Project Plan

Brooklyn, NY

Sampling Objective (e.g. Why you are sampling and what you hope to learn)

What is ambient air quality like along a major commercial truck route? Hypothesis: The levels of air pollutants are expected to be high in areas of heavy traffic. The levels of particulate matter will be significant due to the high volume of diesel truck traffic. The sampling objective is to measure the amount of particulates and other pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide) along a major truck route. Based on our traffic surveys that show that up to 5 diesel trucks pass each minute, we expect to see high levels of pollutants. Because traffic along Metropolitan and Meeker Avenue is steady, we expect to see consistently high levels of pollutants, with some additional "spikes" in the levels of pollutants when particularly bad "air offenders" pass by.

 

What parameters are you sampling for? (e.g. N02, CO, C02)

We are monitoring for particulate matter 2.5µ, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. We will also monitor wind direction and speed.

 

Describe the Method of Data Collection - (Include the frequency, duration and location of monitoring.)

We will monitor at two different major intersections: Metropolitan and Lorimer, and Meeker and Leonard. Both of these intersections are used heavily by garbage haulers, commercial industries and non-commercial vehicles. We will monitor at these sites at least three times to determine whether there is an air quality problem. Monitoring will take place at the same time of day and on the same day of the week. At the Meeker Ave. location, monitoring will take place on Tuesdays between 12:30 and 3:00 PM and at the Metropolitan Ave location, monitoring will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 3:30 and 5:30 PM.

 

Explain how you will establish background levels of sampling parameters.

We will establish background levels of sampling parameters by monitoring in "back streets" that are not commercial truck routes. We expect that the air quality on these back streets to be better than that of the air quality nearer the major truck routes.

Brooklyn Data Files

 

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