Discrepancies in Measured Ethylene Oxide Levels at a Georgia Sampling Site Public
Bayles, Madelyn (Fall 2023)
Abstract
In 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency released a National Air Toxics Assessment that identified the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell Metropolitan Statistical Area as one of 18 areas in the United States at possible increased risk from ethylene oxide (EtO) pollution. Exposure to EtO may lead to health risks ranging from bronchitis to various cancers. Amid community concern, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division began an ambient air pollution study with sampling locations in Cobb County, the city of Covington, and Fulton County. Both active samplers, the traditional method of sampling EtO, and passive samplers, a newer method, were used. Samples were then sent to two different laboratories, ERG and EPD, for analysis. Data from the active and passive sensors were compared to each other, as were data from the two labs. Paired t-tests and Pearson correlation analyses were run. For the sensors, it was found that the active (mean (M) = 0.17 μg/m3, standard deviation (SD) = 0.12 μg/m3) and passive sensors (M = 0.25 μg/m3, SD = 0.19 μg/m3) took significantly different measurements (t(22) = 2.1, p = 0.048), and had a non-statistically significant moderate, positive correlation (r(21) = 0.34, p = 0.11). Regarding the labs, there was no significant difference between the results of ERG Lab (M = 0.42 μg/m3, SD = 0.35 μg/m3) and EPD Lab (M = 0.36 μg/m3, SD = 0.29 μg/m3; t(32) = -1.2, p = 0.24), and they had a moderate, positive, and statistically significant correlation (r(31) = 0.51, p = 0.0024). Additional research into EtO sampling and laboratory techniques, using different locations and sampler models, would be helpful in increasing understanding of EtO monitoring to the benefit of the public health.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...9
Background...9
National Air Toxics Assessment...10
Georgia Environmental Protection Division...11
Project Aims...12
Project Significance...13
METHODS...14
Data Collection...14
Data Analysis...14
RESULTS...16
Summary Statistics and Visualization...16
Statistical Tests...26
DISCUSSION...35
REFERENCES...37
APPENDICES...39
Appendix A: List of Abbreviations...39
Appendix B: Additional Plots...40
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