Project Team
Students
Jesse Rutt
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences
Penn State Harrisburg, Penn State University Park
Faculty Mentors
Natasha Miles
Penn State University Park
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences
Brandi Gaertner
Penn State University Park
Geography
Project
https://sites.psu.edu/mcreu/files/formidable/2/MCREU-Poster-2.pdf
Project Video
Project Abstract
Clean air is a basic human right, and as such understanding the quality of the air is critical to protecting the rights of all the citizens of Pittsburgh. This evaluation explores fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and its relationship to housing price in Pittsburgh. Housing price is used as an identifier for determining environmental justice areas (EJ). To better understand the quality of the air in Pittsburgh, maps of average annual PM 2.5 distribution were created. These maps show that most of Pittsburgh has a yearly average PM 2.5 concentration above the EPA long-term standard of clean air (>12 µg/m3). We created similar maps that show the average housing price across Pittsburgh. A geographic weighted regression (GWR) was done to describe the correlation of these two variables. The GWR shows a correlation between average annual PM 2.5 and housing price. The correlation coefficient is negative indicating that as average housing price decreases, average PM 2.5 concentration increases. Meaning that on average people of lower socio-economic status are subject to increased PM 2.5 exposure. The correlation is stronger in several of the outlying areas compared to downtown Pittsburgh.
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