New Study Measuring Air Quality at Sea-Tac

SEATTLE (AP) – A new study is measuring the air quality around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

KIRO-TV reported on Thursday that University of Washington research scientist Elena Austin says the preliminary findings of the study show that there seems to be a “footprint” around the airport that researchers can associate with emissions from aircraft that are landing and taking off.

The University of Washington study is focused on determining the air quality, not health impacts.

Austin’s work is focused on “ultrafine particles” from jet engines.

Austin and her University of Washington colleagues repeatedly drove a car with a monitoring device on routes around the airport.

They’re analyzing what they measured and are expected to report results this summer.

The Port of Seattle, the agency that oversees the airport, says it supports the research and has contributed money to the study.
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Information from: KIRO-TV, htthttp://www.kirotv.com/index.html