In
partnership with Mecklenburg County LUESA Air Quality and Solid
Waste Divisions, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Mecklenburg
Utilities
Sponsored by the
Environmental Assistance Office (EAO) for Small Business at UNC
Charlotte, The Environmental Corner
is designed to serve as an environmental management and pollution
prevention resource.
According to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, air pollution comes from many different sources:
factories, power plants, dry cleaners, trucks, buses, and
cars. It can threaten
the health of humans, animals, plants and crops, lakes and trees.
Air pollutants can also harm the
stratosphere ozone layer and cause deterioration of buildings and
statues by acid rain.
Although national air quality has improved over the last 20 years,
many challenges remain in protecting public health and the
environment. The EPA's goal
is to have clean air to breathe for this generation and those to
follow.
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You could go days without food and hours without water,
but you wouldn’t last too long without air.
On average,
according to the EPA, each of us breathes over 3,000 gallons
of air each day. You
must have air to live. However,
did you know that breathing polluted air can make you sick?
In Donora, Pennsylvania in 1948, a
thick cloud of air pollution killed 20 people and almost
half the town’s population.
Similarly, London’s “Killer Fog” in 1952 killed 3,000
people and prompted the government to begin passing federal
and state laws to reduce air pollution.
The original
Clean Air Act was passed in 1963 to
establish
funding for the study and cleanup of air pollution.
It wasn’t until 1970 that Congress created the EPA
and passed a stronger Clean Air Act.
Since then, the EPA and Congress have revised the act
and have broadened its authority to implement and enforce
regulations reducing air pollutant emissions.
The key elements the Clean Air Act
focuses on are:
-
Reducing outdoor, or ambient,
concentrations of air pollutants that cause smog, haze,
acid rain and other problems.
-
Reducing emissions of
toxic air pollutants that are
known to, or are suspected of, causing cancer or other
serious health effects.
-
Phasing out production and use of chemicals that destroy
stratospheric ozone.
READ MORE ABOUT THE CLEAN AIR ACT HERE:
http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/peg/understand.html
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LUESA:KEEPING CHARLOTTE'S AIR CLEAN
Our region is fortunate
to have a local air authority.
LUESA (Land Use & Environmental Services Agency)
is an umbrella organization that provides many key services that
contribute to an exceptional quality of life for Mecklenburg County
residents. LUESA’s
services range from enforcing building and zoning codes to managing
water and air resources for future generations.
Their vision, as well as their goal, is to enhance the
quality of life through environmental stewardship and economic
vitality.
As far as
our air is concerned, Mecklenburg County Air Quality is a "certified
local air pollution program" acting as the State throughout
Mecklenburg County, including incorporated areas.
With a mission to lead and assist Mecklenburg County towards
meeting and maintaining compliance with the health based National
Ambient Air Quality Standards, LUESA has compiled air quality data,
permits and regulations, and education and outreach programs.
Mecklenburg County Air Quality is a "certified local air pollution
program" acting as the State throughout Mecklenburg County,
including incorporated areas.
LUESA’s mission to lead and assist Mecklenburg County towards
meeting and maintaining compliance with the health based National
Ambient Air Quality Standards.
LUESA complies air quality data, permits and regulations, and
provides education and outreach programs.
READ MORE ABOUT WHAT LUESA DOES FOR YOU HERE:
http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/LUESA/Home.htm
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The EPA closely monitors six major pollutants to
protect health in urban areas:
ozone,
carbon monoxide,
nitrogen dioxide,
particulate matter,
sulfur dioxide and
lead.
OZONE
Known as a “summertime air pollutant,” ozone is a
gas composed of three oxygen atoms.
It is also called ground-level ozone because it is generally
not emitted directly into the air but is produced by a chemical
reaction between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic
compounds (VOCs). Motor
vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, gasoline vapors, and chemical
solvents emit NOx and VOC to form ozone.
Sunlight and hot weather cause ground-level ozone to form in
harmful concentrations in the air and is also the primary compound
of smog.
On March 12, 2008, the EPA reviewed the air
quality criteria for ozone and the national ambient air quality
standards and revised it to improve and provide public health
protection and the protection of sensitive trees and plants.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS NEW POLICY:
http://www.epa.gov/air/ozonepollution/actions.html#mar07s
CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)
When carbon in fuel is not burned properly, an
odorless and colorless gas known as carbon monoxide is formed.
