September 20, 2000

AQMD COMPLETES STUDY OF FALLOUT IN INGLEWOOD AREA

Responding to residents' complaints of fine black dust on their property, AQMD completed a follow-up study this summer of particulate fallout under the flight path of Los Angeles International Airport.

Unlike samples collected in a 1999 study, this year's study did not show an abundance of large combusted oil soot particles. AQMD scientists aren't sure why the oil soot particles showed up in greater amounts last year, and no conclusions can be drawn due to the limited sampling periods.

Therefore, AQMD plans to continue monitoring air quality around LAX through periodic fallout sampling in residential areas. In addition, AQMD will complete by the end of this year a special air toxics monitoring study at Felton School.

During this year's study, particulate collection plates were placed at 28 residences in the flight path area during the last week of April and the last week of May. The study's principal findings were that:

• Samples from under the LAX flight path did not show any pattern indicating that aircraft are the predominant source of particulate fallout;
• The composition of the fallout is similar to that typically found in other areas of the Los Angeles metropolitan area;
• Motor vehicles, and tire rubber particles from them, appear to be a larger source of particulate fallout than aircraft; and
• The concentration and growth of vehicle traffic and resulting emissions around the airport area is of concern.

An analysis of this year's samples showed that the largest concentration of fallout particles centered around the Hollywood Park/Great Western Forum area, a source of considerable vehicle traffic.

AQMD Home Page
This page updated: March 01, 2004
URL: http://www.aqmd.gov/news1/LAX_study.htm