Downwinders Debuts New Portable PM Monitors on DART Bus Routes

Downwinders at Risk’s PM Committee wasted no time in taking our new portable Particulate Matter  monitors out in the field.

Less than two weeks after their arrival from New Zealand, Misti O’Quinn, Evelyn Mayo, Mandy Poland, Shannon Gribble and Cresanda Allen were using the devices to measure PM levels at DART bus stops and DART buses around Dallas this last weekend.

The group also conducted
an informal survey of DART riders on quality on air pollution concerns.

It was all part of a new effort to focus on PM pollution and public transit in preparation for this Wednesday’s combined meeting the the North Texas Transit Riders group. at GoodWork Co-working space, 1808 Good Latimer.

Bus riders are among those most heavily exposed to PM, both because of their exposure to traffic while waiting for a bus as well as the bus’ pollution itself.

Comparison and analysis of large “stationary” sources of PM pollution show that if DART bus pollution was coming out of a single smokestack, it would be the 10th largest source of PM pollution in North Texas.

Although the monitors’ PM sampling is in real time, the data collected has to be downloaded and logged by our new PM Science Director, Dr. Tate Barrett. There may be some results ready for Wednesday’s meeting.