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" Agricultural burning monitored for air pollutants in Imperial County; exposure reduction recommendations developed "
Harnly, Martha; Naik-Patel, Kinnery; Wall, Stephen; Quintana, Penelope J. E.; Pon, Diamon; Wagner, Jeff
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AL
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| Record Number
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944811
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LA3p94804z
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| Language of Document
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English
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| Main Entry
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Harnly, Martha; Naik-Patel, Kinnery; Wall, Stephen; Quintana, Penelope J. E.; Pon, Diamon; Wagner, Jeff
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| Title & Author
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Agricultural burning monitored for air pollutants in Imperial County; exposure reduction recommendations developed [Article]\ Harnly, Martha; Naik-Patel, Kinnery; Wall, Stephen; Quintana, Penelope J. E.; Pon, Diamon; Wagner, Jeff
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| Title of Periodical
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California Agriculture
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66/3
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| Date
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2012
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| Abstract
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Air pollutants, notably particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM<sub>2.5</sub>), are emitted during agricultural burning. We studied a winter period in Imperial County when predominantly bermuda-grass stubble was burned. At four locations, PM<sub>2.5</sub> levels were 23% higher from 4 p.m. on burn days to 8 a.m. the following morning than on days when there were no burns. On days when a burn was within 2 miles of a monitoring site, concentrations were 7 to 8 micrograms per cubic meter higher than on days when burns were farther away; measured levels lowered air quality, which potentially approached moderate. In monitoring five specific burns, we found that the levels of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 micrometers (PM<sub>10</sub>) were highly elevated and potentially hazardous directly downwind of one field. In addition, PM<sub>2.5</sub> was composed primarily of carbon, and levels of naphthalene, a respiratory carcinogen, were elevated compared with upwind samples. In interviews, most community leaders, residents and farmers thought health educational efforts were needed. As a result, we developed fact sheets and have made recommendations for further actions to reduce people's exposure to smoke from agricultural burning.
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