Demolition of high-rise public housing increases particulate matter air pollution in communities of high-risk asthmatics

Our plain-English summary of Demolition of high-rise public housing increases particulate matter air pollution in communities of high-risk asthmatics, by S. Dorevitch, H. Demirtas, V.W. Perksy, et al (Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 2006).

The study

• Authors: S. Dorevitch, H. Demirtas, V.W. Perksy, S. Erdal, L. Conroy, T. Schoonover, P.A. Scheff
• Journal: Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association
• Published: 2006;56(7):1022-32
• Cited by: 17 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

Public housing developments across the United States are being demolished, potentially increasing local concentrations of particulate matter (PM) in communities with high burdens of severe asthma. Little is known about the impact of demolition on local air quality. At three public housing developments in Chicago, IL, PM with an aerodynamic diameter < 10 microm (PM10) and < 2.5 microm were measured before and during high-rise demolition. Additionally, size-selective sampling and real-time monitoring were concurrently performed upwind and downwind of one demolition site. The concentration of particulates attributable to demolition was estimated after accounting for background urban air pollution. Particle microscopy was performed on a small number of samples. Substantial increases of PM10 occurred during demolition, with the magnitude of that increase varying based on sampler distance, wind direction, and averaging time. During structural demolition, local concentrations of PM10 42 m downwind of a demolition site increased 4- to 9-fold above upwind concentrations (6-hr averaging time). After adjusting for background PM10, the presence of dusty conditions was associated with a 74% increase in PM10 100 m downwind of demolition sites (24-hr averaging times). During structural demolition, short-term peaks in real-time PM10 (30-sec averaging time) occasionally exceeded 500 microg/m(3). The median particle size downwind of a demolition site (17.3 microm) was significantly larger than background (3 microm). Specific activities are associated with realtime particulate measures. Microscopy did not identify asbestos or high concentrations of mold spores. In conclusion, individuals living near sites of public housing demolition are at risk for exposure to high particulate concentrations. This increase is characterized by relatively large particles and high short-term peaks in PM concentration.

In plain English

This study measured airborne dust (particulate matter) near high-rise public housing being demolished with heavy equipment at three Chicago developments: Robert Taylor Homes, Stateway Gardens and ABLA. Fixed samplers about 100 m away took 24-hour samples before and during demolition (116 usable days). At ABLA, upwind and downwind instruments also ran for about 6 hours on each of 6 days. After adjustment for regional pollution and wind speed, demolition was associated with 4.5 micrograms per cubic meter more local PM10 overall, and 9 on downwind days. On downwind demolition days, dusty conditions were associated with 74% more PM10 than demolition days without dusty conditions. At ABLA, the increases in mean concentrations attributed to demolition were 384.7 to 932.2% of upwind background, depending on the sampler; peak readings rose far more. Median particle size was 16.8 and 17.3 micrometers near the site, compared with 3.0 upwind. Water spraying was associated with lower readings during bulldozer work, excavator demolition and rock crushing, but with higher readings when fires burned. Microscopy of nine samples from Stateway Gardens identified no asbestos. The authors noted that asbestos-containing materials were removed before demolition. The authors concluded that demolition is associated with substantial increases in local large particulates.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Environmental air-sampling (exposure measurement) study. It used fixed-site sampling before and during demolition at three sites, plus upwind-downwind, size-selective and real-time sampling at one site.
• Who was studied: Three sites of high-rise public housing demolition in Chicago, IL (Robert Taylor Homes, Stateway Gardens, ABLA), each within 100 m of occupied public housing. There were 120 days of fixed-site sampling, of which 116 were analyzed. Intensive sampling took place at ABLA on 6 days between January 15 and February 3, 2004. Microscopy samples were taken at Stateway Gardens over 2 days in January 2003.
• Exposure: Particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, the coarse fraction PM10 to PM2.5, and inhalable PM) generated by mechanical demolition of high-rise buildings with heavy equipment. Air samples were also examined by phase-contrast and polarized microscopy for asbestos, other particles and mold spores.
• Main results:
  • At the fixed samplers about 100 m from the three sites, demolition was associated with a 4.5 microgram per cubic meter increase in local PM10 after adjusting for wind speed and regional PM10.
  • On days the fixed samplers were downwind of the demolition sites, the average increase in local PM10 during demolition was 9 micrograms per cubic meter.
  • On downwind days during demolition, observed dusty conditions were associated with a 74% (74.1%) increase in PM10 100 m downwind (24-hour averaging). The comparison is with demolition days without dusty conditions (background 19.3 micrograms per cubic meter, increase 14.3, from 7 non-dusty days).
  • At ABLA during 6 days of structural demolition, the increase in local geometric mean PM concentration attributed to demolition equaled 384.7 to 932.2% of upwind background, depending on the sampler (6-hour averaging).
  • At ABLA, the increase in peak real-time PM (30-second averaging) was much larger than the change in mean concentrations (2682.2% of upwind background in Table 5C).
  • At ABLA, the geometric mean (median) particle size was smaller at the upwind station (3.0 micrometers) than at the main station (16.8) and the downwind station (17.3).
  • At the ABLA main station, 39 short-term peaks (30-second averaging) were recorded at 10 times the median value of 57 micrograms per cubic meter, over 6 days.
  • At ABLA, water spraying was associated with significantly lower PM during bulldozer activity, excavator demolition and rock crushing. It was associated with substantially higher PM when fires were burning.
  • Real-time PM above the median at ABLA was more likely with visible dust (odds ratio 2.9; 95% CI 2 to 4.4), excavator moving debris (2.9; 1.9 to 4.4) and rock crushing (1.7; 1 to 2.9). It was less likely with water spraying (0.16; 0.09 to 0.28).
  • Microscopy of nine samples taken during structural demolition at Stateway Gardens identified no asbestos.
  • Mold spores averaged 100 to 300 spores per cubic meter for Aspergillus/Penicillium, Cladosporium and Basidiospores. Concentrations did not differ between the upwind and other sites.
  • No local 24-hour fixed-site PM measurement exceeded the EPA 24-hour standards for PM10 or PM2.5, or the annual standard for PM10.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that demolition of high-rise public housing is associated with substantial increases in local concentrations of large particulates. They said these increases may be compromising the health of at-risk individuals in communities with severe asthma.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • The real-time monitors did not give an absolute measure of concentration for a defined particle size range. They showed only relative short-term changes.
  • The ABLA intensive sampling covered only 6 days.
  • The 6-hour intensive sampling used different equipment and averaging times from the EPA reference method, so its results cannot be compared with EPA standards.
  • The size of particles during the short-term peaks could not be characterized.

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