Identification of Neighborhood Hotspots via the Cumulative Hazard Index: Results From a Community‐Partnered Low‐Cost Sensor Deployment
Abstract The Strathcona neighborhood in Vancouver is particularly vulnerable to environmental injustice due to its close proximity to the Port of Vancouver, and a high proportion of Indigenous and low‐income households. Furthermore, local sources of air pollutants (e.g., roadways) can contribute to...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Geophysical Union (AGU)
2024-02-01
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| Series: | GeoHealth |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GH000935 |
| _version_ | 1797294393428803584 |
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| author | Sakshi Jain Rivkah Gardner‐Frolick Nika Martinussen Dan Jackson Amanda Giang Naomi Zimmerman |
| author_facet | Sakshi Jain Rivkah Gardner‐Frolick Nika Martinussen Dan Jackson Amanda Giang Naomi Zimmerman |
| author_sort | Sakshi Jain |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The Strathcona neighborhood in Vancouver is particularly vulnerable to environmental injustice due to its close proximity to the Port of Vancouver, and a high proportion of Indigenous and low‐income households. Furthermore, local sources of air pollutants (e.g., roadways) can contribute to small‐scale variations within communities. The aim of this study was to assess hyperlocal air quality patterns (intra‐neighborhood variability) and compare them to average Vancouver concentrations (inter‐neighborhood variability) to identify possible disparities in air pollution exposure for the Strathcona community. Between April and August 2022, 11 low‐cost sensors (LCS) were deployed within the neighborhood to measure PM2.5, NO2, and O3 concentrations. The collected 15‐min concentrations were down‐averaged to daily concentrations and compared to greater Vancouver region concentrations to quantify the exposures faced by the community relative to the rest of the region. Concentrations were also estimated at every 25 m grid within the neighborhood to quantify the distribution of air pollution within the community. Using population information from census data, cumulative hazard indices (CHIs) were computed for every dissemination block. We found that although PM2.5 concentrations in the neighborhood were lower than regional Vancouver averages, daily NO2 concentrations and summer O3 concentrations were consistently higher. Additionally, although CHIs varied daily, we found that CHIs were consistently higher in areas with high commercial activity. As such, estimating CHI for dissemination blocks was useful in identifying hotspots and potential areas of concern within the neighborhood. This information can collectively assist the community in their advocacy efforts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T21:30:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45e2bb7b172540f5b865a693400ddec3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2471-1403 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T21:30:34Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | American Geophysical Union (AGU) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | GeoHealth |
| spelling | doaj.art-45e2bb7b172540f5b865a693400ddec32024-02-26T17:16:29ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)GeoHealth2471-14032024-02-0182n/an/a10.1029/2023GH000935Identification of Neighborhood Hotspots via the Cumulative Hazard Index: Results From a Community‐Partnered Low‐Cost Sensor DeploymentSakshi Jain0Rivkah Gardner‐Frolick1Nika Martinussen2Dan Jackson3Amanda Giang4Naomi Zimmerman5Department of Mechanical Engineering University of British Columbia Vancouver BC CanadaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering University of British Columbia Vancouver BC CanadaInstitute for Resources Environment and Sustainability University of British Columbia Vancouver BC CanadaStrathcona Residents Association Vancouver BC CanadaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering University of British Columbia Vancouver BC CanadaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering University of British Columbia Vancouver BC CanadaAbstract The Strathcona neighborhood in Vancouver is particularly vulnerable to environmental injustice due to its close proximity to the Port of Vancouver, and a high proportion of Indigenous and low‐income households. Furthermore, local sources of air pollutants (e.g., roadways) can contribute to small‐scale variations within communities. The aim of this study was to assess hyperlocal air quality patterns (intra‐neighborhood variability) and compare them to average Vancouver concentrations (inter‐neighborhood variability) to identify possible disparities in air pollution exposure for the Strathcona community. Between April and August 2022, 11 low‐cost sensors (LCS) were deployed within the neighborhood to measure PM2.5, NO2, and O3 concentrations. The collected 15‐min concentrations were down‐averaged to daily concentrations and compared to greater Vancouver region concentrations to quantify the exposures faced by the community relative to the rest of the region. Concentrations were also estimated at every 25 m grid within the neighborhood to quantify the distribution of air pollution within the community. Using population information from census data, cumulative hazard indices (CHIs) were computed for every dissemination block. We found that although PM2.5 concentrations in the neighborhood were lower than regional Vancouver averages, daily NO2 concentrations and summer O3 concentrations were consistently higher. Additionally, although CHIs varied daily, we found that CHIs were consistently higher in areas with high commercial activity. As such, estimating CHI for dissemination blocks was useful in identifying hotspots and potential areas of concern within the neighborhood. This information can collectively assist the community in their advocacy efforts.https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GH000935low‐cost sensorsair qualityenvironmental justicecitizen science |
| spellingShingle | Sakshi Jain Rivkah Gardner‐Frolick Nika Martinussen Dan Jackson Amanda Giang Naomi Zimmerman Identification of Neighborhood Hotspots via the Cumulative Hazard Index: Results From a Community‐Partnered Low‐Cost Sensor Deployment GeoHealth low‐cost sensors air quality environmental justice citizen science |
| title | Identification of Neighborhood Hotspots via the Cumulative Hazard Index: Results From a Community‐Partnered Low‐Cost Sensor Deployment |
| title_full | Identification of Neighborhood Hotspots via the Cumulative Hazard Index: Results From a Community‐Partnered Low‐Cost Sensor Deployment |
| title_fullStr | Identification of Neighborhood Hotspots via the Cumulative Hazard Index: Results From a Community‐Partnered Low‐Cost Sensor Deployment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of Neighborhood Hotspots via the Cumulative Hazard Index: Results From a Community‐Partnered Low‐Cost Sensor Deployment |
| title_short | Identification of Neighborhood Hotspots via the Cumulative Hazard Index: Results From a Community‐Partnered Low‐Cost Sensor Deployment |
| title_sort | identification of neighborhood hotspots via the cumulative hazard index results from a community partnered low cost sensor deployment |
| topic | low‐cost sensors air quality environmental justice citizen science |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GH000935 |
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