Association of Ambient Particulate Matter with Near-Road Land-Use and Zoning in Philadelphia, PA

Keywords: Mobile Monitoring, Particulate Matter
Abstract Type: Guided Poster Abstract

Abstract

Air quality is one of the major global health risks as large numbers of the urban population are exposed to unsafe levels of particulate matter. Specifically in urban areas, pollutant concentrations are a major cause for concern and may be influenced by various land uses. The zoning classifications in a given area are primary tools of land use planning; therefore, it is necessary that planners understand the environmental and public health implications of zoning decisions. Determining linkages between zoning, land-use and pollutant concentrations could provide necessary understanding of pollutant distribution and their prevalence in respective categories. The primary goal of this study was to assess levels of several air pollutants along Broad Street in Philadelphia and to better understand the contribution of zoning laws and land-use classifications to these concentrations to develop guidance for city planners in regard to determining what type of mitigation strategies need to be applied to various classifications. A van equipped with air pollution measurement instruments on its roof was used to measure the concentrations of particulate matter, ozone, black carbon, and nitrogen oxides by driving along an approximately 35-mile stretch of Broad Street from Route 276 to the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia. Four and five replicate measurements were made each during the morning (8am-11am) or the afternoon (12pm-3pm) from June 8 to June 30, 2021. Auto-Oriented Commercial (CA) zones and Industrial (I) zones had the highest concentrations of particulate matter, on average compared to other zoning classifications.