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| Air Quality Research |
| Title: | Houston Exposure to Air Toxics Study |
| Project Period: | 09/10/2006 - 12/31/2007 |
| Total Budget: | $50,000 |
| Sub-Contractors: | Mickey Leland National Urban Air Toxics Research Center
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The Houston Exposure to Air Toxics Study (HEATS) is a two-year project that will link personal exposure measurements to ambient measurements of air toxics by evaluating exposure to populations that reside adjacent to the Houston Ship Channel, and comparing those exposures to a socio-demographically-matched population distant from the Ship Channel region. HEATS is funded by multiple sponsors at $1.1 million. The TERC contribution is $50,000. The study consists of four phases:
1. Laboratory testing of passive sampling devices for air toxic compounds of concern in the Houston region. This phase occurred in 2006 and the first half of 2007 and culminated in the choice of Perkin Elmer (PE) tubes as the method for collection of VOC compounds. This extensive methods development phase allowed the study team to perform an intensive evaluation of several different air toxics samplers, and to select the best overall volatile organic compounds (VOC) sampler for Houston’s extreme weather conditions.
2. Recruitment of participants and field-testing of all methods on a sub-sample of the population as a pilot study. This pilot study was conducted from September 1 to October 3, 2007. This pilot study provided data and information that allowed the study team to enhance recruiting and refine questionnaires and analytical techniques.
3. Collection of personal exposure measurements during a variety of seasonal weather conditions. Collection of risk perception and self-reported health effects from the exposure study population. Phase III is in progress, and will continue through September 2008.
4. Preparation of a final report, which will be completed in early 2009.
Related Documents
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| Page Updated/Reviewed: 07/21/2008 8:30 AM |
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