fitzgerald Drummond – Kefei Ning – Dirk Felton – Jacob Tanzman – Kris Fitzpatrick • Student Volunteers – Peter Furdyna – Julia Felton – George Hayner – Olivia Sheppard – Matthew Hirsch – Enrique Lopez • NY Leaders Internship Program – Jackie Perry – Alan Eapen – Oliver Rattigan – Zoe Hutchins – Erica Shipley – Michala Seibert – Paul Sierzenga – Elizabeth Zeccola – Meaghan Valis Division of Communication Services – Mike Walsh • Andrew Breedlove • Air Quality Analysis & Research • Joan Kennedy – John Kent • Robin Kuiper – Randi Walker • Jomo Miller • Air Resources Staff Volunteers • Rachel Moore – Marie Barnes Division of Law Enforcement – Elvira Brankov • Luke Billotto – Scott Griffin • Lieutenant Bobseine – Dan Hodgkinson – Rich McAuley Division of Lands and Forest – Heidi von Linden • Jeff Speich • Stationary Sources – Mark Lanzafame ALBANY SOUTH END COMMUNITY AIR QUALITY STUDY | SEPTEMBER 2019 i Table of Contents Table of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... iv Table of Tables ........................................................................................................................................... vi List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ...................................................................................................... vii Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................... 1 Background ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Key Findings .......................................................................................................................................... 3 New Actions to Reduce Air Pollution and Exposure ............................................................................. 4 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 6 Community Description ......................................................................................................................... 6 Response to Community Concerns ...................................................................................................... 9 • Community Meetings ..................................................................................................................... 9 • Previous Screening Assessment ................................................................................................. 10 • Capital District Transportation Committee Study ........................................................................ 11 • South Albany Truck Traffic .......................................................................................................... 11 Measurement of Mobile Source Emissions ......................................................................................... 12 Health Effects of Mobile Source Emissions ........................................................................................ 13 Study Design ............................................................................................................................................. 17 Study Area ........................................................................................................................................... 17 Study Monitoring Locations ................................................................................................................. 17 Study Parameters and Instrumentation ............................................................................................... 20 • Particulate Matter ........................................................................................................................ 20 • Ultrafine Particles ........................................................................................................................ 21 • Black Carbon ............................................................................................................................... 22 • Nitrogen Oxides ........................................................................................................................... 22 • Volatile Organic Compounds and Carbonyls .............................................................................. 22 • Benzene ...................................................................................................................................... 23 • Meteorology ................................................................................................................................. 23 • Traffic Data .................................................................................................................................. 23 Results ....................................................................................................................................................... 25 Data Summaries .................................................................................................................................. 25 • Particulate Matter ........................................................................................................................ 25 • Ultrafine Particles ........................................................................................................................ 28 • Black Carbon ............................................................................................................................... 30 • Nitrogen Oxides ........................................................................................................................... 32 • Volatile Organic Compounds ....................................................................................................... 34 • Benzene ...................................................................................................................................... 36 • Meteorology ................................................................................................................................. 40 • Traffic ........................................................................................................................................... 42 ii ALBANY SOUTH END COMMUNITY AIR QUALITY STUDY | SEPTEMBER 2019 Interpreting Results and Conclusions .................................................................................................... 44 Objective 1: Evaluate how much particulate matter comes from motor vehicles versus Port activities ............................................................................... 44 • Fixed Monitoring .......................................................................................................................... 44 • Portable Monitoring ..................................................................................................................... 52 Objective 2: Develop an understanding of how far particulate matter travels from the road into the neighborhood .......................................................... 63 • Portable Monitoring ..................................................................................................................... 63 Objective 3: Determine how activities at the ports of Albany and Rensselaer and motor vehicles contribute to benzene concentrations in the Study area ..................................... 72 • Markers for Petroleum Products .................................................................................................. 74 Objective 4: Create approaches to help the community understand air quality .................................. 76 • Community Meetings ................................................................................................................... 76 • Website ........................................................................................................................................ 77 • Community Visibility .................................................................................................................... 77 Recommendations .................................................................................................................................... 80 Limitations/Uncertainties ......................................................................................................................... 81 Appendices ...............................................................................................................................................