Population Health
March 5, 2020
Communities around Sea-Tac Airport exposed to unique mix of air pollution
Communities underneath and downwind of jets landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are exposed to a type of ultrafine particle pollution that is distinctly associated with aircraft, according to a new study from the University of Washington.
The finding comes from the two-year Mobile ObserVations of Ultrafine Particles study that examined the air-quality impacts of aircraft traffic on communities located within 10 miles of the airport.
Although this study did not consider the health effects of exposure to roadway or aircraft-related pollution, previous studies suggest smaller pollution particles are more likely to be inhaled and to penetrate the body than larger particles.