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A Short History of Air Pollution

Introduction. Air Pollution has been around a long time.Roman philosopher, Seneca, wrote of the heavy air of Rome in 61 AD.Edward I of England banned the burning of sea coal in craftsman's furnaces be prohibited because of foul smelling fumes, 1306.Elizabeth I of England banned the burning of co

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A Short History of Air Pollution

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    1. A Short History of Air Pollution William F. Hunt, Jr.

    2. Introduction Air Pollution has been around a long time. Roman philosopher, Seneca, wrote of the heavy air of Rome in 61 AD. Edward I of England banned the burning of sea coal in craftsman’s furnaces be prohibited because of foul smelling fumes, 1306. Elizabeth I of England banned the burning of coal while Parliament was in session.

    3. Air Pollution Episodes Meuse Valley (Belgium) - 1930 Donora, PA - 1948 Poza Rica (Mexico) - 1950 London - 1952 New York - 1953 to 1966 Bhopal (India) - 1984

    4. Russian Fires, Summer 2010

    5. Some Systems of the Human Body Effected Respiratory Cardiovascular Skin and eyes Other

    6. Examples of Health Effects on Respiratory System Bronchitis (acute and chronic) Pulmonary emphysema Lung cancer pneumoconiosis cough chest pain

    7. Examples of Health Effects from Air Toxics Cancer Respiratory irritation. Reproductive toxicity Developmental effects Pulmonary toxicity Liver toxicity

    8. Changes in Society and the Economy Population growth Industrialization Growth and distribution of wealth Changing social attitudes Environmental activism

    9. Local Control Initiatives 1661 - London, smoke control 1880’s - Chicago and Cincinnati, municipal regulation of smoke emissions 1940’s - Pittsburgh, public protest against smoke; changes in fuels, combustion practices 1980’s - Denver, Metropolitan Air Quality Council

    10. State Control Initiatives 1940’s - California and LA County study causes and effects of smog 1952 - Oregon: first state air pollution control agency 1980’s - growth of state air toxic programs 1990’s – Regional Approaches – NOx SIP Call

    11. Federal Research and studies Need for National perspective - pollution respects no State borders USEPA established in 1970

    12. Major Legislative Landmarks Air Pollution Control Act - 1955 Clean Air Act - 1963 Air Quality Act -1967 Clean Air Act - 1970 Amendments to CAA - 1977 Amendments to CAA - 1990

    13. Clean Air Act of 1970 USEPA Air Quality Management NAAQS SIPs NESHAP/NSPS Citizen Lawsuits

    14. Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977 Nonattainment PSD Strengthened mobile source provisions Visibility/Stratospheric Ozone

    15. Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 Major change in approach to attainment/nonattainment Overhaul of hazardous air pollutants Market based incentives Enhanced ozone monitoring - PAMS

    16. Criteria Pollutants Regulated under NAAQS Ubiquitous Health-based standards Standards apply to all States equally SIPs

    17. Criteria Pollutants Particulate Matter Lead Sulfur Dioxide Carbon Monoxide Nitrogen Dioxide Ozone (ground level)

    18. Hazardous Air Pollutants Any of 189 chemicals and compound groups listed in CAAA of 1990 as hazardous air pollutants List can be revised as new substances are found

    19. Some Hazardous Air Pollutants Asbestos Benzene Carbon Tetrachloride Chlordane Chloroform Formaldehyde Heptachlor Hydrochloric Acid Mercury Methanol Phenol Toluene

    20. Environmental Effects of Air Pollution Ecosystem effects Property damage Quality-of-life effects Global climate change

    21. Ecosystem Effects Acidification of lakes and stream Wildlife Aquatic life Population of endangered species Vegetation Damage (forests, crops, ornamental plants) Other natural resource damage

    22. Property Damage Acid rain: damaged buildings, ornamental plants, etc. Ozone: causes cracking of rubber, nylon, polymer plastics, etc. Particulate matter: causes soiling Sulfur dioxide: causes deterioration of metal and stone

    23. Quality-of-Life Effects Reduced visibility - acid rain and smog Reduced enjoyment of outdoors Added work - cleaning of soiled property Detrimental economic effects - damaged cash crops

    24. Visibility

    25. Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments Network (IMPROVE)

    26. Visibility Trends

    27. Global Climate Change

    28. Global Temperature Changes, 1880-2000 Global mean surface temperatures have increased 0.5-1.0°F since the late 19th century. The 20th century's 10 warmest years all occurred in the last 15 years of the century.

    30. UN Reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

    31. Temperature Reconstruction Historical Records Tree Rings (yr/season) Lake Sediments (yr) Corals (yr) Ice Cores (yr) Pollen (20 yrs) Others (100-500 yrs)

    32. UN Reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

    33. 2001 UN Report from the IPCC (Wegman Review for U.S. House Committee on Energy & Commerce) Mann et al. misused statistical methods. Problem with Peer Review Process. Researchers not interacting with statistical community. Authors of policy-related science assessments should not assess their own work. Should involve interdisciplinary teams.

    36. Air Emissions Trends - Continued Progress Through 2009 http://epa.gov/airtrends/aqtrends.html#comparison

    37. Modeling Uncertainty

    38. Modeling Uncertainty - Fay - 8-18-08

    39. Modeling Uncertainty - GUSTAV – 8/26/08

    40. Modeling Uncertainty – Irene – 8-25-11

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