A 2019 University of Washington study found that communities within 10 miles of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are exposed to ultrafine particle pollution uniquely linked to aircraft emissions, distinct from roadway traffic pollution. These microscopic particles — 700 times thinner than a human hair — are not currently regulated by federal or state air-quality standards, and prior research has associated them with breast cancer, heart disease, prostate cancer, and lung conditions. The policy brief calls on Washington State legislators to fund a follow-up two-year study to investigate the health impacts on nearby communities, which tend to be poorer and more racially diverse than King County as a whole.Open full document
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A policy brief for the Washington State Legislature summarizing the findings of the two-year MOV-UP study conducted by the University of Washington, which identified a unique ultrafine particle pollution signature associated with aircraft emissions around Sea-Tac Airport. The brief outlines knowledge gaps regarding the health effects of aircraft-related ultrafine particle pollution and proposes next steps for further research and legislative action to protect communities within 10 miles of the airport.