Evolution of Air Pollution Monitoring in Ottawa

Natty Urquizo and Martha Robinson Environmental Sustainability & Public Health City of Ottawa Hamilton February 2012

Reasons for Air Quality Monitoring

    Although Ottawa has good air, OMA (2008) estimates over 500/yr premature deaths Windsor – Quebec City Corridor is the most polluted in the country There was a single NAPS for 2,700 km 2 up to 2007 Measuring is essential for air pollution management 2

Pilot Project Overview



Map pollution concentration spatially hour by hour to identify patterns (“hot spots”)

 One full year of monitoring (Jul’07-Jun’08) six major pollutants:      Nitrogen oxides (NO, NO 2 , NOx) Ground Level ozone Carbon Monoxide Particulate Matter 2.5

Three months of integrating satellite data and ground monitoring stations 3

Pilot Project Partners

 GeoConnections - NRCan, main sponsor  Transport Canada  Environment Canada  Ontario Ministry of the Environment   Ottawa International Airport Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs – Quebec 4

Ground Level Monitoring Locations

5

Validation

 Mobile labs in 8 sites across the city  One road side monitor 6

Transportation Impact on NO 2

Percentage of time when NO 2 above 50 ppb

NO 2 > 50ppb 2007-12-10 - 2007-12-12

Standard: EU 79 ppb/hr US 100 ppb/hr CAN 200 ppb/hr 7

• Standard 30 µg/m 3 • NO safe level • Local source

Maximum PM 2.5

8

September 14 th 2007 Episode Montreal Influence

   The impact of transboundary pollution due to a high pressure system Gradient shown by satellite data Effects of precipitation 9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

Added Value of satellite data

NO2 Ground Level (NAPS) NO2 OMI/Aura + NAPS + model 30

AQHI using satellite data

Air Quality Health Index 31

What do Single Pollutant Maps Mean?

Needed a health connection

32

Health Assessment Model

 Translate Air Quality maps from the pilot project (2008) into meaningful health impacts (morbidity, mortality and $$$)  Use Air Quality Benefits Assessment Tool

(

AQBAT)  Obtain a tool for health impact assessments of changing traffic flows 33

34

35

36

Health Endpoint Report Dates: 10 Mar 08 to 14 Mar 08 Endpoint Acute Exposure Mortality Cases 0.01 Acute Respiratory Symptom Days 190 Asthma Symptom Days Minor Restricted Activity Days 18 38 Respiratory Emergency Room Visits 0.08 Respiratory Hospital Admissions Adult Chronic Bronchitis Cardiac Emergency Room Visits Cardiac Hospital Admissions Child Acute Bronchitis Episodes 0.02 0.01 0 0 0.03 Chronic Exposure Mortality Restricted Activity Days 0.01 9.8 Elderly Cardiac Hospital Admissions 0 Total Valuation Valuation ($) 65000 3100 1200 1100 220 110 3200 4.1

3.7

13 40000 600 13 $110,000

37

 

Immediate or possible uses of the Health Assessment model

Assess Health Impacts of OC-Transpo Depot Expansion  Community demanded monitoring  Challenges using roadside monitors make this tool ideal Assess Health impacts of areas with over 10,000 car/day 38

3-D street level modeling

  Six blocks of Albert Street were modelled and validated using two road side monitors Measurements were at:  7 m above road  45 m above road 39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

Findings

   Pollution at sidewalk level are 90% higher than the one reported by MOE  Demonstrates the canyon effect of high density buildings

USES

Demonstrates the value of a step back approach in designing high buildings Useful for urban design 52

Climate Change & Air Quality Forecast

53

Forecasting PM2.5

54

55

Need to incorporate traffic in Air Quality Forecasting

56

Roadside monitoring

57

Proximity to main Roads Facility Type Percentage of Records within 50 m 100 m 250 m 500 m

Schools Old age homes Day cares Active Recreation Active Rec on schools TOTAL 22.02

31.19

54.13

80.73

50.91

60.00

74.55

92.73

53.66

63.41

80.49

87.80

19.39

26.38

53.33

75.87

18.04

29.11

50.63

75.95

22.55

30.93

55.03

78.23

58

Possible Partners for Municipalities

       Ontario Ministry of the Environment (LRT) Health Canada (UHI) Public Health Agency of Canada (CC & AQ, UHI) Environment Canada (AQHI) Board of Education (School curriculum) Other Municipalities (Roundabouts) USEPA (vegetation) , local universities 

Current Partners:

HC ( Airpointers )Public Health, Transportation Planners, Fire Services, Community planning & design, Traffic Operations, Public works, etc. 59

Conclusion

 Developed meaningful tools for air quality management  Continue working on AQ monitoring using both satellite and roadside data  Looking for partners to do research projects i.e. Roundabouts, vegetation  Ultimate aim is to develop policies 60