|
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 October is EPA
Criteria Pollutants.
Ozone season is
over for 2005 but don’t relax your concerns about air quality,
yet…..
Let’s take a look
at the other Criteria air pollutants defined by EPA and those that
exist in the greater Charlotte Region. There are six Criteria air
pollutants: Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Ozone (O3),
Particulate matter (PM), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Lead (Pb). Each
pollutant is monitored and many industries are permitted for their
discharges of these pollutants.
In
this issue:
Changes over time
The table below examines changes in national estimates of emissions
for the major air pollutants or, where appropriate, precursor
pollutants that form them. The table includes emissions data for
1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2004. As indicated in
the table, the 2004 emissions data are preliminary. Note that EPA
would normally release nationwide emissions estimates as part of the
Annual Report on National Air Quality and Emissions Trends. In 2004,
EPA issued a special version for ozone air quality trends in May and
for particle pollution trends in December. EPA expects to issue an
updated assessment of ozone through 2004 this spring (2005).
|
National Air Pollutant Emissions Estimates
(fires and dust excluded)
For Major Pollutants
|
|
Millions of Tons Per Year |
|
|
1970 |
1975 |
1980 |
19851 |
1990 |
1995 |
20001 |
20042 |
|
|
|
|
Carbon Monoxide
(CO) |
197.3 |
184.0 |
177.8 |
169.6 |
143.6 |
120.0 |
102.4 |
87.2 |
|
Nitrogen Oxides
(NOx)3 |
26.9 |
26.4 |
27.1 |
25.8 |
25.2 |
24.7 |
22.3 |
18.8 |
|
Particulate Matter
(PM)4
PM10
PM2.55 |
12.21
NA
|
7.0
NA
|
6.2
NA
|
3.6
NA
|
3.2
2.3
|
3.1
2.2
|
2.3
1.8
|
2.5
1.9
|
|
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) |
31.2 |
28.0 |
25.9 |
23.3 |
23.1 |
18.6 |
16.3 |
15.2 |
|
Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOC) |
33.7 |
30.2 |
30.1 |
26.9 |
23.1 |
21.6 |
16.9 |
15.0 |
|
Lead6 |
0.221 |
0.16 |
0.074 |
0.022 |
0.005 |
0.004 |
0.003 |
0.003 |
|
|
|
|
Totals7 |
301.5 |
275.8 |
267.2 |
249.2 |
218.2 |
188.0 |
160.2 |
138.7 |
|
Notes:
- In 1985 and 1996 EPA refined
its methods for estimating emissions. Between 1970
and 1975, EPA revised its methods for estimating
particulate matter emissions.
- The estimates for 2004 are
preliminary.
- NOx estimates prior to 1990
include emissions from fires. Fires would represent
a small percentage of the NOx emissions.
- PM estimates do not include
condensable PM, or the majority of PM2.5 that is
formed in the atmosphere from 'precursor' gases such
as SO2 and NOx.
- EPA has not estimated PM2.5
emissions prior to 1990.
- The 1999 estimate for lead is
used to represent 2000 and 2003 because lead
estimates do not exist for these years.
- PM2.5 emissions are not added
when calculating the total because they are included
in the PM10 estimate.
|
As you can see some of the criteria pollutants
are declining; however, the 2004 data is only an estimate at this
point. Below is a list of each of the 6 Criteria Pollutants with a
more detailed description but you may be asking “why should I
care?” As a small business owner or as a resident in the greater
Charlotte area you and/or your employees enjoy a high quality of
life, based in large part, on our healthy and green environment.
You may be asking “what can I do?” to make sure our air quality
remains good. Visit
http://epa.gov/air/actions/ for ways you can take action and be
involved.
The existing National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) for each of the 6 Criteria air pollutants can be
found at
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/. A table showing the air quality
standards is available at
http://epa.gov/air/criteria.html.
Return to
top of page
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
Nitrogen Oxides are a generic term for
compounds containing both nitrogen and oxygen that can impact
formation of ground level ozone, contribute to global warming and
the formation of acid rain.
http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/nox/
Return to
top of page
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Sulfur Dioxide is formed when sulfur containing
fuels are burned. Most fossil fuels contain sulfur compounds. SO2
easily dissolves in water and can form acid compounds contributing
to acid rain and lowering the pH in lakes and reservoirs. SO2 also
contributes to respiratory illness in susceptible people, primarily
children and the elderly.
Levels of SO2 have decreased over the past 20
years as efforts have been made to reduce the formation of these
compounds. The main source of reductions is in the power plant
industry where sulfur scrubbing equipment has been added to the
exhausts from the facilities.
http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/so2/index.html
Return to
top of page
Ozone (O3)
Ozone is formed when Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) come together in the presence of
sunlight. Ozone damages plants and trees and can cause lung damage
at high concentrations. It can cause inflammation of the lungs and
airways causing breathing to be difficult. Even at low levels,
ozone can cause problems in asthmatic people and can trigger
pneumonia and other respiratory infections. Ozone damages plants by
preventing the proper processing and storage of food making them
more susceptible to adverse weather and insects.
http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/ozone/index.html
Return to
top of page
Particulate Matter (PM)
Particulate Matter refers to the small
particles found in air including things such as dust, dirt, soot,
smoke, and liquid droplets. Some particles are released directly
into the air and others are formed through a series of chemical
reactions. The level of particulate matter in the air in recent
years has decreased significantly since monitoring began in 1988.
In 2003, the historically lowest level was reached for particles
2.5microns in diameter and was the second lowest level recorded for
particles 10 microns in diameter. Particulates cause problems for
susceptible individuals, particularly those with heart and lung
diseases, and can also cause chemical imbalances in nature when the
particles settle on soils and water bodies.
http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/pm/index.html
Return to
top of page
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Carbon Monoxide (CO) forms when carbon
containing fuels such as gasoline and natural gas don’t burn
completely. Other sources of CO include wood burning
stoves/fireplaces, industrial processes, forest fires and kerosene
heaters. Motor vehicles, both on road and off-road contribute
approximately 78% of the CO emissions. CO is a colorless, odorless,
poisonous gas that can affect anyone at high levels in the
atmosphere. People with heart disease are particularly
susceptible. Control measures on vehicles have been implemented to
reduce emissions, but the ever increasing number of vehicles on the
road and number of miles driven has almost overcome the reductions
on individual vehicles.
http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/co/index.html
Return to
top of page
Lead (Pb)
Lead emissions historically have come from
motor vehicles, but due to the phase out of leaded gasoline, the
emissions were significantly reduced. The highest levels of lead
are now found around lead smelters. Other major contributors to
lead emissions include waste incinerators, utilities, and lead-acid
battery manufacturers. Infants and children are most affected by
lead exposure. Deposits of lead on soil and water can also harm
animals and fish. Lead accumulates in the blood, bones, muscles,
and fat and can damage the kidneys, liver, brain, nerves and other
organs.
Since the reduction of lead in gasoline began
in 1975, concentrations of lead in the air from the transportation
sector have decreased approximately 95%. Levels of lead emitted
from industries continue to decline and lead monitoring now focuses
primarily on the areas around remaining industrial sources.
http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/lead/index.html
Return to
top of page
What you can do
The EPA’s Air and Radiation website
http://epa.gov/air/actions/ has some great pages on the
different things you can do at home (http://epa.gov/air/actions/at_home.html),
when driving (http://epa.gov/air/actions/drive_wise.html
) and for your health (http://epa.gov/air/actions/your_health.html
).
Return to
top of page
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
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.
Return to
top of page
|