Gaseous Air Pollutants & Respiratory Conditions

Outdoor Air QualityMichele West-Lax

MPH Walden Graduate Student

Presentation ObjectivesTo increase the awareness upon you, local and

state government officials, on the respiratory health effects stemming from air pollutants concentrated in specified regions, with high concentrated traffic (urban areas)

To prevail upon policymakers on the efficacy of mitigating this problem, through implementation and establishment of regulations and policies that focus on rebuilding the built environment to increase air quality

Presentation OutlineDefine and Lists Environments for Air Quality

Determine the sources and formation of Outdoor Air Pollution

Discuss how these air pollutants induce increased incidence in respiratory conditions and related hospitalizations

Discuss studied disparities in the distributed proportions of air pollutants across regional areas, with high traffic concentration (urban cities)

Discuss the mitigations and solutions to ameliorate the air quality within these regions (regulations and policies)

Environmental HealthEnvironmental Health is “the segment of Public Health concerned

with assessing, understanding, and controlling the impacts of

people on their environment and the impacts of the environment

on them”.

Environmental Health spectrum includes: food safety, air quality,

occupational safety, waste disposal and liquid disposal & water

quality and safety

Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press.

Air QualityAir Pollution is defined as “the presence in the air

of substances in concentrations sufficient to interfere with health, comfort, safety, or the full use and enjoyment of property”.

Air pollution occurs into two different environments:

-Indoor Air Pollution -Outdoor Air Pollution

Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press.

Outdoor PollutionSources of outdoor pollution can be man-made and

natural.

Natural encompasses: forest fires, volcanic eruptions, biological decay, and lightning that form sulfur and nitrogen oxides

Man-made encompasses: fossil fuels (oils, coal, & gas), road vehicles, & power stations

These sources release byproducts that induce health consequences to the ecosystem

Buchdahl, J. & Hare, S. 2000. Outdoor Air Pollution, retrieved from, http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/Air_Quality/Older/Outdoor_Air_Pollution.html

Outdoor Pollution Byproducts of Man-Made Gaseous Air Pollutants

- Carbon Monoxide (CO)

- Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

- Ozone (O3)

- Particulates

- Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press

Air Pollutant FormationFossil Fuels from car emissions release

volatile organic compounds, containing mostly carbon, along with other compounds such as oxygen and nitrogen

Once released into the atmosphere, heat and ultraviolet light react with VOCs to form gaseous air pollutants

Air Pollutant FormationDepiction of Air Pollution Formation

Air Pollution FormationDepiction of Air Pollution Formation

Air Pollution Health AffectsThe most common pathway for intake of

environment contaminants are the lungs

Some particles , depending on size and aerodynamics can deposit at different areas on the lungs

Remaining pollutants within the lungs or prolonged exposure can induce chronic conditions

Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press

Aerodynamics of Air PollutantsGaseous air pollutants are small in size and

relatively high aerodynamics, allowing for rapid deposition into the small bronchiolar and alveolar regions

Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press

Air Pollution Health AffectsAccording to studies, up to 8% of Americans

suffer from chronic lung conditions such as bronchitis, emphysema, or asthma caused or aggravated by air pollution

Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press

Air Pollutants and Asthma AssociationOne 18 year study completed in Southern California

concluded that O3 (ozone) contributes to increased hospitalizations for children with asthma

Another study concluded that the prevalence of childhood asthmatic symptoms was about 4% higher at the high O3 areas than at the low O3 areas.

Moore, K., Neugebauer, R., Lurmann, F., Hall, J. et al. 2008. Ambient Ozone Concentrations Cause Increased Hospitalizations for Asthma in Children: An 18- year Study in Southern California. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(8), 1063-1069

Sousa, S.I.V., Alvim-Ferraz, M.C.M, Martins, F.G., & Pereira, M.C. 2009. Ozone exposure and its Influence on the Worsening of Childhood Asthma. Allergy, 64, 1046-1065.

High Traffic Regions and Air PollutionOne study has examined and concluded that

areas of high trafficked roads (intra-urban communities) was associated with increased incidence in respiratory conditions.

Another study concluded that high fossil fuel release into the atmosphere is associated with increase incidence and risk for development of asthma or other respiratory conditions in children

Padhi, B.K. & Padhy, P.K. 2008. Assessment of Intra-Urban Variability in Outdoor Air Quality and Its Health Risk. Inhalation Toxicology, 20, 973-979

Perera, F.P. 2008. Children are Likely to suffer Most from Our Fossil Fuel Addiction. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(8), 987-990.

Environmental Stewardship ModelFocus on the Environment first, is the

imperative factor in ameliorating this problem

Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press

Environment

Public Disease Death

Air Pollution PreventionsFocus on the Built Environment - planting of trees - walkability - alternate routes

Marshall, J.D., Brauer, M., & Frank, L.D. 2010. Healthy Neighborhoods: Walkability and Air Pollution. Environmental Health Perspectives, 1-18.

