Global Action Network (GAN) on.... ========================= A I R P O L L U T I O N ========================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --> [Send the 1-line message GET GAN-RSRC AIR-POLL ACTIV-L to] [LISTSERV@UMCVMB.BITNET for a copy of this file. ] --> [Send GET ACTIV-L ARCHIVE ACTIV-L to above address for a ] [listing with brief descriptions of other files available] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - _____________________________ | CONTENTS: | | | | Background Information | | Statistics | | References | | Resources | | - Books | | - Periodicals | | - Organizations | | - AudioVisual Materials | | - Electronic Resources | ______________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 4 Air Pollution Background & Stats gan gan.air.climate 6:32 am Feb 7, 1991 ------------------------------------------------------------------ ======================================== BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR AIR POLLUTION ======================================== Vast quantities of pollutants are pouring into the atmosphere, posing health threats to humans, damaging the environment, corroding industrial infrastructure, and possibly altering the Earth's climate. Historically, the air has renewed itself through interaction with vegetation and the oceans. Today, however, this renewal process is threatened by the increasing use of fossil fuels, expanding industrial pollution, and growing use of motor vehicles. The most common and widespread pollutants currently emitted by human activities are sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbons (HC), other volatile organic compounds (VOC), particulates (tiny solid particles or liquid droplets), and lead. In addition, dozens of toxic chemicals are commonly found in the air surrounding urban areas. Many of these toxic chemicals are carcinogens (cause cancer), mutagens (damage DNA), teratogens (cause birth defects), neurotoxicants (damage the brain and nervous system) and environmental toxicants (harm wildlife and plants). Also, damage from air pollution often results not from a single pollutant but from several pollutants acting together. Primary pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide often react with moisture and with one another to form secondary pollutants such as sulfuric and nitric acid, and ozone (at ground level, a major contributor to smog). A primary producer of air pollution is the internal combustion engine. Increasing pollution from the growing use of motor vehicles plagues many nations, industrial and industrializing. Car sales in Western industrialized nations rose 71% from 1970 to 1986; the total annual mileage driven in these nations reached 2.5 trillion miles in 1985. Cars, trucks, and buses all play a prominent role in generating virtually all the major air pollutants, especially in cities. This especially holds true for the rapidly urbanizing areas of developing countries. The most alarming effect of this increased motor transit is the large-scale damage to human health and the natural environment. Researchers at the University of California estimate that the use of gasoline and diesel fuel in the United States alone may cause up to 30,000 deaths every year. The American Lung Association estimates that air pollution from motor vehicles, powerplants, and industrial fuel combustion costs the United States $40 billion annually in health care and lost productivity. Other air pollution sources often overlooked include gas stations, refinishing shops, residential furnaces, sewage treatment and solid waste plants, and such non-industrial solvent users as dry cleaners. Short-term exposure to high levels of air pollution, or long-term exposure to low levels, can cause many adverse health effects in human populations, including breathing difficulties, increased susceptibility to respiratory infections, development of chronic lung disease, exacerbation of existing heart and lung disease, fetal defects, and cancer. The people at greatest risk from air pollution are infants and children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems. Nitrogen and sulfur oxides, ozone, and other air pollutants from fossil fuels are inflicting damage in more than thirty countries. Ozone and the acids of nitrogen and sulfur are damaging forests, crops, soils, lakes, streams, coastal water, and historical buildings and monuments. Growing use of fossil fuels is spreading damage to industrial and developing countries throughout the world. In recent years, many industrial nations have controlled air pollution with some success. Europe and North America, however, are now suffering serious damage from acid deposition (See gan acidrain topic). Developing nations with large urban areas are now also suffering from air pollution. Charcoal smoke blankets cities such as Lagos and Jakarta, while vehicle-caused smog looms over Ankara and Mexico City. An estimated 60% of Calcutta's residents suffer from pollution-related respiratory diseases. With the exception of Milan, the world's most polluted cities are now