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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. The theme for the month of March is
particulate matter. As March comes in like a lion roaring with
wind, you may see particulates picked up and entrapped in the air.
Larger particles fall out quickly while smaller particles can stay
in the air for days or months.
On
March 10, 2005,
EPA issued the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), a rule that will
help to reduce air pollution that moves across state boundaries and
achieve the largest reduction in air pollution in more than a
decade. Information can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/cair/
In this issue:
What is Particulate Matter (PM)?
Particulates
and Regulatory Concerns
Particulates and Health Problems
PM Monitoring
Pollution Prevention You Can Do!
EAO Services
What
is Particulate Matter (PM)?
Particulate matter (PM)
is one of the six most common air pollutants and is found as
tiny solid or liquid particles (e.g.
dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and aerosol droplets) of many shapes
and sizes. PM results from natural and manmade sources. Volcanic
activity and wildfires are significant natural sources of PM.
Humans have contributed to PM pollution since the use of fire as a
tool began.
Due to
their very small size and mass, particulates may be suspended in the
air for long periods. Soot, smoke, and other large or dark
particles can be seen by the naked eye, while others are so small
that individually they are visible only with an electron microscope.
Most PM is
directly emitted into the air. They come from a variety of sources
such as automobiles, factory exhausts, construction sites, tilled
fields, unpaved roads, stone crushing, and burning of non-gaseous
fuels. Other PM is the result of chemical reactions in the
atmosphere. Smog and the haze that obscures our views consist
primarily of aerosol PM.
Particle Pollution Report at
http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/pm.html provides information and
comparison trend graphs for the United States. The section
“Understanding Particle Pollution” provides figures and graphs for
particle sizing (differences between PM10, PM 2.5,
and human hair), seasonal impacts, component makeup (e.g. carbon,
sulfur and nitrogen oxides, natural crystal), and details of local
and regional contributions. Information for Charlotte is included in
the evaluation for regional and local contribution factors.
http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/pmreport03/pmunderstand_2405.pdf
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Particulates and Regulatory Concerns
Particulate pollution was first regulated with passage of the Clean
Air Act Amendments of 1970. The Act and its subsequent revisions
include National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) which define
maximum allowable levels of several air pollutants including PM.
The intent of the standards is to protect the public’s health and to
protect against adverse effects on plants and animals. Emissions of
PM are regulated to ensure that the NAAQS are not exceeded. These
regulations affect small and large businesses alike, requiring
permits and compliance with emission limits specific to equipment
and industry.
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Particulates and Health Problems
Particulate pollution is defined in two size-defined
classifications: PM2.5 and PM10.
PM10
denotes more coarse particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns
or less. Windblown dust and dirt are examples of the PM10.
These can normally be captured in the throat and nose and are often
removed by sneezing, coughing, nose blowing or through the digestive
system. PM10 generally does not penetrate into the
lungs. They are larger and usually settle to the ground within a
few hours to a few days.
PM2.5
denotes fine particulates with a diameter of 2.5 microns or
less. Unlike larger particles, PM2.5 can remain in the
air for extended periods. These can penetrate into deep areas of
the lungs, collecting in the tiny air sacs (alveoli) where oxygen
enters the bloodstream. Breathing difficulties and sometimes
permanent lung damage can result.
Fine particulates are capable of
reducing visibility so much that beautiful views are obscured, and
road and air travel is made difficult. The
Canadian Centre for Occupational
Health & Safety highlights information on how particulates enter
the respiratory system and are deposited within the lungs.
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/how_do.html
Information about the ways PM affects the way we live and breathe
can be found at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website,
which includes information about PM sources, concerns, health and
environmental impacts, and efforts to reduce PM (http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/pm/index.html).
“Particulate Pollution and Your
Health” is available at
http://www.airnow.gov/particle/cover.html . The document
explains the health issues and gives ideas for how you can use Air
Quality Index (AQI) information to assess the potential health
impacts and change behavior to reduce exposure.
