AP Environmental Science Ch. 18, part 2

Indoor Air Pollution

Ch. 18, part 2

Air Pollution in developing nations Indoor burning of wood,

coal, dung, other fuels for heating and cooking Particulate air pollution

Few know laws regarding worker safety…many workers are children

Boys working to make plastics Girls

cooking

Indoor air pollution is THE MOST SERIOUS air pollution problem for people in developing nations

Indoor Air Pollution in Developed Nations

Indoor air often dirtier than outdoor air

Usually more health problems caused by indoor air pollution

According to the EPA…

11 of the most common pollutants are higher inside than out

Pollution levels inside cars in traffic are high

Risk higher because we spend more time indoors and in vehicles

According to the EPA… Indoor Air Pollution has been

at the top of the list for cancer risk since 1990

Greatest risk: Smokers Kids under 5 Elderly Ill Pregnant People with respiratory or heart

problems Factory workers

Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

Pesticide and lead residues on shoes --> carpet

Paints/sprays that contain VOCs

Dust mites/cockroach droppings --> asthma

Molds/mildew--> allergies

Sick Building Syndrome

Symptoms: Dizziness Headaches Itchy throat/sneezing Shortness of breath Burning eyes/sore throat Flu-like symptoms 1 in 5 commercial buildings in

US a “sick” building

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adzMcfHr1q8

Top Indoor Air Pollutants 1. Tobacco smoke2. Formaldehyde - in lots of building

materials and household products3. Radioactive radon 222 gas - seeps

into houses from underground rocks4. Very small particulates

1. molds, pesticides, spores, droppings,

5. Asbestos

Formaldehyde Breathing

problems Diziness Headache Sinus/eye

irritation Nausea

All due to low level exposure

With chronic exposure - 34% more likely to get ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease - kills nerve cells that control movement)

Sources of Formaldehyde Plywood Particleboard Paneling High gloss wood in floors and cabinets Furniture Drapes Upholstery Adhesives in carpeting and wallpaper Urethane-formaldehyde foam insulation Fingernail hardener Wrinkle-free coating on permanent press

clothing

Chronic exposure causes cancer in 1/5000 people

Asbestos

Source: pipe insulation, vinyl ceiling and floor tiles

Threats: lung disease and cancer

Radon-222 Sources: the natural

decay of uranium-238 in rocks and soil that builds up in cracks in walls and home foundations

Threats: cancer (mostly in smokers)

You’re turn Choose 2 indoor air pollutants:

What is it’s name? Source? Harms? Solutions?

Air Pollution – Indoor and Outdoor

Health Effects of Air Pollution

Your respiratory system: your natural defense

Nose hair/mucus trap small particles

Sneezing/coughing helps expel things

Cilia in upper respiratory tract push pollutants into your throat

Prolonged exposure to pollutants can overwhelm your system Fine/ultrafine particles get deep

into lungs In US, 17 million people have

asthma ~14 people die from asthma attacks

every day

Clean Air Acts of 1970, 1977, 1990

Established federal air pollution regulations that are enforced by states and large cities

Congress directed EPA to establish national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for 6 pollutantsCO SPMNOx SO2

O3 Pb

Clean Air Act Basics Stationary sources (power plants, etc)

MUST have pollution prevention technology in place Mobile sources (cars, trucks, ships, etc)

Engines meet standards, some types banned, fuels meet standards

Don’t meet standards/pollute too much EPA works with person/company to get them to clean it up EPA cleans it up and fines person/company EPA can sue if needed to get compliance

Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)

Public info Requires refineries,

power plants, mines, chemical companies, factories to report their releases for 667 chemicals

Holds companies accountable

http://www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/broker?ZIPCODE=95304&VIEW=ZPCH&trilib=TRIQ1&TAB_RPT=1&_LINESPP=&sort=RELLBY&INDUSTRY=ALL&FLD=RELLBY&FLD=TSFDSP&FLD=RE_TOLBY&sort_fmt=2&TopN=&STATE=&COUNTY=&CHEMICAL=ALL+CHEMICALS&YEAR=2009&BGCOLOR=%23D0E0FF&FOREGCOLOR=black&FONT_FACE=arial&FONT_SIZE=10+pt&FONT_WIDTH=normal&FONT_STYLE=roman&FONT_WEIGHT=bold&_SERVICE=oiaa&_PROGRAM=xp_tri.sasmacr.tristart.macro

US Air Pollution Laws a model for the regulatory

approach US air quality has increased greatly1. US Citizens insisted on laws for cleaner air2. We had the money and technology to make

it happen

But… We continue to rely primarily on air

pollution clean up rather than prevention Prevention WORKS! (banned lead in

gas - lead levels drop 97%)

Fuel efficiency standards for vehicle still embarrassingly low (far behind EU, China, Japan) (less CO2, less smog, less NOx)

Little to no regulation of ships - burn dirtiest grades of fuels

Airports often exempt from air quality rules

No laws regulating CO2

Ultrafine particles not regulated

http://www.worldwatch.org/node/4499

Emission trading or cap-and-trade program

Companies buy pollution credits - if it emits less than its credits, it can save them or sell them Mixed reactions to program

Let’s companies buy their way out of improving air quality control

Cheaters? Based on self-reporting SO2 emissions down significantly

But older power plants not regulated the same way (job-killer)

NO2 will be tried in the future

“The atmosphere is the key symbol of global interdependence. If we can’t solve some of our problems in the face of threats to this global commons, then I can’t be very optimistic about the future of the world.”

-Margaret Mead