As a component of motor vehicle exhaust, carbon monoxide
contributes about 56% of all CO emissions nationwide, while other
off-road engines and vehicles like boats and construction equipment
contribute about 22% of CO emissions nationwide.
The highest level of carbon monoxide most often occurs during
intense traffic congestion.
About 85 to 95% of all CO
emissions may come from motor vehicle exhaust in cities, and the
highest levels of CO in the outside air typically occur during the
colder months of the year when inversion conditions are more
frequent. Below is a
chart describing the sources of carbon monoxide.
Miscellaneous includes residential wood burning and natural
sources such as forest fires.
In their efforts to
reduce CO, the EPA partners with state and local government to
establish national ambient air quality standards, to require
national controls for motor vehicle emissions, and to require
reductions from large industrial facilities.
TO FIND OUT MORE
ABOUT CO CHIEF CONCERNS VISIT
http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/co/
FOR MORE INFO ON REDUCING CO VISIT
http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/co/effrt1.html
NITROGREN OXIDE
According to the EPA, nitrogen oxide is the
generic term for a group of highly reactive gases containing
nitrogen and oxygen in changeable amounts.
Nitrogen oxides form when fuel is
burned at high temperatures, as in a combustion process.
The primary manmade sources
of NOx are motor vehicles, electric utilities, and other industrial,
commercial, and residential sources that burn fuels, but NOx can
also be formed naturally.
One of the chief causes of concern for nitrogen oxide is that
it is one of the main ingredients involved in the formation of
ground-level ozone, which can trigger serious respiratory problems.
It also contributes to nutrient overload that deteriorates
water quality, contributes to atmospheric particles that cause
visibility impairment most noticeable in national parks, and affects
global warming.
GET MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT NOX
HERE:
http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/nox/noxfldr.pdf
Particulate matter is a complex mixture of
extremely small particles and liquid droplets found in the air.
Particulate pollution is made up
of a number of components, including acids (such as nitrates and
sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles.
Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large
or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye.
Others are so small they can only be detected using an
electron microscope.
These particles come in many sizes and shapes and can be made up of
hundreds of different chemicals. Some
particles, known as
primary particles
are emitted directly from a source, such as construction sites,
unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks, or fires.
Others form in complicated
reactions in the atmosphere from chemicals such as sulfur dioxides
and nitrogen oxides that are emitted from power plants, industries,
and automobiles. These
particles, known as
secondary particles,
make up most of the fine particle pollution in the country.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PM
AND REGULATORY ACTIONS HERE:
http://www.epa.gov/air/particlepollution/actions.html
SULFUR DIOXIDE (SO2)
Sulfur is prevalent in all raw materials, including crude oil, coal,
and ore that contains common metals like aluminum, copper, zinc,
lead, and iron. SO2
dissolves in water vapor to form acid and interacts with other gases
and particles in the air to form sulfates and other products that
can be harmful to people and their environment.
According to the graph above, over 65% of SO2
released into the air (or more than 13 million tons per year) comes
from electric utilities, especially those that burn coal.
Other sources of SO2
are industrial facilities that derive their products from raw
materials like metallic ore, coal, and crude oil, or that burn coal
or oil to produce process heat.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SO2
CHIEF CONCERNS VISIT
http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/so2/chf1.html
FOR MORE INFO ON REDUCING
SO2 VISIT
http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/so2/effrt1.html
LEAD (Pb)
Lead is metal found naturally in the environment
as well as in manufactured products, and in the past, its major
source was motor vehicles.
Since then the EPA has set standards for lead removal from
gasoline, which has decreased 95%.
Today, the highest levels of lead in air are usually found
near lead smelters.
LEARN
MORE ABOUT LEAD STANDARDS HERE
http://www.epa.gov/air/lead/
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In an immediate
NCDENR-DAQ press release on April 3,
state and
local environmental agencies will renew their daily air quality
forecasts two weeks earlier than usual this year based on new, more
stringent federal ozone and particle pollution standards that could
result in substantially more air quality alerts across North
Carolina.
Forecasts
will be based on two new air quality standards adopted by the EPA:
-
The
8-hour ozone standard of 0.075 parts per million (ppm) that the
EPA adopted in March 2008, replacing the old standard of 0.08
ppm that had been in effect since 1997.
-
The 24-hour fine
particle standard of 35 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) that
the EPA adopted in September 2006, replacing the old standard of
65µg/m³.
