Environmental programs generally consider health impacts from exposure to individual chemicals despite the prevailing recognition that cumulative approaches that capture numerous pollutants from an array of sources are better representative of real-world exposures, particularly in overburdened communities. In response to this need, CARB seeks to improve quantitative and qualitative characterizations of health risks associated with 1) simultaneous exposure to multiple criteria air pollutants, including components of fine particulate matter, across California and 2) toxic air contaminants of elevated concern within overburdened communities. This research will inform CARB’s health impact analysis by developing California-specific, statewide multipollutant health impact functions as well as quantitative or qualitative health impact assessments of toxic air contaminants in communities with elevated exposures or health burdens. Additionally, this research will also evaluate how health impacts estimated using multipollutant approaches compare with those estimated using single-pollutant or additive approaches. CARB expects the study results could help better understand the public impacts of simultaneous exposure to multiple air pollutants and provide methods for improving evaluation of health benefits, particularly in overburdened and disadvantaged communities.
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