Study: Air Pollutant Concentrations Near Texas Roadways
- Background
- What Does This Study Seek to Accomplish?
- Draft Final Report
- Contributors and Funding Levels for This Study
- Points of Contact for This Study
- Related Links
Background
Recent studies in other states have shown elevated concentrations of air pollutants near roadways, with concentrations rapidly falling to background levels with increasing distance from the roadways. The study Air Pollution Concentrations Near Texas Roadways will evaluate whether or not this holds true for Texas roadways. In addition, the study will determine how pollutant concentrations associated with roadways correspond to the type of roadway present (e.g., highway vs. local streets).
The Air Pollutant Concentrations Near Texas Roadways study is divided into four quarters:
1st Quarter—select sites and secure permission to use them, coordinate with the Texas Department of Transportation, draft sampling site report, and develop sampling protocols and the quality assurance plan;
2nd Quarter—perform measurements and data analyses at one site and draft a report assessing raw data and data quality;
3rd Quarter—complete sampling and data analyses for all sites and draft a model prediction report; and
4th Quarter—reconcile measurements and model predictions, supply data for health-risk assessment, and draft a final report
What Does This Study Seek to Accomplish?
This year-long study will determine pollutant concentrations present near Texas roadways and examine whether those concentrations decrease with distance from Texas roadways and whether the rate at which they decrease differs depending on roadway type (e.g., highways with heavy truck traffic, highways with limited truck traffic, local streets).
Draft Final Report
Contributors and Funding Levels for This Study
| Contributor | Funding Amount |
| TCEQ | $250,000 |
Points of Contact for This Project
| Participant | Title | Affiliation |
| David T. Allen | Principal Investigator | University of Texas |
| Michael Honeycutt | Project Manager | TCEQ |
| Valerie Meyers | Co-Project Manager | TCEQ |
