The National Ambient Air Quality Standards for airborne fine particles (PM2.5) are based on the mass of PM2.5 measured at outdoor monitoring stations; however, most people spend the majority of their time indoors. In order to fully understand the relationship between ambient PM2.5 and human health effects, it is important to define how ambient PM2.5 concentrations and compositions compare to those actually breathed by humans during normal daily activities.

The objective of SCAMP is to measure the concentrations of PM2.5 and other potential air pollutants at ambient monitoring stations in and around Steubenville, OH, and relate them to the pollutant concentrations in air that is actually breathed by people living in the area. Steubenville was chosen by DOE for this study because of the ability to integrate its results with those of the UORVP, and also because Steubenville was one of the six cities where correlations between ambient PM2.5 mass and adverse health effects had been noted. These correlations had been cited by EPA as one of the primary justifications for its 1997 ambient PM2.5 standards. Complete characterization of the relationships between ambient PM2.5 and human exposure, including the chemical components of PM2.5 at various locations, will provide a comprehensive database for use in subsequent epidemiological studies, long-range transport studies, and State Implementation Program development. CONSOL Energy is the primary performer of SCAMP, and will provide the necessary coordination and data integration between the various components of the study.

SCAMP comprises two major study components, which are most easily identified by sampling location: "outdoor " and "indoor." CONSOL Energy is the primary performer of SCAMP, and will provide the necessary coordination and data integration between the outdoor and indoor components of the study.

DOE-NETL is supporting the outdoor study, which includes measuring PM2.5 and various other pollutants at a central urban site, four remote sites, and outside the homes of people who have agreed to participate in the research project. CONSOL is teaming with Franciscan University of Steubenville, Wheeling Jesuit University, Ohio University and Saint Vincent College in the operation and maintenance of the central urban (Steubenville) site and the four remote sites. Sampling outside the homes of participating individuals is being performed by the Harvard University School of Public Health under subcontract to CONSOL. Preliminary results from the first 3 months of the outdoor study (May-August 2001) indicated that regional sources rather than local sources were primarily responsible for the observed PM2.5 concentrations and compositions at the central and remote monitoring sites.

The indoor component of the study is also being performed by the Harvard University School of Public Health under subcontract to CONSOL, and is supported by a consortium of non-DOE sources -- the Ohio Department of Development's Coal Development Office (OCDO), EPRI, the National Mining Association, the American Iron and Steel Institute, and the American Petroleum Institute. The indoor study is measuring PM2.5 and co-pollutants inside the homes of participants, and is collecting data from personal samplers worn by the participants. A panel of older adults wore personal samplers during the summer of 2000, and again during the fall of 2000. Data from this "adult cohort" panel study are currently being evaluated. A panel of children is also wearing personal samplers during the winter and summer of 2001.