Air Quality And Carbon EmissionsAir Quality And Carbon Emissions

Jonas Nguh, Ph.D StudentJonas Nguh, Ph.D Student Walden University Walden University

PH 8165PH 8165

Instructor: Dr Shana MorrellInstructor: Dr Shana Morrell Spring, 2009Spring, 2009

Expected Learning OutcomesExpected Learning Outcomes

Viewers will learn:

Sources of outdoor and indoor air pollution

History of air quality incidentsNational air quality regulation measuresPersonal measures to impact air pollution

IntroductionIntroduction

Air pollution is defined as the “presence in the air of substances that interfere with health, comfort and safety” (Moeller, 2005).

Industrialization compounded the problem with motor

vehicles being a significant contributor to air pollution.

Reference:Reference:

Moeller D.W, 2005. Environmental Health. Harvard University Press

Air QualityAir Quality

Air Quality

Industrial chemicals

Ozone

Particulates

CO

Radon

Reference Pope C.A, Ezzati M, Dockery D.W, 2009. Fine-Particulate Air Pollution andLife. Expectancy in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine. 360: 376-386.

Air Quality ContinuedAir Quality Continued

ConsequencesConsequences Asthma Asthma Other respiratory effectsOther respiratory effects Increased HospitalizationsIncreased Hospitalizations Increased Lung cancer ratesIncreased Lung cancer rates Increased MortalityIncreased Mortality

Who is most susceptible?Who is most susceptible? Infants and childrenInfants and children ElderlyElderly Those who are illThose who are ill

Reference:Reference:

Maryland Department of the Environment, 2009. Available at http://www.mde.state.md.us/. Retrieved on April 4, 2009.

StatisticsStatistics

Historical Data on Air Pollution 1930: Death of 60 people in Belgium 1948: Death of 20 people in Pennsylvania 1952: Death of 4,000 people in London 1970: Clean Air Act passed

Reference:Stone R, 2002. “Air Pollution: Counting the Cost of London’s Killer Smog”.Science 298, no.

5599, 2106- 2107 . Environmental Protection Agency, 2009. Clean Air Act. Available at

www.epa.gov.air/caa/index.html. Retrieved on April 4, Reference:

The Clean Air ActThe Clean Air Act

Passed by Congress in 1970. Amended in 1990 Addresses Air pollution from all sources. Established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 2009) Sets standards and regulate compliance Role of EPA: Monitoring and enforcement Funding and scientific research Assistance to States Reference:Environmental Protection Agency, 2009. Clean Air Act. Available at www.epa.gov.air/caa/index.html. Retrieved on April 4, 2009

Sources of Ambient Air PollutionSources of Ambient Air Pollution

Forest fires Wood smoke Dust and other particulates Vehicle emissions Power plants Heating Ozone Carbon emissions Sulfur emissions

Reference: Moeller D.W, 2005. Environmental Health. Harvard University Press

Carbon EmissionsCarbon Emissions

Greatest source of carbon emission is motor vehicles Produce 56% of emissions nationwide (EPA, 2000). Health effects: heart disease, preterm birth, birth defects (EPA, 2000). Accounts fro 500 accidental deaths, 15, emergency dept visits (CDC, 2007).

References: Centers for Disease Control, 2007. Carbon Monoxide Related Deaths. United States, 1999- 2004. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report; 56 (50) 1309-12

Environmental Protection Agency, 2000. Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards. How Carbon Monoxide Affect the Way we Live and Breath.

Arguments For Clean AirArguments For Clean Air

Recent published research study ( Pope, Ezzati and Dockery, 2009) showed a 3 year increase in life expectancy due to reduction in air pollution. Another study by EPA(2009) found that the economic value ofavoiding these health effects was $24 billion over a period of 24years,  compared to a cost of $6 billion to implement theprogram. 

Reference:Environmental Protection Agency, 2009. Clean Air Act. Available at

www.epa.gov.air/caa/index.html. Retrieved on April 4, 2009.Pope C.A, Ezzati M, Dockery D.W, 2009. Fine-Particulate Air Pollution and Life Expectancy in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine. 360: 376-386.

Air Quality Regulatory MeasuresAir Quality Regulatory Measures

Direct Regulation Subsidies and Incentives Tax Credits Pollution Taxation Process Improvement

Reference: Environmental Protection Agency, 2009. Clean AirAct. Available at ww.epa.gov.air/caa/index.html.Retrieved

on April 4, 2009.