Air Pollution PreventionsPlanting of trees decreases the amount of air

pollutants, through absorption into its leaves

Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press

Air Pollution PreventionsIncreasing a walkable community; more

sidewalks and walkways to induce bicycle riding and walking to commute

Marshall, J.D., Brauer, M., & Frank, L.D. 2010. Healthy Neighborhoods: Walkability and Air Pollution. Environmental Health Perspectives, 1-18.

Air Pollution PreventionsRebuilding alternate routes of travel through urban

cities to reduce concentrated car emission fuels

Marshall, J.D., Brauer, M., & Frank, L.D. 2010. Healthy Neighborhoods:

Walkability and Air Pollution. Environmental Health Perspectives, 1-18.

Air Pollution PreventionsOne study concludes that in order to decrease air

pollutants released into the atmosphere, trip and travel length needs to be the focus for demand management measures

The study also concludes that policies at the local, national, and even international levels needs to blend technical improvements to vehicles, with reduced growth in journey lengths.

Potter, S. 2007. Exploring Approaches Towards a Sustainable Transport System. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, 1, 115-131.

Air Pollution PreventionsYou, the Local & State policymakers should

endeavor to establish regulations and policies to modify the built environment by:

- planting of more trees to absorb gaseous air

pollutants - building more walkways to increase

walkability and decrease car dependency

- building of alternate routes of travel to decrease

concentrated air pollutants in urban communities

SummaryAir Pollution imposes a problem on the health

of the environment

Areas of high gaseous pollutants (O3, NO2, CO) can induce higher rates of respiratory conditions and respiratory hospitalizations; emphasis on asthma

High gaseous pollutants tend to be highly concentrated in regions of high traffic and car congestion, lower walkability and less plants

Summary

Local & State policymakers can focus on rebuilding the built environment; planting of more trees and building more walkways to induce walking and bicycle riding; less propensity to drive

You, Local & State Policymakers must set regulations on producing alternate routes to decrease concentration of traffic through urban neighborhoods

ReferencesBuchdahl, J. & Hare, S. 2000. Outdoor Air Pollution, retrieved

from, http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/Air_Quality/Older/Outdoor_Air_Pollution.html

Kozyrskyj, A.L., Kendall, G.E., Jacoby, P., Sly, P.D., Zubrick, S.R. 2008. Association Between Socioeconomic Status and the Development of Asthma: Analyses of Income Trajectories. American Journal of Public Health, 100(3), 540-546.

Lin, M., Chen, Y., Villeneuve, P.J., Burnett, R.T., Lemrye, L., et. al. 2004. Gaseous Air Pollutants and Asthma Hospitalization of Children with Low Household Income in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. American Journal of Epidemiology, 159(3), 294-303

Marshall, J.D., Brauer, M., & Frank, L.D. 2010. Healthy Neighborhoods: Walkability and Air Pollution. Environmental Health Perspectives, 1-18.

Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press

ReferencesMoore, K., Neugebauer, R., Lurmann, F., Hall, J. et al. 2008.

Ambient Ozone Concentrations Cause Increased Hospitalizations for Asthma in Children: An 18- year Study in Southern California. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(8), 1063-1069

Padhi, B.K. & Padhy, P.K. 2008. Assessment of Intra-Urban Variability in Outdoor Air Quality and Its Health Risk. Inhalation Toxicology, 20, 973-979

Perera, F.P. 2008. Children are Likely to suffer Most from Our Fossil Fuel Addiction. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(8), 987-990.

Sousa, S.I.V., Alvim-Ferraz, M.C.M, Martins, F.G., & Pereira, M.C. 2009. Ozone exposure and its Influence on the Worsening of Childhood Asthma. Allergy, 64, 1046-1065.

Further ReadingsKozyrskyj, A.L., Kendall, G.E., Jacoby, P., Sly, P.D., Zubrick, S.R.

2008. Association Between Socioeconomic Status and the Development of Asthma: Analyses of Income Trajectories. American Journal of Public Health, 100(3), 540-546.

Lin, M., Chen, Y., Villeneuve, P.J., Burnett, R.T., Lemrye, L., et. al. 2004. Gaseous Air Pollutants and Asthma Hospitalization of Children with Low Household Income in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. American Journal of Epidemiology, 159(3), 294-303.

Cunha, S.S., Rodriguez, M.P., Barreto, M.L., Genser, B., & Rodrigues, L.C. 2007. Ecological Study of socio-economic indicators and prevalence of asthma in schoolchildren in urban Brazil. BMC Public Health, 7, 1-6.

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