An inequality study of ambient XXXX and traffic levels near elementary schools in the Tampa area.

@entity1 @entity3542 @entity7459 @entity6836
Environmental equity has been identified as a challenge and goal of national to global air quality management. Here, relationships between traffic-related air pollution measures and the social demographics of elementary schools are investigated. Ogawa passive samplers were used to measure ambient @entity7459 ( @entity6836 ) levels near 75 randomly selected elementary schools in the county containing Tampa, FL over one week in March 2008. Concentrations were determined using colorimetric reaction using Hach @entity3542 reagent and photometric detection at 545 nm. @entity6836 levels, two metrics of traffic (highest annual average daily traffic count within 500 m and 1000 m), and school enrollment data by demographic subgroup (racial/ethnic and socioeconomic) were then compared. Data were analyzed for distribution statistics, linear correlations, and differences in subgroup category means. Weighted average values of @entity6836 and traffic count were also calculated for each subgroup. All measured @entity6836 levels were low, with a mean of 2.7 ppbv and range from 0.8 to 4.7 ppbv. Values were largest at sites near downtown. Results from all analyses show comparatively higher potential exposures to measured @entity6836 and traffic count for black school @entity1 , and lower values for white and Asian or Pacific Islander school @entity1 . The economically disadvantaged and Hispanic subgroups were also associated with higher levels of @entity6836 and traffic counts, but the relationship was not as strong or robust. Although measured @entity6836 levels were low and the differences between groups are small, results suggest disparities by racial/ethnic and economic status in @entity1 's exposures to air pollution for the Tampa area.
