AGENDA NO.18
BOARD MEETING DATE: December 8, 1995
SYNOPSIS: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the District $145,000 to fund a study proposed by the Kaiser Foundation Research Institute. The objective of this study is to evaluate the health impact on the Basin's population from ambient particulate pollution (PM10 and 2.5), and to determine the extent to which co-pollutants such as ozone modify the effects. The study population shall consist of Kaiser Permanente members. The incidence of acute respiratory and cardiac illness shall be evaluated. Staff has publicly noticed receipt of these EPA funds and recommends award of a contract to the Kaiser Foundation Research Institute in an amount not to exceed $145,000.
COMMITTEE: Technology Committee, November 9, 1995, Approved
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer
ACL:ARA:SP:dv
BD012:12-95CN
Background
The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for both ozone and fine particulate matter (PM10) continue to be violated in several areas in the South Coast Air Basin (Basin) although it is required to achieve NAAQS levels by the years 2006 and 2010, respectively. In an effort to characterize the PM10 problem in the Basin, identify the relative contributory sources, and develop effective control strategies, the AQMD has begun a comprehensive ambient monitoring program at six sites.
PM10 is a complex mixture of pollutants, derived from both natural and combustion sources, which vary significantly in their size fractions and chemical composition. The adverse effects of PM10 include both increased morbidity and mortality. These adverse effects have been reported consistently from different parts of the world, including Southern California. However, a difference in the magnitude of mortality effects is observed when studies from Southern California are compared with other published studies. It is not known whether morbidity effects also exhibit similar disparity. Thus, firm conclusions cannot be drawn regarding the magnitude of effects; the size fraction of PM that is responsible for most of the effects observed; the influence of co-pollutants, such as ozone, on the magnitude of effects; and the ambient level(s) at which the effect(s) begin to occur, either in a general population or in a susceptible subgroup.
These uncertainties exist because of lack of adequate ambient monitoring data to characterize population exposures, variation in demographics at different locations, and adequate control for variables. The wide variation in the Basin's pollutant profile also may be a contributing factor. The AQMD's ongoing (July 95 thru February 96) enhanced monitoring program for PM10 and the availability of a good and stable health effects data base (from Kaiser hospitals in the Basin) corresponding to the same period provides a unique opportunity to address some of the uncertainties listed.
Proposal
The AQMD has been awarded $350,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 105 Grant Program to conduct health effects studies to determine the impact of air pollution on public health and to estimate benefits derived from reducing ambient levels of PM10 and ozone in the South Coast Basin. From this 105 Grant, a research project ($205,000) was approved by the District's Governing Board at its October 1995 meeting, to determine whether coarse particles derived from desert dust storms are as toxic as fine particles originated mostly from combustion sources. Kaiser Foundation Research Institute (Kaiser) has proposed a second study for $145,000 that will determine how daily changes in air pollution levels affects the health status of the local population and assess the relative roles ozone, PM10 and PM2.5 play in causing these effects. This study has been designed in consultation with EPA staff who are providing the fiscal resources to conduct the study. The results of these two studies together will assist in estimating the impact of air pollution on human health in the Basin and also in determining whether the magnitude of impact is different for the Basin compared to rest of the country.
Kaiser has proposed a one year study to assess the relationship between ambient air pollutant levels measured during the PM10 enhanced monitoring program and the occurrence of acute respiratory and chronic cardiovascular morbidity in the Basin. The main objective of the study is to characterize the relationship between daily measurements of ambient PM (PM10, PM2.5 and its component species) and the health indices of the Basin's population. The health indices include rate of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for acute respiratory illness and exacerbations of chronic cardio-pulmonary disease among the membership of Kaiser Permanente group of hospitals in the Basin. In addition to the influence of co-pollutants (ozone and nitrogen dioxide), modifying and/or compounding effects of age, gender, temperature, humidity, and season will also be determined.
The EPA is currently funding a study to analyze data from various Kaiser hospitals (1990-1995) in the State and correlate it with available historical ambient air pollution data. This analysis will provide clues about the overall health impact of ozone, and to a minor extent PM10. Lack of ambient air pollution data on a daily basis precludes generating information required to evaluate the magnitude of impact in the Basin as well as prioritizing the target pollutant(s) or pollutant fraction for obtaining maximum health benefits.
The analyses proposed do not have similar limitations because the ambient air pollution data is being collected on a daily basis (under the enhanced PM10 monitoring program) and the hospitals selected are in close proximity to monitoring sites. It is estimated that 83% of the study population live within a 12.5 mile radius from a monitoring site.
The proposal received by the AQMD has been peer reviewed and approved by three experts (Drs. Aaron Cohen from Health Effects Institute, Suresh Moolgavkar from Fred Hutchins Cancer Research Center, and Arden Pope from Brigham Young University), in this type of research efforts. In addition, EPA Region IX, and California Air Resources Board (CARB) staff have also reviewed and recommended approval of this proposal.
Staff proposes to set up an advisory panel comprised of these peer reviewers and representatives from the AQMD, EPA, ARB and other interested groups to oversee the progress and successful completion of this study. The panel will also review and comment on the reports submitted by the investigators.
Sole-Source Justification
Section II, Step C(3) of the Consultant Selection Policy identifies four provisions under which a sole-source award may be justified: (1) cost to prepare documents exceeds the cost for consultants. (2) delay would result in the endangerment of public health or property, (3) services are only available from the sole-source, (4) other circumstances exist identifying the sole-source as in the best interests of the AQMD.
This request for a sole-source award is being made under provision #4. Kaiser hospital data is not accessible to other investigators for performing similar analyses because of the confidential nature of hospital records. The costs associated with daily monitoring are prohibitive to consider a similar study either at a later time or even with a limited number of hospitals. In addition, adding this segment of detailed analyses applicable to the Basin at such a low cost ($145,00) is feasible because the major share of data collection ($116,000) is being borne by the EPA indirectly through their ongoing statewide study.
Thus, it is in the AQMD's best interest to fund this study to better evaluate the magnitude of air pollution impact on the Basin's inhabitants and to develop control strategies that will provide maximum health benefits by prioritizing the PM10 components for control efforts.
Resource Impacts
The cost of the proposed project is $144,561. With the recognition and appropriation of the EPA 105 grant, sufficient funds are available in the Fiscal Year 1995-96 Technology Advancement budget to fund this project.