Every year, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute releases an oft-cited (and oft-critiqued) Urban Mobility Report that measures congestion on American roads, famously ranking the metros with the most heinous traffic. The report homes in on a central cost of mobility: the price we pay to sit in gridlock. (uploaded to TAF, Georgia - 6.15.2016)
the link between exposure to air pollution and cognitive impairment/behavior isn't a new argument to us, but the attempt to put it on this kind of time scale is: air pollution and violent crime
Sensing and monitoring air pollution (RH 12.7.2015)
A presentation about recent changes in monitoring and personal sensors was shared to the group the 24th of November.
Some highlights: 1. EPA recognizes the developing and importance of sensor technologies, for academics, industry and communities. However, it reminds that any of this devices meet the monitoring requirements of EPA, leaving an open question to the citizen initiatives that we are interested. 2. Seems that experts are more enthusiastic and willing to find a disruptive technology to legitimize the use personal devices. 3. Initiatives like the Air Quality Egg which popularize the use of "Internet of Things" at the level of environmental monitoring are passing through multiple changes: sensors are now capable of reading PM2.5, some are doing biometrics (aircasting), etc. We can foresee communities of people (academics, vulnerable communities, cities or towns without air pollution data) adapting these technologies for various purposes. 4. Some experiences elsewhere have shown that monitoring could have a different potentials: as cultural interventions , commercial-DIY
National Academies: 'Health in all policies: Improving health through intersectorial participation'
Sam, recommends this discussion paper written by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Replies:
Kim, Mike and Dan suggest this topic as a threat for all the cities.
According to Dan, in Houston there is a big concern on health in all policies. http://www.houstontx.gov/health/communitytransformation/policies.html
(RH 9.29) This topic should become of particular attention to our research. Recently, I interviewed the founder of Clarity, a startup working on air pollution wearables and sensors, and explained to me how the market in China could change the understanding of air pollution communication and official management. Although this is still in the terrain of speculation, the way these companies (their staff of engineers, data scientists and programmers) are expressing the power of this technology on public perception and policies should make us think about it.
Sensors for dummies: http://www2.epa.gov/air-research/next-generation-air-measuring-research
Do Google/Aclima sensors meet EPA regulatory standards?: "Air pollution sensors are still in an early stage of technology development, and many sensors have not yet been evaluated to determine the accuracy of their measurements. EPA has specific guidelines it must use in establishing regulatory-grade air monitors. No lower cost sensors currently meet these strict requirements or have been formally submitted to EPA for such a determination" ( http://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_report.cfm?dirEntryId=277996&simpleSearch=1&searchAll=air+sensor+guidebook)
The study they are referring to is Berkeley Earthwhich wasn't based on sensor technology but from official air quality monitoring data (visualize by aqicn.org and pm25.in)
- This issue has several articles related to our research interests.
- New editor of EHP was a former member of the EPA Office of Research and Development.
Threads and replies
New medical evidence in China (Rodolfo. 9/21/2015)
'Air pollution, birth weight and cancer evidence in China' (link) This article explains the findings of a study of birth weight during the two-months 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Games. The study shows the associations of decreasing levels of air pollutant during this period and newborns increased weight.
We should pay attention on how that evidence is preparing a field for controversies between policymakers, experts and public. It reminds me last year some studies about the association of air pollution and cancer in China. Some echoed was found in popular news sites and micro-blogger community.
Government Accountability Office -GAO Report- on 'Estimating Health Benefits' (Sam. 9/22/2015)
This GAO's report explains whether and how EPA applied the National Academies' recommendation its estimates of health benefits expected from the January 2006 proposed revisions to the particulate matter standards.
Better science as a political strategy (Dan. 9/22/2015): "I think it's pretty complicated at that level, although I imagine some of you followed it better than I did at the time. Are there places in TAF or PECE that have tracked some of the back room sorts of things, and how the career staff are buffeted by that. I know that some of the calls for better science have been basically stalling tactics. (see, cf. this) But I know there's a lot more going on - how to even represent it might be an interesting part of the question"
Trending topics. Sept 14-20, 2015
Bridging the gap between research and policy
Shared by Sam (9/19/2015)
Two review papers on toxicology research and air pollution regulation.
Thread 1: Official policy statement
Dan (9/19/2015): Do you know anything about the publishing history on these? It sounds like an almost official policy statement - perhaps just under the political appointee level? It reminds me of the sort of thing you see with RFPs for grants, too - a real attempt to shape the priorities of the community, without dictating the terms. It would be a nice category to explore, if we make categories for the different ways that regulators can be agents of change.
Sam (9/20/2015): We definitely should investigate the extent of which EPA publishes in academic journals and the level of publishing government actors in general do, in an attempt to influence future directions of research and local level policies. There is no doubt they are major stakeholders who influence and are influenced by research and policy.
so may very well be a political appointee, or just below as Dan thinks...
Dan (9/21/2015): Yes - and the "Strategic Research Action Plan" even more. I'm guessing it's something they started preparing in 2009 or 2010, and that the papers Sam sent are part of the same rollout. Maybe we should go figure out a way to do some interviews? It may be a really nice pair with the Elena Marks story, too.
Dan (9/21/2015): Oh - and it looks like the political appointees are called "administrators" while the "directors" are career folks.
Not really sure, though.
The Asthma Files
Work will be done on this wikispace site until the regular site is up for use in late fall 2015 at http://theasthmafiles.org/
Conflicts across scales of air pollution governance will be studied across the cities in the TAF6Cities Study.
The Houston Clean Air Network's map displays almost real-time ozone levels across the city.
Researchers in the TAF6Cities study have followed the controversy surrounding air pollution monitoring at the US Embassy in Beijing to understand what has motivated recent mitigation initiatives.
