Elevated levels of
pollutants have been found near Santa Monica Airport’s
runways.
Philip M. Fine, Ph.D., the Atmospheric Measurements Manager
of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD),
told the Airport Commission on October 22 are the results of a
study of the air quality around the Airport was funded by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that took place for
three-month intervals during two different seasons from
November 2005 until March 2007. The study found elevated
levels of lead near runway sites and surrounding communities,
but the levels found were “below federal and state
standards.” He also mentioned that “ultrafine particles
(measured by number concentration)” were significantly
elevated near runways during aircraft operations and the
“airport influence on PM2.5 (Particulate Matter)
concentrations may not be distinguishable, but appears to be
minor.”
The study was done by placing monitoring equipment at seven
different sites in and around the Airport, and was designed to
measure TSP Lead and Hexavalent Chromium, PM10 Mass and
Carbon, PM2.5 mass and components, continuous particle count
(ultrafine), volatile organic compounds, carbonyls
(acetaldehyde, etc.), and continuous Carbon
Monoxide.
Four key study questions helped officials decide which
components should be monitored:
1) Can lead found in General Aviation fuel be measured in
surrounding communities?
2) What are PM and air toxic levels in surrounding
communities?
3) What are the ultrafine particle count concentrations in
the surrounding communities?
4) Are aircraft emissions distinguishable from other
emissions sources?
A Working Group composed of Airport management, community
groups, representatives from the cities of Los Angeles and
Santa Monica (airport authorities), aviation industry
representatives, and State and Federal Congressional
representatives provided “initial input on specific issues,
commented on the sampling locations,” and coordinated the
community outreach.
Martin Rubin, Director of Concerned Residents Against
Airport Pollution and a member of the Working Group, noted in
a letter to the SCAQMD his concerns about the inadequacies of
the monitoring study. Rubin’s letter stated that the
study would not address health risks associated with exposure
to aircraft emissions or evaluate the extent of kerosene odors
throughout the neighboring community. Other study
deficiencies, according to Rubin, include the “inability to
separate sources of measured pollutants” and “its limited
sensitivity to measure pollutants and odor.”
One community member asked Fine if he would be willing to
live in an area affected by the jet fumes. He responded,
“I would not want to live there if I had a choice. I
would not want to live there because there’s a nuisance issue
regarding the jet fumes.”
Next steps include a complete analysis of the results, the
development of a draft report to be reviewed by the EPA and
the Working Group, and the completion of the final report.