AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF RESIDENTIAL EXPOSURE TO PARTICULATE MATTER AND VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS NEAR A CONCRETE BLOCK PLANT AND TRAFFIC IN BLADENSBURG, MARYLAND

Abstract

Ambient air pollution from stationary sources, industrial traffic, and commuter traffic can negatively impact air quality and human health. Ernest Maier, a concrete block plant located in Bladensburg, Maryland wants to expand to include a concrete batching plant on the same property. This expansion could further degrade air quality and impact the health of vulnerable residents. Air quality monitoring were conducted in the community at five personal sites using the Airbeam and Atmotube, which are wearable, real-time sensors that can measure PM2.5 and VOCs respectively. Sampling and traffic counts were conducted in thirty minutes’ periods to capture morning on-peak, afternoon off-peak and evening on-peak periods. Pearson’s correlation revealed that a weak correlation among the PM2.5 and VOC concentrations observed between the different sites and some of the values were found to be statistically significant. ANOVA analysis showed that the PM2.5 levels were significantly different at the different sites (p-value 0.001).