Application of a risk assessment based approach to designing ambient air quality monitoring networks for evaluating non-cancer health impacts.

An ambient air quality monitoring network has been established using risk assessment techniques to evaluate adverse health effects from exposures to airborne contaminants. The risk assessment method was compared to traditional methods of establishing air quality monitoring networks: identifying m aximum concentration impacts or maximum total population. Results suggest that the health risk method best predicted the location of adverse, non-carcinogenic respiratory illnesses during the evaluation period. Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient, r(s), values obtained using the risk assessment method were statistically greater than the values obtained using the concentration and population methods. The concentration method was the least accurate predictor of adverse effects.