Particulate characteristics such as type, concentration, quantity,
and sizing influence the health risks. The results of breathing in
particulates may be eye, nose, and /or throat irritation, increased
risk for respiratory infections and lung cancer, and can play a role
in the development of respiratory diseases such as asthma,
bronchitis, pneumonia, and emphysema. Personal factors of age,
gender, weight, and health status can also affect the impact of
particulates on an individual’s health. The website of Aerias
Corporation in Atlanta, Georgia provides the latest news and
comprehensive information on indoor environmental quality and its
impact on human health (http://www.aerias.org).
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PM Monitoring
The
national view on particulate levels may be found at the AIRNow
Website developed by EPA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), National Parks Service (NPS), and other
agencies to provide the public with easy access to national air
quality information. A daily Air Quality Index (AQI) forecasts and
real-time AQI conditions for over 300 cities across the United
States is given for particulates at: www.airnow.gov.
Mecklenburg County Air Quality (MCAQ) in North Carolina operates
three fine particulate matter (PM2.5) monitoring sites
and four coarse particulate matter (PM10) monitoring
sites. The monitors are operated year round. The collected data is
used to evaluate PM concentrations throughout the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. The local Air Quality Index data for PM2.5
and other pollutants can be found by choosing the AQI Summary
in the left column on the website at:
http://maps.co.mecklenburg.nc.us/website/airquality/. Detailed
pollutant descriptions are also available .
On December 17, 2004, EPA acted to
finalize designations of areas that meet air quality standards
(attainment areas) and areas that do not meet air quality standards
for PM (non-attainment areas. Charlotte is currently designated as
an attainment area for PM. Additional information is found at
http://www.epa.gov/pmdesignations/.
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Pollution Prevention You Can Do!
Aerias
Corporation website at
www.aerias.org provides
ideas on reducing exposure to particulates. These include cleaning
to remove dust particles, use of doormats, use of vented fuel
burning appliances and equipment that meet emission standards,
controlling sources of chemical irritants, and keeping flues and
chimneys cleaned and inspected regularly.
The British Columbia Government website
highlights the importance of personal responsibility for reducing
fine particulates "right under our nose" — the emissions created
through lifestyle choices, such as driving our car and using wood
stoves. Prevention ideas include using transit systems, cycling, or
walking; using cars that are fuel-efficient and well-tuned to ensure
minimum emissions; instead of burning leaves, grass clippings, or
trash, start backyard compost and recycle; and respecting fire
burning laws and burning wood that is fully cured and not treated in
an efficient and correctly installed wood stove.
http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/air/particulates/fpwtaaht.html
Particulate matter reduction includes cleaning to remove dust
particles, use of doormats, use of vented fuel burning appliances
and equipment that meet emission standards, controlling sources of
chemical irritants, along with keeping flues and chimneys cleaned
and inspected regularly. Aerias Corporation website provides ideas
for reducing exposure to particulates at
http://www.aerias.org/kview.asp?DocId=140&spaceid=1&subid=5.
If the outdoor particle levels are high,
indoor levels can also be high. Filters and room air cleaners can
help to reduce particles indoors. EPA has information on
residential air cleaning devices at:
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/residair.html.
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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 assists 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
EAOforSB@email.uncc.edu.
Contact Information:
Environmental Assistance Office for Small Business:
9201 University City Blvd.
136 Kennedy Building, UNC Charlotte,
Charlotte,
NC 28233-0001
Phone number: 704-687-3968 Fax number: 704-687-3115
Email:
EAOforSB@email.uncc.edu
Services:
·
Assistance with Air Permits - Assistance for small businesses in
completing paperwork for EPA air permits.
·
Educational Materials - Educational pamphlet, brochures, flyers, and
other materials to relate facts on pollution prevention.
·
Educational Outreach - Develop educational outreach campaigns and
presentations for the public or employee training.
·
University Resources - Library information, faculty expertise,
student projects, and research at both graduate and undergraduate
levels.
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