A question for David  Sarokin.  Who should I approach to suggest an
environmentally related research project for graduate students?  I
live on the fifth floor of a condo located about two blocks from
Interstate 405.  I believe that residue worn from tires on vehicles
traveling on the interstate is carried by air.  Reason-dirt
accumulation on my window screens is black, not normal dust color and,
at times, the odor of hot rubber is present.  Is it possible that the
deposit can be tested to verify the source?

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 28 Sep 2005 10:39 PDT

mompear-ga,

David asked me to take a look at this for you ;)

Please let me know what city and state you are in, so I can try to
find local resources for you.

Thanks,

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by mompear-ga on 28 Sep 2005 16:22 PDT

I am in Bellevue, Washington.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 03 Oct 2005 05:01 PDT

mompear-ga,

Thanks for getting back to me.


Here are two contacts you can use for starters...they're government
agencies, rather than universities, but I think you might be better
off starting off with either (or both) of these folks:


http://www.pscleanair.org/howto/complaint.shtml
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency



Public Health - Seattle & King County Hazards line at 206-296-4692



Let me know how things work out after you contact them.


paf

From my experience in apartements and hotels, yes, street dirt does
rise to the fifth floor.  In fact, I recall thinking that it seems to
be much less of a problem above the tenth floor, but this is just a
personal impression.

You might try to gather up some of the black stuff and burn it.
I expect that ample research on the subject has already been done.

When I lived in Japan I was within a mile of three heavily travelled
roads-- Route 16, Route 246, and the Tomeii Expressway-- and my
screens would get a black dusty accumulation. Analysis showed it was
particulate emissions from diesel engines-- essentially soot. Nasty
stuff, and we were breathing it.

I can tell you the results of the project!!!  The residue from tires
is carried in and by the air!!!  My experience was walking through
large wooded area when I picked up the smell of rubber tires.  While
wondering how that could be I continued walking only to find that a
4-lane, 65 mph speed limit, no-exit highway ran about 300 feet from
where I was walking.