ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7006-0728
Date of Award
Spring 2025
Embargo Period
5-1-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College/School/Department
Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering
Program
Environmental and Sustainable Engineering
First Advisor
Md Aynul Bari
Committee Members
Yaoze liu, Sarah Lu, Xiaobo Xue and Rixiang Huang,
Keywords
air quality, capital region, VOC, particulate matter, health risk, spatiotemporal variation
Abstract
In the United States, community-level air quality observation networks often fall short in characterizing the wide array of air pollutants that influence human exposure from regional to neighborhood scales. While ambient air quality is routinely monitored in major urban centers, indoor air quality particularly within residential neighborhoods remains understudied, despite the fact that people spend the majority of their time indoors. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of outdoor and indoor air quality in the New York State (NYS) Capital Region and Hudson Valley communities of New York State, with a focus on fine particulate matter (PM2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), black carbon (BC), and ultrafine particles (UFPs).
By examining ambient concentrations and sources of PM2.5 and VOCs in the NYS Capital, we investigated spatiotemporal variability of indoor and outdoor black carbon, PM2.5, UFPs, and indoor VOCs. We deployed relatively low-cost monitoring technologies including passive samplers and low-cost sensors in 4-5 homes per community, over one-week periods during the winter and spring seasons from November 2021 to May 2023. In total, air quality measurements were collected from over 60 homes. Data on meteorological parameters and questionnaire-based housing characteristics, and daily activities were also collected for each home. To determine the accuracy of the low-cost sensor data, low-cost sensors were co-located with reference monitors at the Albany County Health Department.
Results from source apportionment analysis for the period 2015–2019 revealed the background and secondary organic aerosol (SOA)-related sources as dominant contributors to both ambient VOCs and PM2.5 at Albany. Other notable sources included petroleum-related emissions, secondary inorganic aerosol and traffic Our results indicated significantly elevated pollutant concentrations outdoors (backyards) compared to indoors (living rooms), suggesting strong influence from local, community-specific sources such as nearby traffic or industrial operations. Moreover, indoor pollutant levels varied markedly across neighborhoods, influenced by home location and housing conditions.
We also delved into potential sources of air pollutants generated within indoors and outdoors.
Source apportionment of VOCs revealed that petroleum-related emissions and OP-EC2-aldehydes-rich sources contributed substantially to ozone and secondary organic aerosol formation, with several compounds posing elevated cancer risks based on U.S. EPA benchmarks.
This study provides one of the first integrated assessments of indoor and outdoor air pollution at the neighborhood level in the NYS Capital Region and Hudson Valley. Findings highlight the disproportionate burden of pollution faced by certain communities and underscore the need for tailored interventions. The results offer vital insights to inform air quality management strategies, promote environmental justice, and support public health initiatives across New York State's residential neighborhoods. The findings of this study can provide an improved understanding of community-specific air quality problems, raise public awareness and empower communities to take actions and/or inform stakeholder and policy makers to develop appropriate management initiatives to improve air quality and public health across residential neighborhoods in NYS.
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Paul, Sanchita, "Understanding Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity, Sources, and Health Risks of Outdoor and Indoor Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds in Residential Neighborhoods" (2025). Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present). 184.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/etd/184
