National Academy of Sciences

National Academy of Engineering

Institute of Medicine

National Research Council

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. William A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I. Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts and Dr. William A. Wulf are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.

A Risk-Management Strategy for PCB-Contaminated Sediments (2001)

Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury (2000)

Strengthening Science at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Research-Management and Peer-Review Practices (2000)

Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment (2000)

Modeling Mobile-Source Emissions (2000)

Toxicological Risks of Selected Flame-Retardant Chemicals (2000)

Copper in Drinking Water (2000)

Ecological Indicators for the Nation (2000)

Waste Incineration and Public Health (1999)

Hormonally Active Agents in the Environment (1999)

Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter: I. Immediate Priorities and a Long-Range Research Portfolio (1998); II. Evaluating Research Progress and Updating the Portfolio (1999)

Ozone-Forming Potential of Reformulated Gasoline (1999)

Risk-Based Waste Classification in California (1999)

Arsenic in Drinking Water (1999)

Brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone Area (1998)

The National Research Council's Committee on Toxicology: The First 50 Years (1997)

Toxicologic Assessment of the Army's Zinc Cadmium Sulfide Dispersion Tests (1997)

Carcinogens and Anticarcinogens in the Human Diet (1996)

Upstream: Salmon and Society in the Pacific Northwest (1996)

Science and the Endangered Species Act (1995)

Wetlands: Characteristics and Boundaries (1995)

Biologic Markers (5 reports, 1989-1995)

Review of EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (3 reports, 1994-1995)

Science and Judgment in Risk Assessment (1994)

Ranking Hazardous Waste Sites for Remedial Action (1994)

Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children (1993)

Issues in Risk Assessment (1993)

Setting Priorities for Land Conservation (1993)

Protecting Visibility in National Parks and Wilderness Areas (1993)

Dolphins and the Tuna Industry (1992)

Hazardous Materials on the Public Lands (1992)

Science and the National Parks (1992)

Animals as Sentinels of Environmental Health Hazards (1991)

Assessment of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Studies Program, Volumes I-IV (1991-1993)

Human Exposure Assessment for Airborne Pollutants (1991)

Monitoring Human Tissues for Toxic Substances (1991)

Rethinking the Ozone Problem in Urban and Regional Air Pollution (1991)

Decline of the Sea Turtles (1990)

Copies of these reports may be ordered fromthe National Academy Press

(800) 624-6242

(202) 334-3313

www.nap.edu

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), other federal and state government agencies, and nongovernment organizations are conducting a major multiyear research program to improve scientific understanding of airborne particulate matter and its effects on human health. An overall objective is to reduce uncertainties in the scientific evidence used to guide regulation of airborne particulate matter in the United States. At the request of Congress and EPA, the National Research Council's (NRC's) Committee on Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter proposed, in its first report, a conceptual framework to guide the formation of that program, and the committee is now independently monitoring the program's implementation.

The first of the committee's four planned reports, Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter: I. Immediate Priorities and a Long-Range Research Portfolio, was released in 1998. It identified 10 high-priority research topics linked to key policy-related scientific uncertainties and presented a 13-year “research investment portfolio” containing recommended short-term and long-term phasing and estimated costs of research on each topic. Congress, EPA, and the scientific community have given strong support to the committee 's recommendations and have implemented substantial changes in research efforts in response to them.

The committee's second report, Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter: II. Evaluating Research Progress and Updating the Portfolio, released in 1999, described the committee's plans for monitoring the progress of re-

search. In addition, the research recommendations from the committee 's first report were updated, and recommendations related to emissions and air-quality models were substantially revised.

This, the committee's third report, monitors the progress of the research begun in 1998 or later to address the priority research topics identified by the committee. Although much research has been initiated, not enough time has elapsed for many of the projects to be completed and their results reported. Therefore, this report should be viewed as an interim assessment of research progress. In preparing its fourth report, which is due near the end of 2002, the committee will have the opportunity to evaluate a more extensive body of research results.

This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the NRC's Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this report: Arthur DuBois, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut; Robert Frosch, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Carol Henry, American Chemistry Council, Arlington, Virginia; George Hidy, ENVAIR, Placitas, New Mexico; Morton Lippmann, New York University Medical School, Tuxedo, New York; Thomas Peterson, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona; Robert Phalen, University of California, Irvine, California; and George Wolff, retired, Farmington, Michigan.

Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Donald Mattison, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation. Appointed by the National Research Council, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and the institution.

The committee gratefully acknowledges John Bachmann, Judith Graham, Lester Grant, Peter Preuss, Kenneth Reid, Lawrence Reiter, Richard Scheffe, John Vandenberg, and James Vickery of EPA for making presentations or

providing information to the committee. In addition, we are grateful to Maria Constantini and others at the Health Effects Institute for developing an internet-based inventory of particulate matter research projects.

We are grateful for the assistance of the NRC staff in preparing the report. Staff members who contributed to this effort are Raymond Wassel, principal staff officer for the committee; James J. Reisa, director of the Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology; Kulbir Bakshi and K. John Holmes, senior staff officers; Eileen Abt and Laurie Geller, staff officers; Norman Grossblatt, editor; Ruth Crossgrove, publications manager; Mirsada Karalic-Loncarevic, information specialist; Tracie Holby and Emily Smail, senior program assistants; and Ramya Chari, project assistant.

Finally, I would like to thank all the members of the committee for their dedicated efforts throughout the development of this report.

Jonathan Samet, Chair

Committee on Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter

Research Priorities for
Airborne Particulate Matter:
III. Early ResearchProgress