UAF team studying air pollution will hold public meetings

February 3, 2020

University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists are looking for Fairbanks and North Pole residents to participate in a research project focused on local outdoor and indoor winter air pollution.

The team will introduce the project in meetings at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 4 and 6 in North Pole and Fairbanks, respectively. The North Pole meeting will be in the North Pole Branch Library, 656 NPHS Blvd. The Fairbanks meeting will be in the UAF Community and Technical College building, 604 Barnette St.

The Fairbanks Winter Air project is led by William Simpson, UAF professor of physical and environmental chemistry. Team members include UAF research faculty members Laura Conner and Nathan Kettle, and Krista Heeringa, a coordinator at UAF's International Arctic Research Center.

The research team is exploring questions and public opinions related to air quality. At the kickoff meetings, the team will introduce the project and hear feedback from community members.

The researchers noted that the federal Clean Air Act has improved air quality in the United States by addressing not only the sources of pollution but also its chemical transformation. Even so, researchers see room to do more, especially in the unique Fairbanks-area environment.

“Much of the focus of air quality studies (nationally) has been in summertime pollution, driven by warm temperatures and sunlight, which are lacking here in the winter,” Simpson said. “Therefore, we seek a better understanding of how cold and dark conditions affect chemistry and transport of pollution in the Fairbanks and North Pole wintertime."

The research will also focus on better understanding the influence of outdoor air pollution on indoor environments.

“This is a common public concern and is made more relevant by the fact that residents spend most of their time indoors in winter,” Simpson said.

At the meetings, participants will learn about joining a community advisory group or working with scientists to design research using the Purple Air monitoring network.

“Our main goal for the kickoff meetings is to provide information to the public about our planned research and offer opportunities to get involved, or simply stay informed about the research as it progresses,” said Heeringa, the project facilitator and community engagement specialist.

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