Report on Air Quality Monitoring in Lehigh Valley and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Initial findings from the Lehigh Valley Breathes regional air monitoring project reveal significant variations in air pollution, with notable impacts on public health and urban sustainability. This report summarizes the preliminary data, emphasizing its connection to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Project Overview and Methodology

The Lehigh Valley Breathes project is a comprehensive initiative to monitor fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), a pollutant linked to severe health problems. Data was collected from eight distinct locations representing urban, rural, industrial, and residential areas. The analysis utilizes multiple timescales—including hourly, daily, and diurnal averages—to identify pollution sources and patterns, providing the evidence base needed for policies that support sustainable urban development (SDG 11.6) and protect public health (SDG 3.9).

Key Findings: Analysis of PM 2.5 Concentrations

The initial analysis focuses on three comparative studies, each highlighting different factors influencing local air quality.

H3: Comparison 1: Geographic and Land Use Disparities

This comparison analyzed PM 2.5 levels across three distinct environments to understand the impact of urbanization and traffic, a key component of SDG 11.

1. Portland (Rural Residential): Consistently recorded the lowest PM 2.5 concentrations, establishing a regional background level.
2. Freemansburg (Suburban): Showed intermediate levels of pollution.
3. Allentown – PNLV (Urban Near-Road): Experienced the highest concentrations and the most extreme short-term peaks (up to 53.84 µg/m3), directly linking traffic emissions to poor air quality. The data indicated a clear peak between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., corresponding with rush-hour traffic.

These findings underscore the challenge of reducing the adverse environmental impact of cities (SDG 11.6) and highlight the health risks (SDG 3) faced by populations in high-traffic urban corridors.

H3: Comparison 2: Impact of Industrial and Logistics Infrastructure

Monitors were placed near three industrial parks to assess the contribution of industrial and logistics operations to air pollution, a critical aspect of achieving sustainable industrialization (SDG 9).

• Warehouse Sites (HellertownBIP and IronRunIP-SG): Displayed similar mean pollution concentrations. However, their peak times differed, aligning with highway traffic patterns (morning and evening commutes) and warehouse operational hours (mid-morning and early afternoon), respectively. This suggests that logistics-related truck traffic is a significant pollution source.
• Heavy Industry Site (BathIP): Located near a cement plant, this site recorded an extreme pollution peak (78.33µg/m3), nearly double that of the warehouse sites. Its pollution pattern was inverted, with the highest concentrations occurring overnight, suggesting a profile dominated by industrial process schedules and meteorological conditions rather than traffic.

This analysis differentiates the environmental footprint of logistics infrastructure from heavy industry, providing crucial data for developing targeted pollution control strategies for different sectors in line with SDG 9.4 (upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable).

H3: Comparison 3: Residential Exposure in Urban Settings

Two residential sites in Bethlehem were compared to quantify the direct impact of traffic on the air quality of communities, a central concern for SDG 3 and SDG 11.

• Kirkland (Low-Traffic): Represented the general urban background pollution level for a residential area.
• HWY378&Brighton (High-Traffic): Showed persistently and significantly higher PM 2.5 concentrations at all hours of the day.

The analysis concluded that the high-traffic site experiences the same background pollution as the low-traffic site, plus a significant and constant additional pollution load from the adjacent roadway. This implies a chronically higher daily exposure for residents, increasing long-term health risks and demonstrating a clear challenge to ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all urban dwellers (SDG 3).

Conclusion and Relevance to Sustainable Development

The preliminary findings from the Lehigh Valley Breathes project provide critical, evidence-based insights into the sources and distribution of harmful air pollution. The data confirms that pollution is highly localized and directly influenced by traffic, industrial activity, and logistics operations.

These results are essential for advancing several SDGs:

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): By identifying pollution hotspots, the data allows for targeted public health interventions and policies to protect vulnerable populations from the adverse effects of air pollution.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The findings provide a scientific basis for sustainable urban planning, including traffic management, land-use zoning, and the development of green infrastructure to mitigate pollution in densely populated areas.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The report highlights the need for cleaner industrial processes and sustainable management of logistics and freight infrastructure to reduce their environmental and health impacts.

