Houston Air Quality

1
Houston Air Quality

• John D. Wilson
• Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention
• www.ghasp.org

2
Happy New Year!Houston (cough cough) 2003
12 Conroe
74 Aldine
150 µg/m3
32 Channelview
66 µg/m3
3
World Trade Center Plume
24 hr. Mean 25 ug/m3
4
Unhealthy Air Days 53 per Year
Warning Level
10
Very unhealthy (4)
Unhealthy (15)
Unhealthy for sensitive groups (34)
Average Days per Month
5
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
(0-1-0)
(1-1-0)
Source EPA Air Quality Index for the Houston
Region, 20002003
5
Fine Particles 2001
6
Fine Particles in Houston
Federal Standard
14
Road Dust
California Standard
12
10
8
Other / Unknown
PM2.5 (µg/m3)
6
Minor
Meat Cooking
4
Diesel
Gasoline
2
Industry
0
Galveston
La Porte
Channelview
Clinton
Aldine
Conroe
Synthesis of various data (1997-1998, 2000-2002).
Speciation from Matt Fraser, Rice University.
Total PM2.5 levels from TCEQ.
7
Freeway Impact on Fine ParticlesAdditional Fine
Particles Due to Freeway Traffic in 2020 (0.1
1.0 µg/m3)
8
Cancer RiskAdditional Risk Due to Exposure to
Air Pollution in Houston Area

• Industrial areas
• Additional risk of 500 1,000 per million
• Highest measured risk at sites near western end
  of Houston Ship Channel
• Urban / suburban areas
• Additional risk of 200 450 per million
• Inadequate monitoring, especially outside Houston
  Ship Channel

9
Cancer RiskAdditional Risk Due to Exposure to
Air Pollution in Houston Area

• Diesel Particulates 360 (120-690) per million
• Butadiene 32 (3 - 245) per million
• Aldehydes 27 (25-34) per million
• PAHs (17) per million
• Metals 15-22 per million
• Benzene 6 (4-14) per million
• Other organics 1 (1-6) per million
• Acrolein
• Acrylonitrile

10
Chronic Disease Air Pollution

• Worst pollutants (in order)
• Acrolein
• Formaldehyde
• Arsenic
• Ozone
• Diesel particulates

• Systems threatened (in order)
• Respiratory
• Skin and sense-organ
• Gastrointestinal liver
• Cardiovascular blood
• Neurotoxicity
• Developmental
• Kidney

11
Houston Air Quality

• John D. Wilson
• Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention
• www.ghasp.org

12
Which of the Following Caused the Most Death in
the U.S., in 2001?

• a) Fine Particles 64,000 (est.)
• b) Flu and pneumonia 62,000
• c) Motor Vehicles 43,800
• d) Suicides 30,600
• e) Drugs 21,700
• f) Homicides 20,000
• g) Alcohol 19,800
• h) Malaria 9
• Source CDC. National Vital Statistics Reports,
  2003 U.S.EPA, NRDC

Houston 435 deaths per year due to fine
particulates according to the Sonoma Study
13
Fine Particles Get Deep Into Your Lungs
PM2.5
PM10
14
Primary Particle Emissions
15
Secondary Particle Formation

• Industrial, power plant, and motor vehicle
  emissions
• NOX forms ozone and fine nitrate particulate
  matter
• SO2 a dangerous gas that forms especially toxic
  acidic sulfate particulate matter

16
Indoor Particle Levels

• When particle levels are high outdoors, they may
  also be high indoors
• Prevent particles from entering residence or
  vehicle
• Close windows
• Run air conditioning on recycle mode
• Reduce indoor sources of particles
• Dont smoke inside
• Reduce use of gas or wood stoves
• Dont vacuum
• Air cleaner with HEPA filter will reduce particle
  levels indoors

17
How to Reduce Risk

• Dose Concentration x Ventilation Rate x Time
• Reduce concentration schedule activities when
  pollution levels lower
• Reduce ventilation rate by taking it easier
• Reduce time spent in vigorous outdoor activities
• Pay attention to symptoms
• Follow asthma action plan