Assessing Intra-urban Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Concentrations at the Lower Rio Grande Valley (RGV), South Texas, USA, Using Low-Cost Sensors

Author

Esmeralda Mendez, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Date of Award

8-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Amit U. Raysoni

Second Advisor

Dr. Owen Temby

Third Advisor

Dr. Katarzyna Sepielak

Abstract

Rapid technological developments of novel low-cost air quality sensors enable long-term ambient monitoring in neighborhood areas. In this study, spatial and temporal trends are analyzed by localized level monitoring with low-cost sensors (TSI BlueSky Air Quality Monitor). Eleven low-cost sensors were deployed across the Lower Rio Grande Valley, South Texas region: Brownsville, Edinburg, Weslaco, and Port Isabel. 24-hour PM2.5 concentrations are correlated with PM2.5 from existing Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Continuous Ambient Monitoring Stations (CAMSs) to express temporal and spatial heterogeneity from March 01, 2021, to March 31, 2022. Results indicated the deployed low-cost sensors as a better representation of accurate exposure patterns at the intra-urban level, rather than at the CAMSs. Conclusions from this study will shed light on the concerns and issues with PM2.5 pollutant exposure by assessing real-time exposures in intra-and-inter-urban communities.

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Los rápidos desarrollos tecnológicos de nuevos sensores de calidad del aire de bajo costo permiten el monitoreo ambiental a largo plazo en las áreas del vecindario. En este estudio, las tendencias espaciales y temporales se analizan mediante monitoreo de nivel localizado con sensores de bajo costo (TSI BlueSky Air Quality Monitor). Se desplegaron once sensores de bajo costo en el Valle inferior del Río Grande, región del sur de Texas: Brownsville, Edinburg, Weslaco y Port Isabel. Las concentraciones de PM2.5 de 24 horas se correlacionan con PM2.5 de la existente Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Continuous Ambient Monitoring Stations (CAMSs) para expresar la heterogeneidad temporal y espacial del 1 de marzo de 2021 al 31 de marzo de 2022. Los resultados indicaron que los sensores de bajo costo desplegados eran una mejor representación de patrones de exposición precisos a nivel intraurbano, en lugar de en el CAMSs. Las conclusiones de este estudio ayudaran a entender sobre las preocupaciones y problemas con la exposición a contaminantes PM2.5 mediante la evaluación de las exposiciones en tiempo real en comunidades intra e interurbanas.

Comments

Copyright 2022 Esmeralda Mendez. All Rights Reserved.

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/utrgv.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/assessing-intra-urban-particulate-matter-pm2-5/docview/2742636390/se-2?accountid=7119

Recommended Citation

Mendez, Esmeralda, "Assessing Intra-urban Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Concentrations at the Lower Rio Grande Valley (RGV), South Texas, USA, Using Low-Cost Sensors" (2022). Theses and Dissertations. 1069.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/1069