Further analysis will inform the development of targeted air quality management policies necessary for building healthier, more sustainable communities in the Lehigh Valley.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article on air pollution in the Lehigh Valley directly addresses and connects to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

     The article establishes a clear link between air pollution and public health. It states, “Understanding both the when and the where of pollution is an essential first step in understanding how it relates to public health.” It also describes PM 2.5 particles as being able to “get deep into the lungs and can cause health problems,” and notes that chronically higher exposure for residents increases “the long-term health risks associated with traffic-related air pollution.” This focus on the health impacts of environmental factors aligns directly with SDG 3.

   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

     The core of the article is the analysis of air quality within a specific region, comparing urban, suburban, and rural areas. It investigates pollution sources like “rush hour traffic,” “heavily trafficked road in a dense urban area,” and residential sites. The project’s stated purpose is to inform the design of “targeted, evidence-based air quality management policies,” which is a key component of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

     The article specifically investigates pollution originating from industrial activities and infrastructure. It analyzes data from monitors near “three industrial parks,” a “cement plant,” and “warehousing sites.” The findings distinguish between pollution from traffic and “heavy industrial sources like the cement plant,” suggesting that different industrial operations have distinct pollution profiles. This directly relates to the goal of building resilient infrastructure and promoting sustainable industrialization by understanding and mitigating its environmental impact.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the issues discussed, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • Target 3.9: Substantially reduce deaths and illnesses from pollution

     This target aims to “substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” The article’s entire premise is based on monitoring a key air pollutant (PM 2.5) that is known to cause health problems. By identifying the sources and concentrations of this pollution, the “Lehigh Valley Breathes” project provides the foundational data needed to create policies aimed at reducing public exposure and, consequently, related illnesses.

   • Target 11.6: Reduce the environmental impact of cities

     This target seeks to “reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality.” The article is a direct application of this target. It focuses entirely on measuring and analyzing air quality across different parts of a metropolitan area (urban, suburban, rural, near-road, industrial) to understand and ultimately manage the city’s environmental impact on its residents.

   • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and industries to be more sustainable

     This target calls for upgrading “infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable…by increasing resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.” The article’s analysis of emissions from industrial parks, warehouses, and a cement plant highlights the specific environmental impact of these facilities. The data showing “severe, intermittent high-emission events” from the cement plant provides evidence for the need to retrofit such industries to reduce their pollution footprint.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article explicitly mentions and implies several indicators for measuring progress:

   • Indicator 11.6.2: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5)

     This is the most direct and frequently mentioned indicator in the article. The entire study is centered on measuring “fine particulate pollution,” specifically “PM 2.5.” The article states that these particles “are measured in micrograms per cubic meter, or µg/m3.” It provides specific measurements, such as peak concentrations of “53.84 µg/m3” and “78.33μg/m3,” as well as “hourly average distribution,” “daily averages,” and “diurnal averages.” This data directly corresponds to the official indicator for Target 11.6.

   • Implied Indicator: PM 2.5 concentrations by source and location

     While not an official UN indicator, the article’s methodology implies a more granular indicator crucial for policy-making. It breaks down PM 2.5 levels by specific locations (urban near-road, industrial, rural, residential) and sources (rush-hour traffic, truck traffic, industrial processes). This detailed monitoring allows for tracking progress in reducing pollution from specific sectors, which is essential for achieving Targets 3.9 and 9.4. For example, measuring the reduction in PM 2.5 near the cement plant would indicate progress towards making that industry more sustainable (Target 9.4).

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.	Implied: Concentration levels of PM 2.5 in residential and public areas as a proxy for health risk exposure. The article measures this in µg/m3.
   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities	Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality.	Directly Mentioned (Indicator 11.6.2): Annual and hourly mean levels of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) in cities, measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3).
   SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure	Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable… with greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.	Implied: PM 2.5 concentrations and peak emission events measured at industrial, warehouse, and cement plant sites. The article identifies specific pollution patterns for these sources.

Source: lehighvalleynews.com