Airplane pollution study:  Please consider participating!

In a fall 2016 survey of Milton residents, an overwhelming 84% of participating Milton residents indicated concern about the traffic, noise, and health effects of planes passing over our town, with nearly 70% describing the plane traffic as “very concerning.”

Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) graduate students are conducting a study of outside ultrafine particle pollution from low-flying airplane traffic over our town.  This small pilot study includes measuring pollution at several locations in town during the last half of March and presenting a report of the findings in early May.  Milton’s Board of Health and the town’s Airplane Noise Advisory Committee are helping the students plan and design the study.

The students need measurement locations under and around the arrival path to Runway 4R which overflies most of the eastern side of Milton.

If you live under the arrival path and are willing to participate:

• Please send your name, address, phone, and email to Andy Schmidt, Chair ANAC, [email protected].
• If you do not know if the planes that overfly you are on the 4R path, but want to participate, please send your name and contact information anyway and the students will check the location.

On March 10, all locations we have received will be shared with the students who will then decide which ones best suit the study’s needs.  Here is more information from the student researchers:

• Property needs to be over 300 feet from a major road or highway
• Need contact info; students will contact 24-48 hours before coming out
• Location will not be disclosed
• Ability to place the instrument above the ground
• Measurement occurs for approximately 2 hours
• Measurement is expected to take place between 5-8am and/or 11am-8pm
• Participant needs to agree not to touch the instrument and keep away from pets
• Students may want to stay at the home during the measurement period in case of instrument malfunction
• Permission to enter the property if they are not at home
• Capability to measure twice (if more samples are needed, we will contact)
• Only measuring during the last 3 weeks of March:  March 13 – April 2,2016