PICEH’s initial research focus has been on air pollution due to high levels of fine particle pollution (PM2.5) and air toxics in Berks County, PA where our organization is located. Some of our research findings and plans are as follows:

• We have been analyzing the composition of PM2.5 pollution in Berks County and in other parts of southeastern PA by comparing data from eight PA DEP “speciated PM2.5” monitors. This analysis has shown a steep gradient in ammonium nitrate levels with the highest levels seen in Lancaster, PA and the lowest levels in the Lehigh Valley.

• We have conducted a PM2.5 “source apportionment” analysis to determine the relative contributions to pollution levels from mobile sources (automobiles and trucks), burning sources (brush/trash burning, forest fires), dust, industrial sources, and secondary sulfate and nitrate sources. We are finding that more than half of the annual average PM2.5 concentrations in southeastern PA are due to transported sulfate and nitrate pollution from outside our area.

• We are conducting an inhalation human health risk assessment for the air toxic concentrations that are being measured at the Kutztown and Reading monitoring sites. The risk assessment will help us understand the risks presented by air toxics to children and will help us compare air pollution risks with the well understood risks from other toxic exposures including radon, toxics in drinking water, and lead paint exposure.

• We plan installation of additional PM2.5 monitors in Berks County and adjacent counties to better understand PM2.5 variability and gradients in southeastern Pennsylvania.