Risk communication regarding air pollution is unavailable in many parts of the world even in regions in which outdoor air pollution constitutes a meaningful burden on public health. Risk communication…

This federal contract award was granted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to New York University (NYU) to develop an international, health-based air quality index that can be communicated to individuals worldwide. The goal is to leverage global modeling to provide risk communication on air pollution in regions lacking ground-based pollution monitors. Under this $292,321.02 grant, NYU researchers will assess pollution ratios in global cities, determine weighting factors for calculating a health-based index, and provide training to stakeholders on interpreting the results. This effort supports NASA's Hastening Advancements in Quantum Systems and Technologies (HAQAST) program focused on advancing atmospheric science research. No set-aside designation was indicated for this award.

Risk communication regarding air pollution is unavailable in many parts of the world even in regions in which outdoor air pollution constitutes a meaningful burden on public health. Risk communication requires information on the concentrations of multiple air pollutants as well as a health-relevant context in which to report the information to the public. Due to the relative paucity of ground-based pollution monitors outside of cities in developed countries, this information needs to be provided through the development and dissemination of information from global modeling. The goal of this project is to develop an international, health-based air quality index which can be communicated to individuals throughout the world. This index can then be applied to forecasted air quality measurements from global models. As part of this project NYU researchers will assess the relative concentrations of traditional air pollutants in a sample of global cities. Using information from existing heath studies, and in conjunction with the assessment of pollution ratios, the researchers will determine weighting factors for calculating a health based index. Following completion of the project, NYU researchers will deliver to NASA collaborators weighting factors and the scaling factors to be applied to traditional air pollutants in order calculate a health-based index. NYU researchers will also make themselves available on an as needed basis to provide training to stakeholders regarding the interpretation of this information. The PI at NYU will be entirely responsible for the administration of this project. Reporting to collaborators at NASA will occur through annual haqast meetings and through delivery of the final work product at the end of the project timeline.