On January 9, 2010, the Board of Friends of Sunset Park asked the City Council to support a request by Council Member Kevin McKeown establishing toxicity standards for aircraft-generated particulate matter.

“The Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) lies within the boundaries of the Sunset Park neighborhood. Friends of Sunset Park is the city-recognized neighborhood organization that represents residents living adjacent to the northern and western borders of SMO, as well as under the takeoff path for Runway 21 (westbound) and under the landing pattern for Runway 3 (eastbound).
As a result, residents in Sunset Park are exposed to aircraft exhaust from SMO operations.
“’Aircraft Emission Impacts in a Neighborhood Adjacent to a General Aviation Airport in Southern California’ by Suzanne Paulson, from the UCLA Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, and others confirmed the existence of highly elevated ultrafine particle concentrations in a large area downwind from SMO.
“These concentrations have potential health implications, but the missing piece of information needed in order to solve the problem is enforceable toxicity standards.
“Therefore, the FOSP Board supports Councilmember McKeown’s request that the City of Santa Monica work with other elected officials and agencies to (1) establish enforceable toxicity standards for aircraft-generated particulate matter (especially ultrafine particles), and (2) sponsor appropriate legislation.

“McKeown asked that, in order to evaluate and protect the safety of those exposed to aircraft exhaust as documented in a recent UCLA study, the Council authorize City staff to work with state and federal elected officials, and with all the appropriate agencies, such as the California Office of Environmental Health Assessment, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to establish enforceable toxicity standards for aircraft-generated particulate matter, particularly ultra-fine particles, and sponsor appropriate legislation. The item was approved by the Council on January 12. 2010.”

http://www01.smgov.net/cityclerk/council/agendas/2010/20100112/s2010011213-E.pdf

This month, a year later, the following announcement was made.

SQUAMD FUNDS RESEARCH ON HEALTH IMPACTS OF ULTRAFINE
PARTICLE POLLUTION

SQUAMD has awarded $471,000 to the University of Southern California to study the distribution and toxicity of ultrafine particles in Southern California. Limited research shows that ultrafine particles may be more toxic and have greater health effects than larger coarse and fine particles (PM10 and PM2.5).
“More research is critical in determining the health effects of these smaller ultrafine particles, said William A. Burke, Ed.D, Chair of SCAQMD’s Governing Board. “Results from the research will help form a scientific basis to focus air quality policies to reduce emissions and improve public health.”
SQUAMD has been actively following scientific developments In the area of ultrafine qualities and in 2006 hosted a ground-breaking international conference to explore the science, technology and policy issues associated with them. For this study, “Sources, Composition, Variability and Toxicological Characteristics of Ultrafine Particles in Southern California,” researchers from USC will use samples previously collected
over a 15-month period from 10 distinctly different locations across the Southland that are impacted by various particulate matter sources. The samples were collected in conjunction with a major Study funded by the U.S. environmental Protection Agency to characterize the chemical composition and toxicity of The large PM10 and P2.5 particles. Results of this study are expected to provide information on the link between sources, chemical composition and toxicity of ultrafine particles. The research will be used to help build a scientific basis for use in developing strategies to protect public health.
Ultrafine particles are generally defined as those particles with a diameter less than 0.1 micrometer in diameter. These smaller particles have the potential to be more easily inhaled and deposited more deeply into the lungs. They may also penetrate rapidly into lung tissue and other organs in the body.

For more information, contact Jean Ospital at 909 396-2582. Or jospital@aqmd.gov.