Evaluating the Pollutant Permeation Index (PPI) for Regional Air Quality Assessment: A Study of Los Angeles and California Regions

Air pollution poses significant challenges by affecting public health, increasing the prevalence of air quality-related diseases, and contributing to climate change. Federal, state, and local governments are implementing various regulations and policies to mitigate these effects. However, assessing the effectiveness of localized air pollution regulations remains complex, often relying on extensive data collection methods, such as emission inventories. This paper introduces the Pollution Permeation Index (PPI), a novel method that simplifies the evaluation of health burdens resulting from pollutant migration between neighboring regions. The PPI method employs straightforward calculations to quantify how pollutants, including Ozone (O₃), fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5), and Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM), transfer between areas, identifying which regions act as sources (donors) and which as recipients (receptors) of pollutants. To assess the efficacy of the PPI, this study analyzed various target areas within the City of Los Angeles, as well as a broader examination of Los Angeles County and its surrounding areas. Correlation analyses between the Air Quality Index (AQI) and PPI were conducted to understand the impact of pollutant permeation on air quality. The findings demonstrate that the PPI is an effective and efficient tool for quantifying pollutant levels across different regions, offering valuable insights to policymakers for improving and refining air pollution regulations.