Detailed Air Quality Evaluation of Teterboro Airport, Teterboro, New Jersey: Research Project Summary

This is a summary of a study carried out to evaluate the potential air quality and health risks associated with operations of Teterboro Airport. Teterboro Airport (TEB) is located on an 827-acre property in Teterboro and Moonachie, New Jersey. As the oldest operating airport in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, TEB has grown into one of the busiest General Aviation airports in the U.S., with over 200,000 arrivals and departures per year. In response to community concerns about potential local air quality impacts, ENVIRON was contracted with NJDEP to conduct a year-long air monitoring study in the area. The general goals of the Teterboro Air Quality study were (1) To assess long-term ambient concentrations of selected air toxics in the immediate vicinity of the airport; and (2) To determine whether contributions from airport operations can be distinguished from the contributions of other background sources. The study focused on the compounds known to be emitted by mobile sources (e.g., cars, trucks, and aircraft), with particular attention to compounds associated with aircraft operations (e.g., takeoff, landing, refueling, idling, and maintenance). A combination of real-time monitoring and discrete sampling equipment was used to quantify gaseous compounds, volatile organic compounds, fine particular matter (PM2.5), and black carbon. Information on traffic patterns and meteorology were also collected and used in data assessment.Prepared by Alexander Polissar of the NJDEP, Division of Science, Research and Technology with Alan Kao of ENVIRON International Corporation. This project was funded by the NJDEP DSRT under contract number SR05-002.Purpose: To summarize a research project on the air quality and health risks associated with Teterboro Airport