Environmental Issues > Health Main Page > All Health Documents
New Orleans Environmental Quality Test Results
Particulate Results by Neighborhood
NRDC sampled for particulate pollution in October and November, 2005.
Note: The EPA regulatory standard for PM 10 is 150 ug/m3 over a 24-hour period. However, the EPA standards for particulate matter have been determined by the EPA Science Advisory Board to be insufficiently protective of human health; the standards are in the process of being revised.
Bywater
NRDC sampled for particulate matter for nearly one hour on November 15, 2005, in the Bywater neighborhood in New Orleans. The weather was clear with very little wind, and there was no visible haze. Most streets had a residue of sediment on the pavement, and there was some dust when vehicles traveled down these streets. Overall the air quality was very good during the time we sampled. However, the levels peaked at potentially significant concentrations of over 100 ug/m3. People working in dusty areas, or engaged in cleanup or demolition activities, should wear respiratory protection.
Monitoring Results
| 11/15/05 | |
| Average (overall) | 26 ug/m3 |
| Minimum | 14 ug/m3 |
| Maximum | 108 ug/m3 |
Bywater PM 10, November 15, 2005
 |
Chalmette and Meraux
NRDC sampled for particulate matter for nearly three hours on October 17, 2005, in Chalmette and Meraux, St. Bernard Parish. The weather was clear with very little wind, and there was no visible haze. Many side streets had a visible residue of dark, crusted sediment on the pavement, and there was noticeable dust when vehicles traveled down these streets. Overall the air quality was good when the monitor was not located in an area where another vehicle was driving and stirring up the sediment. However, when the monitor was behind another vehicle, the levels of particulate matter jumped to potentially significant levels, at or above 100 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3). People working in the dusty parts of the neighborhood -- especially on side streets -- and those engaged in cleanup or demolition work should wear respiratory protection.
Monitoring Results
| 10/17/05 | |
| Average (overall) | 25 ug/m3 |
| Average (no car) | 9 ug/m3 |
| Average (lead car) | 62 ug/m3 |
| Minimum | 0 |
| Maximum | 226 ug/m3 |
Chalmetter and Meraux PM 10, October 17, 2005
 |
Chalmette and Meraux PM 10, October 17, 2005
Following another car
 |
Gentilly
NRDC sampled for particulate matter for nearly an hour on October 19 and again for about 20 minutes on November 14-15, 2005, in the Gentilly section of New Orleans. The weather was clear with little or no wind, and there was no visible haze. Some streets had a residue of sediment on the pavement, and there was some dust when vehicles traveled down these streets. There was also evidence of demolition work and building debris. In October, the air quality was very good during the time we were monitoring, but during some brief periods of time the levels of particulate matter rose to levels near or over 30 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3). Air quality was reasonably good during the November sampling, but the levels peaked at potentially significant levels of nearly 100 ug/m3. People working in the dusty parts of the neighborhood -- near where building renovation is occurring -- and anyone who is doing cleanup or demolition should wear respiratory protection.
Monitoring Results
| 10/19/05 | 11/14/05 - 11/15/05 | |
| Average | 10 ug/m3 | 60 ug/m3 |
| Minimum | 0 | 30 ug/m3 |
| Maximum | 70 ug/m3 | 94 ug/m3 |
Gentilly PM 10, October 19, 2005
 |
Gentilly PM 10, November 14-15, 2005
 |
Gert Town
NRDC sampled for particulate matter for nearly one hour on November 14, 2005, in the Gert Town neighborhood in New Orleans. The weather was clear with very little wind, and there was no visible haze. Some streets had a residue of sediment on the pavement, and there was some dust when vehicles traveled down these streets. Overall the air quality was very good during the time we sampled, but the levels peaked at potentially significant levels over 50 ug/m3. People working in dusty areas, or engaged in cleanup or demolition activities, should wear respiratory protection.
Monitoring Results
| 11/14/05 | |
| Average (overall) | 32 ug/m3 |
| Minimum | 20 ug/m3 |
| Maximum | 66 ug/m3 |
Gert Town PM 10, November 14, 2005
 |
Lakeview
NRDC sampled for particulate matter for nearly two hours on October 18, 2005, in the Lakeview neighborhood in New Orleans. The weather was clear with almost no wind, and there was no visible haze. Some streets were visibly dusty with a mixture of sediment and building debris, and there was significant dust when vehicles traveled down these streets. In addition, there is a dump located in the neighborhood and the area immediately around the dump was somewhat dusty. Overall the air quality in this neighborhood was fairly good during the time we were monitoring, but during some brief periods of time the levels of fine particulate matter rose to levels near or over 100 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3). People working in the dusty parts of the neighborhood -- on side streets or near the dump -- and anyone engaged in cleanup or demolition should wear respiratory protection.
Monitoring Results
| 10/18/05 | |
| Average (overall) | 31 ug/m3 |
| Average (Across from Dump Site) | 21 ug/m3 |
| Minimum | 0 |
| Maximum | 688 ug/m3 |
Lakeview PM 10, October 18, 2005
 |
Lakeview PM 10, October 18, 2005
Across from dump site
 |
Lower Ninth Ward
NRDC sampled for particulate matter for about one hour on October 17 and again on November 14, 2005, in the Lower Ninth Ward neighborhood in New Orleans. The weather was clear with very little wind, and there was no visible haze. Some streets had a residue of sediment on the pavement, and there was some dust when vehicles traveled down these streets. Overall the air quality was very good during the time we sampled, but during a short period of time the levels of particulate matter rose to potentially significant levels at or above 50 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3). People working in dusty areas, or engaged in cleanup or demolition activities, should wear respiratory protection.
