Regulatory standards are already on the books at the the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address health risks posed by inhaling tiny particles from smoke, vehicle exhaust, and other sources.

At the same time, Congress and EPA have initiated a multimillion dollar research effort to better understand the sources of these airborne particles, the levels of exposure to people, and the ways that these particles cause damage.

To provide independent guidance to the EPA, Congress asked the National Research Council to study the relevant issues. The result is a series of four reports on the particulate-matter research program. The first two books offered a conceptual framework for a national research program, identified the 10 most critical research needs, and described the recommended timing and estimated costs of such research.

This, the third volume, begins the task of assessing the progress made in implementing the research program. The National Research Council ultimately concludes that the ongoing program is appropriately addressing many of the key uncertainties. However, it also identifies a number of critical specific subjects that should be given greater attention. Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter focuses on the most current and planned research projects with an eye toward the fourth and final report, which will contain an updated assessment.

Contents

• THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
• COMMITTEE ON RESEARCH PRIORITIES FOR AIRBORNE PARTICULATE MATTER
• BOARD ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND TOXICOLOGY
• COMMISSION ON LIFE SCIENCES
• COMMISSION ON GEOSCIENCES, ENVIRONMENT, AND RESOURCES
• OTHER REPORTS OF THE BOARD ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND TOXICOLOGY
• Preface
• Executive Summary
• 1. The Committee's Task and the Particulate-Matter Research Enterprise
  • THE COMMITTEE'S TASK
  • THE PARTICULATE-MATTER RESEARCH PROGRAM
  • ORGANIZATION OF THIS REPORT
• 2. Evaluating Implementation and Progress of Research
  • APPLYING THE COMMITTEE'S RESEARCH CRITERIA
  • SOURCES OF INFORMATION
• 3. Review of Research Progress and Status
  • INTRODUCTION
  • RESEARCH TOPIC 1. OUTDOOR MEASURES VERSUS ACTUAL HUMAN EXPOSURES
  • RESEARCH TOPIC 2. EXPOSURES OF SUSCEPTIBLE SUBPOPULATIONS TO TOXIC PARTICULATE-MATTER COMPONENTS
  • RESEARCH TOPIC 3. CHARACTERIZATION OF EMISSION SOURCES
  • RESEARCH TOPIC 4. AIR-QUALITY MODEL DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING
  • RESEARCH TOPIC 5. ASSESSMENT OF HAZARDOUS PARTICULATE-MATTER COMPONENTS
  • RESEARCH TOPIC 6. DOSIMETRY: DEPOSITION AND FATE OF PARTICLES IN THE RESPIRATORY TRACT
  • RESEARCH TOPIC 7. COMBINED EFFECTS OF PARTICULATE MATTER AND GASEOUS POLLUTANTS
  • RESEARCH TOPIC 8. SUSCEPTIBLE SUBPOPULATIONS
  • RESEARCH TOPIC 9. MECHANISMS OF INJURY
  • RESEARCH TOPIC 10. ANALYSIS AND MEASUREMENT
• 4. Overall Findings and Recommendations
  • KEY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING SCIENTIFIC VALUE, DECISIONMAKING VALUE, AND TIMING AND FEASIBILITY OF PARTICULATE-MATTER RESEARCH
  • IMPLEMENTATION OF SUPERSITE AND SPECIATION PROGRAMS: A CASE STUDY
  • OVERARCHING ISSUES RELATED TO IMPLEMENTATION OF PARTICULATE-MATTER RESEARCH PROGRAM
  • OVERALL EVALUATION OF PARTICULATE-MATTER RESEARCH PROGRESS
  • WHAT IS SUCCESS?
• References
• Appendix A Biographical Information on the Committee on Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter
• Appendix B The Committee's Statement of Task

This project was supported by Contract No. 68-C-98-003 between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the organizations or agencies that provided support for this project.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.