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Air Quality and Quality of Life

Air Quality and Quality of Life. A talk with AAUW Dickinson College. Clean Air Board. The Clean Air Board of Central Pennsylvania is an inter- faith-based organization dedicated to achieving clean air to protect our health and quality of life.  We accomplish our mission by

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Air Quality and Quality of Life

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  1. Air Quality and Quality of Life A talk with AAUW Dickinson College

  2. Clean Air Board The Clean Air Board of Central Pennsylvania is an inter- faith-based organization dedicated to achieving clean air to protect our health and quality of life.  We accomplish our mission by • raising public awareness of air quality issues • advocating, promoting and coordinating policy and practices for clean air • monitoring air quality In 2011, CAB was the winner of the Trout Unlimited “Limestoner Award” for outstanding environmental conservation efforts.

  3. 100 Cumberland Co. Doctors Signed A Petition For Cleaner Air

  4. A Local Concern • Air Quality: It's often worse here than in Baltimore, D.C. and Philly - and it's making us sick

  5. Really, here in the mid-state? The Harrisburg-Carlisle-Lebanon region is • Ranked 19th dirtiest nationwide for 24-hour particle pollution • Ranked 80 for high ozone days out of 277 metropolitan areas Source: American Lung Association http://www.stateoftheair.org/2013/msas/harrisburg-carlisle-lebanon-pa.html

  6. Factors affecting air quality in Central Pennsylvania • Local industries in Cumberland County • Heavy truck traffic through our area • Concentration of trucking facilities • Wind-borne pollutants from upwind power plants • Weather conditions

  7. What is PM2.5 ? Fine particulate matter • 1000 times smaller than a typed period • 30 times smaller than human hair • Visible as haze • Easily inhaled

  8. One small particle Diesel pollution makes people sick. It contains lung irritants, more than 40 “air toxics” including carcinogens.

  9. Penetrates Our Lungs EPA: The small size of small particles allows them to be drawn deeply into the lungs. Diesel particulates are, for the most part, even smaller than 2.5 micrometers.9

  10. Small particle pollution causes a wide range of adverse health effects, including • Decreased lung function • Development of chronic bronchitis • Irregular heartbeat • Premature death in people with heart or lung disease • Bladder Cancer • Heart Disease • Nervous System Impairment • Stroke • Source: CATF

  11. Children are at Risk • Immune and Respiratory Systems are Developing • 50% More Air /lb. than Adults • Pollution Retards Lung Development & Causes Health Concerns

  12. Bad Air Day EPA/DEP declare Air Quality Action Days when pollution levels are expected to reach: • PM2.5 fine particulate > 35 micrograms/cubic meter • Ozone 75 > micrograms/cubic meter

  13. What has CAB done? • School bus anti-idling campaign • Asked legislators to enact state-wide anti-idling law (Legislation passed and law went into effect February 6, 2009) • Purchased portable air quality monitor • Clean Air Partnership continuous, real-time PM2.5 monitor at Carlisle Sentinel

  14. AQI color code Who is affected? What is the significance? What action should people take? Green – Air quality is good Enjoy activities Yellow People who are unusually sensitive to air pollution Air quality is a concern for people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution People unusually sensitive to air pollution: Plan strenuous activities when air quality is better Orange People with heart or lung disease (including asthma), older adults, and children Air quality is unhealthy for people in sensitive groups Sensitive groups: Cut back or reschedule strenuous activities Red Everyone, especially people with heart or lung disease (including asthma), older adults, and children Air quality is unhealthy for everyone Everyone: Cut back or reschedule strenuous activities Sensitive groups: Avoid strenuous activities Purple Everyone, especially people with heart or lung disease (including asthma), older adults, and children Air quality is very unhealthy for everyone Everyone: Significantly cut back on physical activities Sensitive groups: Avoid all physical activities Air Quality Index – National Standard Report System for All Pollutants

  15. CAB supports the EPA School Flag Program

  16. Grace B. Luhrs University Elementary School students study air quality • Fifth-graders at Grace B. Luhrs University Elementary School are studying air quality and participating in a school flag program. By displaying the yellow flag, they are letting people know the air quality is “moderate.” Pictured are, from left, Zeke Lyman, Ellie Nonemaker and Alyssa Nori. • December 19, 2013 11:30 am  •  By Debbie Chestnut, The Sentinel • (0)Comments • SHIPPENSBURG — Fifth-graders at Grace B. Luhrs University Elementary School are studying the quality of the air they breathe and sharing the information through color-coordinated flags on the flagpole outside their school.

  17. Adding a DPF

  18. Solutions: stop idling engines, and add Filters for running engines

  19. “AIRESTOTLE”

  20. Questions and Comments? www.cleanairboard.wordpress.com Email: cleanairboard@gmail.com

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