This program represented a cooperative
effort among six universities, local and state authorities, and federal government
agencies to address air pollution problems in the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez
border region through a coordinated effort by researchers on both sides of the
border. The goal was to characterize the ambient particulate concentrations
and to prioritize the sources of emissions in the region through chemical mass
balance or other receptor modeling analyses. The benefits accrued from identifying
and controlling the dominant sources of particulate air pollutants include improved
visibility, reduction in mortality due to the decreased concentration of fine
particles, and decreased morbidity due to decreased concentrations of particle-borne
hazardous air pollutants. To achieve its goal, this program focused on result-oriented
research that could yield recommendations or solutions to air pollution problems.
To achieve its goal, this program focused on result-oriented research that could
yield recommendations or solutions to air pollution problems.
Four projects were integrated to
meet four objectives:
Characterize the nature of particulate
matter, both PM2.5 and PM10, within the basin. Determine the organic and inorganic
contents, spatial and temporal distributions and chemical composition of the
PM concentrations.
Characterize emissions from selected
regions, identify unique sources, and conduct and support activities to develop
and/or refine PM emissions inventories in the air basin.
Source apportionment through chemical
mass balance/receptor modeling.
Establish a regional information
center or clearinghouse to coordinate other monitoring and research activities
within the air basin. Improve coordination and sharing of data among other programs.
Participants included the University
of Texas at El Paso; Arizona State University; New Mexico State University; University
of Utah; Universidad Autónoma de Cd. Juárez; Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios
Superiores de Monterrey; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Secretaría
del Medio Ambiente, Recursos Naturales y Pesca (SEMARNAP); Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission; El Paso City-County Health and Environmental District;
New Mexico Environmental Department; Dirección General de Desarrollo Urbano
y Ecología del Gobierno del Estado de Chihuahua; Instituto Nacional de
Ecología; Instituto Nacional de Investigación Nuclear; and Centro
de Investigación de Materiales Avanzado, Chihuahua.
U.S. Contacts:
Bob Currey, University of Texas
at El Paso, Ph. 915-747-6274, Email: bcurrey@utep.edu
Wen-Whai Li, University of Texas
at El Paso, Ph. 915-747-8755, Email: wli@utep.edu
Russell Chianelli, University of
Texas at El Paso, Ph. 915-747-7555, Email: chianell@utep.edu
William Gutman, New Mexico State
University, Ph. 505-521-9573, Email: gutman@nmsu.edu
Henk Meuzelaar, University of Utah,
Ph. 801-581-8431, Email: meuzelaar@mail.marc.utah.edu
Robert Gray, University of Texas
at El Paso, Ph. 915-747-6271, Email: bob@utep.edu