Ambient Concentration Levels of Volatile Organic Compounds and Aldehydes in Moncure, North Carolina: An Environmental Justice Case Study

Abstract

Abstract Local industries are often a driving force for the local economy. Due to the inter-dependency between the local economy and the industry, environmental issues perceived by the residents are sometimes overlooked. The community-based participant environmental justice study reported here presents how different groups of stakeholders worked together to solve environmental concerns from the residents of Moncure, North Carolina. Town hall meetings were held to discuss environmental issues of the community with representatives from both the community and local industries. A study design was prepared by scientists from North Carolina Central University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in order to provide independent scientific data on the air pollutants of interest to the residents. Two one-week-long samplings were conducted in January and August in 2007 to conduct a survey concerning the levels of air pollutants including volatile organic compounds (VOC) and aldehydes. During each sampling s...