TagUniversity Of Washington(31)

In May 2019, Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell and the unanimous City Council wrote to University of Washington researchers requesting an expansion of the MOV-UP study measuring ultrafine particle pollution around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The letter calls for three key additions: a baseline measurement site unaffected by air traffic, drone-based vertical air sampling before and after aircraft landings at parks, schools, and social justice impact areas, and the design of a permanent 24/7 ultrafine particle monitoring network. The city also offered to support a Port of Seattle grant application to fund the expanded research and pledged to encourage other affected communities to join the effort.

Researchers from the University of Washington studied ultrafine particles (UFPs) — tiny airborne pollutants less than 100 nanometers in diameter — near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Their findings highlight that jet aircraft engines produce exceptionally small particles (under 30 nanometers), while diesel vehicles also contribute elevated UFP levels within about 200 meters of major roads. Although UFPs are currently unregulated, a growing body of scientific evidence suggests they pose significant health risks to nearby communities.

Researchers from the University of Washington School of Public Health were commissioned by Washington State to study ultrafine particle air pollution near Sea-Tac Airport, the busiest international airport in the state. The study, presented in November 2017, required measuring ultrafine particulate matter within ten miles of the airport along flight paths, distinguishing aircraft emissions from other pollution sources, and comparing affected areas to unaffected ones. Findings and recommendations on whether to proceed with a second phase of research were due to the state legislature by December 1, 2019.

A University of Washington case study examines whether the Des Moines Creek Regional Detention Facility (RDF), a 30+ acre stormwater management site near Sea-Tac Airport, can serve as a model for understanding how projected Pacific Northwest climate changes—wetter winters, drier summers, and stronger storms—may affect local wetland ecosystems. Researchers found potential hydrologic similarities between the RDF's altered water patterns and regional climate change projections, though no clear vegetation shifts were observed. The study recommends further hydrologic modeling and a comprehensive plant monitoring program to better assess long-term wetland impacts.

This University of Washington newsletter documents over 50 years of air quality research by the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, tracing collaborations with Seattle and regional agencies dating back to 1951. It highlights key studies on particulate air pollution from sources such as car exhaust and burning vegetation in the Pacific Northwest, and describes the work of the EPA-funded Northwest Center for Particulate Air Pollution and Health (PM Center), which operated from 1999 to 2006.

Book edited by Amanda L. Azous (Azous Environmental Sciences) and Richard R. Horner (Research Associate Professor, Landscape Architecture and Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle), published by Lewis Publishers (Boca Raton, London, New York, Washington D.C.). Title: ‘Wetlands and Urbanization: Implications for the Future.’ Administrative Record document AR 014000. Covers wetland ecology, urban

This March 2000 report, prepared by Washington State health and environmental agencies, examines whether jet engine exhaust emissions from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport can be monitored or modeled using wind and takeoff data. It reviews previous air quality studies, outlines health and environmental justice concerns for nearby communities, and recommends a structured air quality monitoring study with specific methods, data analysis approaches, and estimated costs. The report was developed in consultation with community representatives, the EPA, and local universities.