Environmental exposure disparities in ultrafine particles and PM2.5 by urbanicity and socio-demographics in New York state, 2013–2020
Arshad Arjunan Nair, Shao Lin, Gan Luo, Ian Ryan, Quan Qi, Xin Deng, Fangqun Yu
Abstract
The spatiotemporal and demographic disparities in exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP; number concentrations of particulate matter (PM) with diameter ≤0.1 μm), a key subcomponent of fine aerosols (PM2.5; mass concentrations of PM ≤ 2.5 μm), have not been well studied. To quantify and compare the aerosol pollutant exposure disparities for UFP and PM2.5 by socio-demographic factors in New York State (NYS). Ambient atmospheric UFP and PM2.5 were quantified using a global three-dimensional model of chemical transport with state-of-the-science aerosol microphysical processes validated extensively with observations. We matched these to U.S. census demographic data for varied spatial scales (state, county, county subdivision) and derived population-weighted aerosol exposure estimates. Aerosol exposure disparities for each demographic and socioeconomic (SES) indicator, with a focus on race-ethnicity and income, were quantified for the period 2013–2020. The average NYS resident was exposed to 4451 #·cm−3 UFP and 7.87 μg m−3 p.m.2.5 in 2013–2020, but minority race-ethnicity groups were invariably exposed to greater daily aerosol pollution (UFP: +75.0% & PM2.5: +16.2%). UFP has increased since 2017 and is temporally and seasonally out-of-phase with PM2.5. Race-ethnicity exposure disparities for PM2.5 have declined over time; by −6% from 2013 to 2017 and plateaued thereafter despite its decreasing concentrations. In contrast, these disparities have increased (+12.5–13.5%) for UFP. The aerosol pollution exposure disparities were the highest for low-income minorities and were more amplified for UFP than PM2.5. We identified large disparities in aerosol pollution exposure by urbanization level and socio-demographics in NYS residents. Jurisdictions with higher proportions of race-ethnicity minorities, low-income residents, and greater urbanization were disproportionately exposed to higher concentrations of UFP and PM2.5 than other NYS residents. These race-ethnicity exposure disparities were much larger, more disproportionate, and unabating over time for UFP compared to PM2.5 across various income strata and levels of urbanicity.