California Air Resources Board

Principal Investigator/Author: Michael Jerrett

Contractor: University of California, Los Angeles

Contract Number: 17RD012

Project Status: Completed

Relevant CARB Programs: Health & Exposure

Topic Areas: Ambient Air Quality Standards, Health Effects of Air Pollution, Sustainable Communities

Research Summary:

Ambient PM is known to be associated with an array of adverse health effects, although little is known of the components or sources of PM that are most relevant to these health impacts. In addition, although PM pollution is still a concern, through regulations and advanced technology there have been reductions of PM air pollution, particularly from motor vehicle exhaust emissions. Therefore, the relative proportion of non-exhaust sources, such as from tire and brake wear, will increase in near roadway PM as these sources have not been a focus of control strategies.

The proposed study will measure PM metal constituents, and ROS associated with PM from brake and tire wear, and will generate predictive models to link with health effects such as birth outcomes and placental abnormalities. Study results will potentially fill gaps in knowledge about the mechanisms and potential exposure to specific components behind the relationship between traffic-related air pollution and adverse birth outcomes in California. Scientific evidence from this study will increase our understanding of the spatial distribution of PM from brake and tire wear and its health impacts and can provide information to help ARB protect public health through control measures.

Keywords: non-exhaust emissions, metals, oxidative stress, birth outcomes, environmental justice