Characterizing the air quality and demographic impacts of aircraft emissions at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

This study examined the impacts of aircraft emissions on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations during the months of June and July 2002 at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Pollutants were modeled using the Advanced Modeling System for Transport, Emissions, Reactions, and Deposition of Atmospheric Matter (AMSTERDAM). We also investigated the concentration changes caused by AMSTERDAM's plume-in-grid process. A geographic information system was used to apportion pollutant concentrations to census tracts in the Atlanta area. Aircraft impact on PM2.5 was compared with demographic variables to evaluate whether minority or low- income residents are disproportionately exposed to aircraft emissions. Aircraft increase average PM2.5 concentrations by up to 235 ng/m 3 near the airport and by 1-7 ng/m3 throughout the Atlanta metro area. Census tracts with high aircraft PM2.5 contribution disproportionately have low-income and minority residents. Aircraft contribution to PM2.5 may have caused approximately 1.4 premature adult deaths in 2002.