Science and Research, Division of

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10929/91

The role of the Division of Science and Research is to provide the department with, and access to, expertise and information that supports its technical and policy needs. In addition, the office performs research to meet the information and problem-solving needs, identify and understand emerging issues that require the department’s attention and to advocate/integrate the multi-disciplinary perspective into the department’s identification, analysis and resolution of environmental issues.

Previous names include the Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, the Office of Science, and the Division of Science, Research and Technology.

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Browsing Science and Research, Division of by Subject "Air quality management"

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    Air Toxics Analysis in New Jersey: Ambient Data Review and Model Validation: Research Project Summary
    (Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Science, 2013-05) Biton, Leiran; Miller, Paul; Polissar, Alexander; Aucott, Michael
    The Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) completed a project to better characterize air toxics levels in the atmosphere and evaluate air quality models for use in assessing policies to reduce levels of air toxics. The goal of the project was to provide a comprehensive assessment of air toxics in New Jersey based on three primary tasks: (1) statistical analyses of ambient air toxics data in New Jersey; (2) comparisons between existing ambient data, air quality modeling results, and emission inventories; and (3) evaluation of an updated model for use with air toxics. Ambient monitoring air toxics data in New Jersey and surrounding states were analyzed to determine the levels for air toxics in and around New Jersey.
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    The Contribution of Dust Particles from St. Lawrence Cement to Outdoor Dust in the Surrounding Waterfront-South Community in Camden, New Jersey: Research Project Summary
    (Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Science, 2009-08) Lioy, Paul J.; Fan, Zhi-Hua (Tina); Yu, Chang Ho; Stern, Alan H.
    In response to community concerns about dusty conditions in the Waterfront South area of Camden, NJ, and specific concerns that the nearby St. Lawrence/Holcim facility was a major contributor to these conditions, a study was undertaken to examine the contribution of that facility to dust deposition in the Waterfront South area. A composite sample of material was collected from the exposed piles at the facility and outdoor dust deposition and surface wipe samples were collected at multiple locations during two periods for a total of 52 days within a distance of 800 m of the facility as well as at a control location 2 km from the facility. Dust mass was examined as a function of distance from the facility, and the source material from the facility was compared to the community dust samples on the basis of elemental concentration (particularly calcium) and elemental ratios. In addition, a chemical mass-balance model was created that attempted to account for the elemental signature of the source material from the facility against the background of elemental occurrence in urban dust. Also, facility-wide deposition modeling was conducted using operations data supplied by the facility. Several independent lines of evidence point to a contribution from the facility of 2-13% with a most likely contribution in the range of 2-8% of the total dust material in the community at a distance of up to about 0.5 km. Unusual wind conditions could increase this contribution in the short-term. Both stack and fugitive emissions contribute to the facility’s overall dust emissions. However, fugitive emissions appear to be the larger source. This study was specifically focused on identifying the extant to which the St. Lawrence/Holcim facility contributed to the dust deposition in Waterfront South. It did not attempt to identify other contribution to the dust deposition. However, from other studies in the scientific literature in other locations, it appears that soil, and automotive use and wear (including tire wear) are major sources of urban dust.
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    Emergency Room Visits and Hospital Admissions of Asthmatics in NJ as an Indicator of Ozone Exposure: Research Project Summary
    (Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2003-05) Stern, Alan H.; Weisel, Clifford P.; Cody, Ronald
    The goal of air pollution reduction strategies in NJ is not merely to achieve regulatory compliance, but also to protect the public health of its citizens. It is therefore important to evaluate progress in ozone reduction by examining the extent to which health effects associated with ozone are being reduced. Previous studies have established an association between atmospheric ozone concentrations and severe asthma symptoms (those resulting in emergency room (ER) visits or hospital admissions for asthma). Daily ER visit and hospital admissions data for asthma are compared to NJ maximum daily 8-hour ozone concentrations while also accounting for daily temperature, pollen, and spore data to determine the extent of association between ozone and asthma and to investigate possible trends in ozone-related asthma for the period 1995-1999. During this period no consistent trend is evident. In some years, ozone accounted for 1-10% of ER visits or hospital admissions for asthma. In some years, however, no significant association was observed. A statistical model incorporating data for all years during this period indicates a significant association between ER visits for asthma and the previous 24 hour maximum 8-hour ozone concentrations, and between hospital admissions for asthma, and previous 24, and 48 hour maximum 8-hour ozone concentrations. In both cases ozone accounted for about 1% of ER visits or hospital admissions for asthma. These data further suggest the existence of a threshold for severe asthma symptoms related to ozone in NJ in the range of 60-80 ppb. The upper end of this range is consistent with the current USEPA 8-hour ozone standard. These results suggest that, in general, current ozone levels in NJ are close to the threshold for detecting an association with severe asthma symptoms. Continued reductions in ozone levels can further reduce the remaining associations. Further prospective and retrospective analysis can clarify the nature of the ozone-asthma relationship in NJ and can help determine when ozone levels are sufficiently low to eliminate all detectable associations.
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    School Bus In-Cabin Particulate Matter Quantification and Reduction Strategies and Associated Risk Assessment: Research Project Summary
    (Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Science, 2009-09) Bonanno, Linda J.; Stern, Alan
    Public Law 2005, c.219was signed on Sept 7, 2005. This law was intended to reduce fine particle emissions from diesel mobile sources in New Jersey. The law required the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to conduct a project to (1) evaluate the relative contribution of emissions from both the crankcase and the tailpipe to in-cabin levels of fine particles in school buses; and (2) evaluate the feasibility of requiring, and the environmental and health benefits of, the reduction of fine particle levels from school bus tailpipe emissions through the use of additional retrofit devices. The monitoring study was carried out by Rowan University (Martinez-Morett D., et al., 2009) and overseen by the NJDEP Division of Science, Research and Technology (DSRT).