A Short History of Air Pollution

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A Short History of Air Pollution

• William F. Hunt, Jr.

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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 craftsmans furnaces be prohibited
  because of foul smelling fumes, 1306.
• Elizabeth I of England banned the burning of coal
  while Parliament was in session.

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Air Pollution Episodes

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

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Some Systems of the Human Body Effected

• Respiratory
• Cardiovascular
• Skin and eyes
• Other

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Examples of Health Effects on Respiratory System

• Bronchitis (acute and chronic)
• Pulmonary emphysema
• Lung cancer
• pneumoconiosis
• cough
• chest pain

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Examples of Health Effects from Air Toxics

• Cancer
• Respiratory irritation.
• Reproductive toxicity
• Developmental effects
• Pulmonary toxicity
• Liver toxicity

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Changes in Society and the Economy

• Population growth
• Industrialization
• Growth and distribution of wealth
• Changing social attitudes
• Environmental activism

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Local Control Initiatives

• 1661 - London, smoke control
• 1880s - Chicago and Cincinnati, municipal
  regulation of smoke emissions
• 1940s - Pittsburgh, public protest against
  smoke changes in fuels, combustion practices
• 1980s - Denver, Metropolitan Air Quality Council

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State Control Initiatives

• 1940s - California and LA County study causes
  and effects of smog
• 1952 - Oregon first state air pollution control
  agency
• 1980s - growth of state air toxic programs
• 1990s Regional Approaches NOx SIP Call

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Federal

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

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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

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Clean Air Act of 1970

• USEPA
• Air Quality Management
• NAAQS
• SIPs
• NESHAP/NSPS
• Citizen Lawsuits

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Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977

• Nonattainment
• PSD
• Strengthened mobile source provisions
• Visibility/Stratospheric Ozone

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Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990

• Major change in approach to attainment/nonattainme
  nt
• Overhaul of hazardous air pollutants
• Market based incentives
• Enhanced ozone monitoring - PAMS

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Criteria Pollutants

• Regulated under NAAQS
• Ubiquitous
• Health-based standards
• Standards apply to all States equally
• SIPs

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Criteria Pollutants

• Particulate Matter
• Lead
• Sulfur Dioxide
• Carbon Monoxide
• Nitrogen Dioxide
• Ozone (ground level)

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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

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Some Hazardous Air Pollutants

• Asbestos
• Benzene
• Carbon Tetrachloride
• Chlordane
• Chloroform
• Formaldehyde

• Heptachlor
• Hydrochloric Acid
• Mercury
• Methanol
• Phenol
• Toluene

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Environmental Effects of Air Pollution

• Ecosystem effects
• Property damage
• Quality-of-life effects
• Global climate change

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Ecosystem Effects

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

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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

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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

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Visibility
Yosemite National Park visual range in the top
photo is 111 km visual range in the bottom photo
gt 208 km.
Shenandoah National Park visual range in the
top photo is 25 km visual range in the bottom
photo is 180 km.
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Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual
Environments Network (IMPROVE)
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Visibility Trends
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Global Climate Change
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Global Temperature Changes, 1880-2000

• Global mean surface temperatures have increased
  0.5-1.0F since the late 19th century. The 20th
  century's 10 warmest years all occurred in the
  last 15 years of the century.

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UN Reports from theIntergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Medieval_Warm_Period
1990 Report
Little Ice Age
Medieval Warm Period
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Temperature Reconstruction
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Medieval_Warm_Period

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

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UN Reports from theIntergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change
2001 Report
1990 Report
Little Ice Age
Medieval Warm Period
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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.

(Published by Mann, Bradley Hughes in Nature,
1998 Geophysical Research Letters in 1999)
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Air Emissions Trends - Continued Progress Through
2005http//www.epa.gov/airtrends/2006/econ-emissi
ons.html
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Modeling Uncertainty
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Modeling Uncertainty - Fay - 8-18-08
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Modeling Uncertainty - GUSTAV 8/26/08