PH 8165 Instructor: Dr Shana Morrell

1. Air Quality And Carbon EmissionsJonas Nguh, Ph.D Student Walden University PH 8165 Instructor: Dr Shana Morrell Spring, 2009

2. Expected Learning Outcomes Viewers will learn: • Sources of outdoor and indoor air pollution • History of air quality incidents • National air quality regulation measures • Personal measures to impact air pollution

3. Introduction • 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: Moeller D.W, 2005. Environmental Health. Harvard University Press

4. Air Quality • Air Quality Industrial chemicals Ozone Particulates CO Radon Reference 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.

5. Air Quality Continued Consequences • Asthma • Other respiratory effects • Increased Hospitalizations • Increased Lung cancer rates • Increased Mortality Who is most susceptible? • Infants and children • Elderly • Those who are ill Reference: Maryland Department of the Environment, 2009. Available at http://www.mde.state.md.us/. Retrieved on April 4, 2009.

6. Statistics 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:

7. The 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

8. Sources 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

9. Carbon 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.

10. Arguments 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 of avoiding these health effects was $24 billion over a period of 24 years,  compared to a cost of $6 billion to implement the program.  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.

11. Air Quality Regulatory Measures • Direct Regulation • Subsidies and Incentives • Tax Credits • Pollution Taxation • Process Improvement Reference: Environmental Protection Agency, 2009. Clean Air Act. Available at ww.epa.gov.air/caa/index.html.Retrieved on April 4, 2009.

12. 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

13. Indoor 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

14. Measures 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

15. Measures 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

16. Conclusion • Air quality has significant implication on people, animals agriculture. • Much still remains to be done. • Education provides knowledge to implement change and take responsibility.

17. Outcome of this Presentation • Increase audience knowledge on topic • Use of this knowledge to motive actions to reduce air pollution

18. Suggested Further Readings Websites World Health Organization: Air Pollutionhttp://www.who.int/topics/air_pollution/en/index.htmlEnvironmental Protection Agency: Air and Air Subtopicshttp://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/air.htmlEnvironmental Protection Agency:; Indoor Air Qualityhttp://www.epa.gov/iaq/

19. Suggested Further Readings Continued Articles Bornehag, 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.

20. References 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 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

21. References 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 Chemical Safety. Environmental Health Criteria 213 Carbon Monoxide.