Opportunities for using spatial property assessment data in air pollution exposure assessments
Date
2005-10-31
Authors
Setton, Eleanor M
Hystad, Perry W
Keller, C. Peter
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Background: Many epidemiological studies examining the relationships between adverse health
outcomes and exposure to air pollutants use ambient air pollution measurements as a proxy for
personal exposure levels. When pollution levels vary at neighbourhood levels, using ambient
pollution data from sparsely located fixed monitors may inadequately capture the spatial variation
in ambient pollution. A major constraint to moving toward exposure assessments and
epidemiological studies of air pollution at a neighbourhood level is the lack of readily available data
at appropriate spatial resolutions. Spatial property assessment data are widely available in North
America and may provide an opportunity for developing neighbourhood level air pollution
exposure assessments.
Results: This paper provides a detailed description of spatial property assessment data available in
the Pacific Northwest of Canada and the United States, and provides examples of potential
applications of spatial property assessment data for improving air pollution exposure assessment
at the neighbourhood scale, including: (1) creating variables for use in land use regression modelling
of neighbourhood levels of ambient air pollution; (2) enhancing wood smoke exposure estimates
by mapping fireplace locations; and (3) using data available on individual building characteristics to
produce a regional air pollution infiltration model.
Conclusion: Spatial property assessment data are an extremely detailed data source at a fine
spatial resolution, and therefore a source of information that could improve the quality and spatial
resolution of current air pollution exposure assessments.
Description
BioMed Central
Keywords
Citation
Setton EM, PW Hystad, and CP Keller. Opportunities for using spatial property assessment data in air pollution exposure assessments.International Journal of Health Geographics 2005, 4:26