Indoor Air Quality Indoor Air Quality

Now getting more attention

Sources of Indoor air pollution: 1) Natural: microorganisms, natural gas. 2) Man-made: building and construction material, wood burning

fireplaces, candles, air fresheners, furnishings like carpet tobacco.

Reference: Moeller D.W, 2005. Environmental Health. Harvard University Press

Indoor Air Quality ContinuedIndoor Air Quality Continued

Addressing this involves looking at multiple contributory factors Basic hygiene and sanitation is a very big factor (Moeller, 2005)

Reference:Moeller D.W, 2005. Environmental Health. Harvard University Press

•

Measures to Reduce Carbon Emissions at the Individual LevelMeasures to Reduce Carbon Emissions at the Individual Level

Walk or use public transport Carpooling Vehicle Servicing Carbon efficient vehicles Green products Recycling

Reference:

Clean Air Agenda, 2009. Canadian Environmental Agency

Available at http://www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair-airpur/Home-WS8C3F7D55-1_En.htm. Retrieved on April 11, 2009

Measures to Improve Air Quality at National LevelMeasures to Improve Air Quality at National Level

Kyoto Protocol (Moeller, 2005). Goal to reduce emission by 5% Reduction of emission levels Revision of Standards Improvement of process Enforcement of law

Reference:Environmental Protection Agency, 2000. Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards. How Carbon Monoxide Affect the Way we Live and Breath.

Moeller D.W, 2005. Environmental Health. Harvard University Press

ConclusionConclusion

Air quality has significant implication on people, animals agriculture.

Much still remains to be done.

Education provides knowledge to implement change and take responsibility.

Outcome of this PresentationOutcome of this Presentation

Increase audience knowledge on topic

Use of this knowledge to motive actions to reduce air pollution

Suggested Further ReadingsSuggested Further Readings

Websites

World Health Organization: Air Pollutionhttp://www.who.int/topics/air_pollution/en/index.html

Environmental Protection Agency: Air and Air Subtopicshttp://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/air.html

Environmental Protection Agency:; Indoor Air Qualityhttp://www.epa.gov/iaq/

Suggested Further Readings ContinuedSuggested Further Readings Continued

ArticlesBornehag, C., Sundell, J., Weschler, C., Sigsgaard, T., Lundgren, B., Hasselgren, M., et al. (2004). The association between asthma and allergic symptoms in children and phthalates in house dust: A nested case-control study. Environmental Health Perspectives, 112(14), 1393-1397.

Jacob, B., Ritz, B., Gehring, U., Koch, A., Bischof, W., Wichmann, H., et al. (2002) Indoor exposure to molds and allergic sensitization. Environmental Health Perspectives, 110(7), 647-653.

O'Neill, M., Jerrett, M., Kawachi, I., Levy, J., Cohen, A., Gouveia, N., et al.(2003). Health, wealth, and air pollution: Advancing theory and methods. Environmental Health Perspectives, 111(16), 1861-1871.

ReferencesReferences

Clean Air Agenda, 2009. Canadian Environmental AgencyAvailable at http://www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair-airpur/Home-WS8C3F7D55-1_En.htm .

Retrieved on April 11, 2009

Centers for Disease Control, 2007.Carbon Monoxide Related Deaths. United States, 1999- 2004. Morbidity and

Mortality Weekly Report; 56 (50) 1309-12

Environmental Protection Agency, 2000. Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards. How Carbon Monoxide Affect the Way we Live and Breath.

Environmental Protection Agency, 2009. Clean Air Act. Available at www.epa.gov.air/caa/index.html . Retrieved on April 4, 2009.

Helfand W.H, 2001. “Donora, Pennsylvania: An Environmental Disaster of the 20th Century”. American Journal of Public Health 91, no.4 553

ReferencesReferences

Maryland Department of the Environment, 2009. Available at http://www.mde.state.md.us/. Retrieved on April 4, 2009.

Moeller D.W, 2005. Environmental Health. Harvard University Press

Pope C.A, Ezzati M, Dockery D.W, 2009. Fine-Particulate Air Pollution and Life Expectancy in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine. 360: 376-386.

Stone R, 2002. “Air Pollution: Counting the Cost of London’s Killer Smog”.Science 298, no. 5599, 2106- 2107

World Health Organization, 1999. International Program on ChemicalSafety. Environmental Health Criteria 213 Carbon Monoxide.