Monitoring Results
| 10/17/05 | 11/14/05 | |
| Average (overall) | 11 ug/m3 | 27 ug/m3 |
| Average (no car ahead) | 5 ug/m3 | -- |
| Average (following car) | 35 ug/m3 | -- |
| Minimum | 0 | 15 ug/m3 |
| Maximum | 81 ug/m3 | 81 ug/m3 |
Lower Ninth Ward PM 10, October 17, 2005
 |
Lower Ninth Ward PM 10, November 14, 2005
 |
Marigny
NRDC sampled for particulate matter for nearly one hour on November 14, 2005, in the Marigny neighborhood in New Orleans. The weather was clear with very little wind, and there was no visible haze. There was no visible sediment on the streets; however, there was some construction work and building debris. Overall the air quality was very good during the time we sampled. Nonetheless, people working in dusty areas, or engaged in cleanup or demolition activities, should wear respiratory protection.
Monitoring Results
| 11/14/05 | |
| Average (overall) | 28 ug/m3 |
| Minimum | 21 ug/m3 |
| Maximum | 41 ug/m3 |
Marigny PM 10, November 14, 2005
 |
Metairie
NRDC sampled for particulate matter for about an hour on November 15, 2005, in Metairie, Jefferson Parish. The weather was clear with very little wind, and there was no visible haze. There was heavy vehicle traffic, including quite a few diesel trucks. The area had not been flooded, and there was no sediment or building debris. The air quality was very good during the time we sampled. The levels peaked at concentrations over 50 ug/m3 in heavy traffic conditions.
Monitoring Results
| 11/15/05 | |
| Average (overall) | 24 ug/m3 |
| Minimum | 16 ug/m3 |
| Maximum | 86 ug/m3 |
Metaire PM 10, November 15, 2005
 |
Mid-City
NRDC sampled for particulate matter for nearly an hour on October 19 and again for about three hours on November 14, 2005, in the Mid-City neighborhood in New Orleans. The weather was clear with no wind, and there was no visible haze. A few streets were somewhat dusty, mostly from building debris, and there was some dust when vehicles traveled down these streets. Overall the air quality was very good during the time we were monitoring, but during some brief periods of time the levels of particulate matter rose to significant levels near or over 100 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3). People working in the dusty parts of the neighborhood -- near where building renovation is occurring -- and anyone who is doing cleanup or demolition should wear respiratory protection.
Monitoring Results
| 10/19/05 | 11/14/05 | |
| Average | 7 ug/m3 | 35 ug/m3 |
| Minimum | 0 | 19 ug/m3 |
| Maximum | 89 ug/m3 | 128 ug/m3 |
Mid-City PM 10, October 19, 2005
 |
Mid-City PM 10, November 14, 2005
 |
New Orleans East: Little Woods
NRDC sampled for particulate matter for over an hour on November 15, 2005, in the Little Woods area of New Orleans East. The weather was clear with very little wind, and there was no visible haze. Some streets had a residue of sediment on the pavement, and there was some dust when vehicles traveled down these streets. Overall the air quality was reasonably good during the time we sampled, but the levels peaked at significant levels of over 100 ug/m3. People working in dusty areas, or engaged in cleanup or demolition activities, should wear respiratory protection.
Monitoring Results
| 11/15/05 | |
| Average (overall) | 49 ug/m3 |
| Minimum | 32 ug/m3 |
| Maximum | 124 ug/m3 |
New Orleans East PM 10, November 15, 2005
 |
Uptown
NRDC sampled for particulate matter for about one hour on October 19 and again for about two hours on November 14, 2005, in Uptown. The weather was clear with no wind, and there was no visible haze. Many streets were visibly dusty, with a mixture of sediment and building material debris, and there was a lot of dust when vehicles traveled down these streets. Overall the air quality was good but during significant periods of time the levels of particulate matter rose to significant levels near or over 100 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3), especially during the October sampling period. People returning to the dusty parts of the neighborhood -- on side streets or where building work is occurring -- and anyone engaged in cleanup or demolition should wear respiratory protection.
Monitoring Results
| Average | 10/19/05 | 11/14/05 |
| Average | 54 ug/m3 | 41 ug/m3 |
| Minimum | 0 | 24 ug/m3 |
| Maxinmum | 515 ug/m3 | 79 ug/m3 |
Uptown PM 10, October 19, 2005
 |
Uptown PM 10, November 14, 2005
 |
Sign up for NRDC's online newsletter
NRDC Gets Top Ratings from the Charity Watchdogs
- Charity Navigator awards NRDC its 4-star top rating.
- Worth magazine named NRDC one of America's 100 best charities.
- NRDC meets the highest standards of the Wise Giving Alliance of the Better Business Bureau.
Switchboard Blogs
- Marine Plastic Pollution Producer Responsibility Bill Passes California Assembly Natural Resources Committee
- posted by Leila Monroe, 4/30/13
- EPA Hearing: Citizens Urge Agency to Finalize Cleaner Gasoline and Tailpipe Standards
- posted by Luke Tonachel, 4/25/13
- NRDC's 5-Step Program for the Apparel Industry's Chemical Makeover
- posted by Linda Greer, 4/23/13
Related Stories
- Simple Steps
- A healthier you. A healthier home. A healthier Earth -- one step at a time.
- Is Organic Food Worth It?
- The short answer is yes -- get the lowdown from This Green Life.
- Pet Products May Harm Both Pets and Humans
- Poisons in many pet pesticide products are not safe for pets or humans.