The American Lung Association provides an online report card for each US state, which allows users to pull up air quality information associated with a particular zip code. In the TAF6Cities study, researcher examine how air pollution and related health data is produced and used in governance.
The TAF6Cities study will examine diverse community air monitoring experiments -- like the EPA-Village Green Project in Philadelphia.
Every year, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute releases an oft-cited (and oft-critiqued) Urban Mobility Report that measures congestion on American roads, famously ranking the metros with the most heinous traffic. The report homes in on a central cost of mobility: the price we pay to sit in gridlock. (uploaded to TAF, Georgia - 6.15.2016)Philadelphia chronic disease corporate innovation challenge (AM 11 Jan 16) (uploaded to TAF, Georgia - 6.15.2016)
Delhi's new odd-even regulations (AM 8 Jan 16) (uploaded to TAF, Georgia - 6.15.2016)
diesel (AM 4 Jan 16) (uploaded to TAF, Georgia - 6.15.2016)
comparison of emissions inventories. China, India (AM 24 Dec 15)
the link between exposure to air pollution and cognitive impairment/behavior isn't a new argument to us, but the attempt to put it on this kind of time scale is: air pollution and violent crime
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/12/21/researchers-just-discovered-a-hidden-factor-that-could-be-driving-violent-crimes/?tid=sm_tw (AM 22 Dec 15)
Climate Skeptic Writers for Hire--Greenpeace Sting (AM 9 Dec 15)
Sensing and monitoring air pollution (RH 12.7.2015)
A presentation about recent changes in monitoring and personal sensors was shared to the group the 24th of November.Some highlights:
1. EPA recognizes the developing and importance of sensor technologies, for academics, industry and communities. However, it reminds that any of this devices meet the monitoring requirements of EPA, leaving an open question to the citizen initiatives that we are interested.
2. Seems that experts are more enthusiastic and willing to find a disruptive technology to legitimize the use personal devices.
3. Initiatives like the Air Quality Egg which popularize the use of "Internet of Things" at the level of environmental monitoring are passing through multiple changes: sensors are now capable of reading PM2.5, some are doing biometrics (aircasting), etc. We can foresee communities of people (academics, vulnerable communities, cities or towns without air pollution data) adapting these technologies for various purposes.
4. Some experiences elsewhere have shown that monitoring could have a different potentials: as cultural interventions , commercial-DIY
Citizen Science and Air pollution
trucks and air pollutionTrending Topics. Nov. 16-22, 2015 (RH)
Mapping Regions Polluted by Rigged VWs (Alli 11.19)
National Academies: 'Health in all policies: Improving health through intersectorial participation'
Sam, recommends this discussion paper written by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.Replies:
Kim, Mike and Dan suggest this topic as a threat for all the cities.
According to Dan, in Houston there is a big concern on health in all policies.
http://www.houstontx.gov/health/communitytransformation/policies.html
Download the article:
Climate Lies (New York): (AM 11.5)
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/06/science/exxon-mobil-under-investigation-in-new-york-over-climate-statements.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-newsNYC Air Quality Map
Explore this crazy city
(shared by Sam)Trending Topics. Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2015
Google maps to display street level air pollution (AM 9.29)Thread and replies
Sensors for dummies: http://www2.epa.gov/air-research/next-generation-air-measuring-research
The study they are referring to is Berkeley Earthwhich wasn't based on sensor technology but from official air quality monitoring data (visualize by aqicn.org and pm25.in)
Trending Topics. Sept. 21- 27, 2015
VW cheating emissions standards
http://www.wsj.com/articles/volkswagen-emissions-investigations-should-widen-to-entire-auto-industry-officials-say-1442915079
Thread and replies
Lancet correspondence on including health in policy decisions (AM 9.22)
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(15)00147-3/fulltext?elsca1=etoc&elsca2=email&elsca3=2214-109X_201510_3_10_&elsca4=Epidemiology%7CPublic%20Health%7CHealth%20Policy%7CLancet
Old: Discouraging epidemiologists from making health policy recommendations
Environmental Health Perspectives EHP (September 2015 Volume 123 Issue 9)
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/september-2015/Shared by Kim Fortun (9/21/2015)
- This issue has several articles related to our research interests.
- New editor of EHP was a former member of the EPA Office of Research and Development.
Threads and replies
'Air pollution, birth weight and cancer evidence in China' (link) This article explains the findings of a study of birth weight during the two-months 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Games. The study shows the associations of decreasing levels of air pollutant during this period and newborns increased weight.
Trending topics. Sept 14-20, 2015
Bridging the gap between research and policy
Shared by Sam (9/19/2015)Two review papers on toxicology research and air pollution regulation.
Threads and Replies
Thread 1: Official policy statement
Dan (9/19/2015): Do you know anything about the publishing history on these? It sounds like an almost official policy statement - perhaps just under the political appointee level? It reminds me of the sort of thing you see with RFPs for grants, too - a real attempt to shape the priorities of the community, without dictating the terms. It would be a nice category to explore, if we make categories for the different ways that regulators can be agents of change.
- Sam (9/20/2015): We definitely should investigate the extent of which EPA publishes in academic journals and the level of publishing government actors in general do, in an attempt to influence future directions of research and local level policies. There is no doubt they are major stakeholders who influence and are influenced by research and policy.
- Mike (9/21/2015): I think these are both really useful articles for us. The last author is the only one shared between the two, and he is still a Program Director at EPA -- http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-air-climate-and-energy-research-program
so may very well be a political appointee, or just below as Dan thinks...Not really sure, though.
The Asthma Files
Work will be done on this wikispace site until the regular site is up for use in late fall 2015 at http://theasthmafiles.org/