WARWICK – Mayor Scott Avedisian said today that he is pleased with the progress of the air quality monitoring study being conducted at five sites around T.F. Green Airport. (The Department of Environmental Management will release its interim report tonight at 7 at the Warwick Public Library, 600 Sandy Lane.)
“While there is still a great deal of data to be collected and analyzed, it is obvious that the study is being conducted thoroughly and responsibly,” Avedisian said. “Hopefully, once all the final data is analyzed we will have a clearer indication of exactly what direct impact the airport is having on our community.”
DEM’s Office of Air Resources received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to measure levels of air pollutants in neighborhoods surrounding the airport. Begun in April 2005, the study involves collection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbonyls samples and monitoring for black carbon (a component of diesel and jet exhaust) and fine particles at the sites. The study will continue through this summer at Smith Street and Groveland Avenue; behind Fire Station Number 8 on Post Road; on Field View Drive; on Lydick Avenue; and on Draper Avenue.
Findings to date show that black carbon levels are highest at the fire station site, but all concentrations are lower than in Providence. There are no established health benchmarks for black carbon, but the study indicates that concentrations have been influenced by the airport and should be kept to a minimum.
The study also tested 41 VOC samples taken between May and December 2005, which found that all concentrations were considerably lower than “unhealthy for exposure levels,” though mean concentrations of five organics were measured over or near target levels. Carbonyl and fine particle data are still being quality assured and will not be presented at tonight’s meeting.