Ozone is
North Carolina's most widespread air quality problem, particularly
during the warmer months. High
ozone levels generally occur on hot, sunny days with little wind,
when pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons react in
the air. High levels of fine
particles are more of a problem in the western Piedmont region but
can occur throughout the year, particularly during episodes of
stagnant air and wildfires.
North Carolina has taken a number of steps to reduce levels of
ozone, fine particles and other air pollutants in recent years.
The General Assembly has
enacted the Clean Smokestacks Act, which requires power plants to
reduce their ozone, particle, and haze-forming emissions by 75%.
Other legislation has
required cleaner gasoline and expanded the auto emissions-testing
program from nine to 48 counties.
TO READ THE COMPLETE NCDENR PRESS RELEASE CLICK
HERE:
http://www.ncair.org/news/pr/2008/ozone_frcst_2008_04032008.shtml
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POLLUTANT
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HEALTH & ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES
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Ozone
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·
airway
irritation, coughing, and pain when inhaling
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wheezing and breathing difficulties while outdoors or
exercising
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aggravation of asthma and other respiratory illnesses
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permanent lung damage
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Carbon Monoxide
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reducing oxygen delivery to the body’s organ
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clogged
arteries that may cause chest pain
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high
level intakes can cause vision problems and difficulty
performing complex tasks
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Nitrogen Oxide
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·
visibility impairment
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lung
tissue damage and reduction in lung function
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acid
rain damages that deteriorates buildings, cars and pollutes
lakes and streams
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Particulate Matter
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·
irritation of airways
·
aggravated asthma
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development of chronic bronchitis
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Sulfur Dioxide
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aggravate existing heart disease
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difficulty breathing
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premature death
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Lead
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neurological effects in children
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cardiovascular effects in adults
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decreased growth and reproduction in plants and animals
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Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, include a
variety of chemicals that are emitted as gases from certain solids
and liquids. VOCs are
emitted through a wide array of products including:
·
paints and lacquers
·
cleaning supplies
·
building materials and furnishings
·
office equipment (copiers, printers)
·
photographic solutions
·
paint strippers
·
pesticides
HEALTH EFFECTS OF VOCs
The ability of organic
chemicals to cause health effects differs greatly on the exposure
and the length of time exposed.
The immediate symptoms some people have experienced soon
after exposure were eye and
respiratory tract irritation,
headaches,
dizziness, and
visual disorders.
Key symptoms associated with the exposure of VOCs include
nose and throat discomfort,
headache, and allergic skin reaction.
REDUCING EXPOSURE OF
VOCs
When using products that emit VOCs, increase
ventilation and pay very close attention to all label precautions.
In addition to these suggestions, EPA has provided other
helpful steps to reduce VOC exposure:
ü
Throw away partially full containers of old or unneeded chemicals
safely
ü
Keep exposure to emissions from products containing methylene
chloride to a minimum
ü
Buy limited quantities of products such as paints, kerosene, and
space heaters if you only use them occasionally
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON VOCs VISIT
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html
NC WATER QUALITY MONITORING FORUM
Wednesday, May 14th 8am-5pm
and Thursday, May 15th 8am-1pm
UNC Charlotte College of Health and Human Services
The goals are to capture your interest, provide a
wealth of knowledge regarding water quality and ecological
monitoring, and engage your expertise in contributing to the
development of future water quality monitoring efforts in North
Carolina. The Forum is designed to expand ideas through
presentations and engaging everyone in discussions. We hope you will
enjoy sharing, discussing, listening, learning, and helping to
develop successful monitoring program direction through the insight
of the experienced. There are 9 PDH offered for attendance and
participation.
For more
information on the NCForWater 2008, go to the website at:
http://www.eao.uncc.edu/ncforwater
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Environmental Assistance Office (EAO) for Small
Business
The Environmental Assistance Office for Small Business provides
non-regulatory, client-confidential pollution prevention assistance
to small businesses in the greater Charlotte region. The EAO is
designed to assist regional businesses in their efforts to
voluntarily prevent pollution. The EAO staff can provide timely
assistance for pollution prevention planning, including information
about industry-specific case studies, waste-specific case studies,
and new technologies. The office provides links of resources to
needs between the region's business community, government,
municipality, and university. If there is a particular issue or
question you would like to see in an upcoming edition, please send
an e-mail to
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