Mean Streets: An Analysis on Street Level Pollution in NYC

The overarching objective of this study is to quantify the spatial and temporal variability in particulate matter concentration (PM 2.5) along crowded streets in New York City. Due to their fine size and low density PM 2.5 stays longer in the atmosphere and could bypass human nose and throat and penetrate deep in to the lungs and even enter the circulatory system. PM 2.5 is a by-product of automobile combustion and is a primary cause of respiratory malfunction in NYC. The study would monitor street level concentration of PM2.5 across three different routes that witness significant pedestrian traffic; observations will be conducted along these three routes at different time periods. The study will use the AirBeam community air quality monitor. The monitor tracks PM 2.5 concentration along with GPS, air temperature and relative humidity. The lower atmospheric values will be correlated with street level values to assess the validity of using of lower atmospheric values to predict street level concentrations. The street level concentration will be compared to the air quality forecasted by the New York Department of Environment Conservation to estimate its accuracy and applicability.