U.S. EPA's 2008 National Air Quality Conference - WEDNESDAY, Portland, Oregon

The Critical Role of Air Quality Monitoring in the Estimation of Air Pollutant Health Risks - Salon F
Dan Costa, Sc.D., DABT, National Program Director for Air Research, US EPA, ORD

Ambient air pollutants, most notably particulate matter (PM), have been associated with a variety of health outcomes. Over the last 15 years, there has been considerable refinement in these associations, due to advances in epidemiologic methodologies and improvements in national monitoring networks. Speciated data, better spatial distribution of monitors, and improved access to data have all contributed to the knowledge base for improved exposure estimates. Collaborations between health and air quality experts beyond simply coordinating databases have also helped move health assessments forward. With revisions now being considered in the monitoring network, new opportunities arise for collaboration that serve the needs of all involved. EPA-ORD and OAQPS have embarked on an unprecedented effort to establish a flow of information and cooperatively to provide contextual support to local networks and provide the standard setting data needed to advance the science - daily speciated data for PM, collocations of copollutant monitors, and overall consistency of databases. Communication between the research and monitoring community lies at the core of any successful plan.