… American Public Health Association, 134th Annual Exposition for Public Health and Human Rights …… Community-Based Participatory Research: Working with Communities …… Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 106, 9:30 AM, November 5, 2006 …

Upstairs, Downstairs and Outside:

Volatile Organic Compounds in Greenpoint, Williamsburg and

Bushwick, Brooklyn

Overview

This presentation is designed to:

Inform the public of the three year study's results, including analysis of

VOC Concentrations inside HouseholdsVOC Concentrations inside Households

Spatial Analysis of Toxic HotspotsSpatial Analysis of Toxic Hotspots

Possible Community/Gov't ResponsesPossible Community/Gov't Responses Solicit comments on developing policies to

address air quality issues impacting North Brooklyn communities

Project Objectives

Train community members in the techniques of air sampling

Document concentrations of total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor and outdoor environments

Measure the concentrations of total VOCs in residential environments above printing, dry cleaning and acrylic nail salon facilities

Project Objectives(cont'd)

Map our results using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and use spatial analysis to identify buildings and areas to target toxic use reduction and pollution prevention efforts

Report our findings to the larger community.

How do we organize different types of data?

EPA TRI

EPA FINDS

NYS MOSF

NYS WTS

NYS CBS

NYS PBS

NYC BARAMIS

White38%

AA28%

Asian3%

Other25%

2+Races6%

Not Hispanic

57%

Hispanic43%

US Congress

NYS Senate

NYS Assembly

NYC Council

How do we identify key constituencies?321262 Persons

How can we map data?

Nail Salons

Printers

Dry Cleaners

How can weidentify hot spots?

Recommendations

Inform nail salons and printers of alternatives to the toxic chemicals they use and be given assistance by the City, State and Federal government in reducing their use of toxic chemicals.

Inform residents living above these facilities of the potential harms they face and how they can reduce or eliminate inhalation of potential toxics.

Recommendations(cont'd)

New York City should fund a more detailed study of air toxics in this area of Brooklyn.

The DEP should increase its pollution prevention programs.

New York City should fund a study of the potential impact the recent rezoning changes to Greenpoint and Williamsburg might have on local resident’s exposure to air toxics.

Lessons Learned

Validity of Community-Led Initiatives

Intergenerational Research and Data Gathering

Utility of Instant Access to Air Quality Investigations

Pollution Prevention Measures Can Reduce Impacts to Upstairs Residents

Co-located FacilityControl Average(parts per billion)

Mean Average Measurement

(parts per billion)

Mean Maximum Measurement

(parts per billion)

Dry Cleaner 3.98 6.15

Nail Salon 913.36 977.74

Printer 508.28 522.59

Office 248.36 280.47

Trucking Company 61.64 62.87

Total number of indoor samples taken = 24 + 11 controls = 35

Indoor Sampling

44.00 (n=11)

Co-located FacilityControl Average(parts per billion)

Mean Average Measurement (parts per billion)

Mean Maximum Measurement (parts per billion)

Dry Cleaner 23.42 28.46

Nail Salon 35.31 88.75

Printer 129.93 639.61

Total number of outdoor samples taken = 30 + 10 controls = 40

Outdoor Sampling

84.35 (n=10)

Challenges

Funding

Translation Assistance

Security

Indoor Air Quality Conditions

Next Steps

Press Release/Conference

Outreach

Identify Key Individuals to Influence Policy

Create Partnerships

Expand Research Areas and Categories

Facilitator Feedback