in developing countries. Half the monitoring stations in the developing world report Sulfur Dioxide levels considered unsafe by the World Health Organization; worldwide, 625 million people live in areas where the air is unhealthy. Our growing understanding of the links among atmospheric processes shows us that a solution to one problem must avoid exacerbating another problem. Although SO2 emissions from power plants, for example, can be reduced by installing scrubbers, these devices reduce plant efficiency, increasing carbon dioxide emissions and the greenhouse effect. Control technologies can also create hazardous waste disposal problems. Solutions to such complex air pollution problems demand an understanding of pollutant interactions, and requires the integration of a sound energy policy with effective pollution controls. The ultimate solution to air pollution is not to control it, but to act in ways that prevent it in the first place. While the means are available to clear the air, it will be a difficult task. In the West, powerful businesses with vested interests in the status quo will strongly resist measures that cost them money. In Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and the developing world, extreme economic problems coupled with shortages of hard currency mean that money for pollution prevention and control is scarce. Now that air pollution and its damaging health and ecological effects have proliferated around the globe, crossing borders with the winds, international cooperation is critical. There is no longer such a thing as a national air pollution problem. Around the world, however, the notion that "pollution is the price of progress" has become antiquated if not deadly. Faced with ever mounting costs to human health and the environment, people on every continent are discovering that pollution prevention is a sound investment. This newfound consensus is an essential first step; the challenge now is to move beyond it to concrete action. ################################################################## ===================== S T A T I S T I C S ===================== The U.S Office of Technology Assessment estimates that the current mix of sulfates and particulates in ambient air may cause 50,000 premature deaths in the United States each year. (Brown, 1987, p. 170) In the United States, some 150 million people live in areas where the EPA has declared that the air is unfit. (French,1990, p. 5) Some 62 American cities still fail to meet federal ozone and carbon monoxide standards, and one third of them have no prospect of ever meeting them. (Renner, 1989, p. 108) More than 18,000 tons of carbon monoxide are released into California's atmosphere every day, mostly emitted by motor vehicles. (CARB, 1983, p. 3) Nationwide, billions of pounds of toxic chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and neurological disorders are released into the atmosphere yearly. Among the toxic chemicals are carcinogens (cause cancer), mutagens (damage DNA), teratogens (cause birth defects, neurotoxicants (damage the brain and nervous system) and environmental toxicants (harm wildlife and plants). (National Wildlife Federation, Conservation 89, pp. 6,7,8, & 9.) Nineteen years have passed since the Clean Air act became law and yet the EPA has established standards for only eight of the 200 most common airborne toxics. This is frightening in light of a recent EPA study finding that 15 to 45 toxic air pollutants may be collectively responsible for as many 2000 cancer cases a year. (National Wildlife Federation, Conservation 89, p. 13, Vol. 7, No. 7) Cars, trucks, and buses play a prominent role in generating virtually all the major air pollutants, especially in cities. In OECD member countries, they contribute 75% of carbon monoxide emissions, 48% of nitrogen oxides, 40% of hydrocarbons, 13% of particulates, and 3% of sulfur oxides. Worldwide, the production and use of automotive fuels accounts for an estimated 17% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) released from fossil fuels. Transportation is also the primary source of lead pollution. The adverse health effects of all these pollutants are fairly well established, though the threshold of effects remains uncertain. (Renner, State of the World - 1989, - p. 106) The EPA estimates that every year 2.2 billion pounds of gasoline vapors escape while being moved from bulk distribution points to gas stations. Tailpipe exhaust accounts for 60 to 70% of all benzene and toluene, and half of xylene emissions. Benzene is a known carcinogen, while toluene and xylene are strongly suspected. Diesel trucks, cars and buses emit more than 100 million pounds per year of particles coated with dozens of known and suspected carcinogens. (National Wildlife Federation, Conservation 89, - pp. 6,7,8, & 9.) By the early eighties, activities such as generating electricity, driving automobiles, and producing steel were each year releasing 5 billion tons of carbon, close to 100 million tons of sulfur, and lesser quantities of nitrogen oxides. (Brown, 1988, p. 24) Around the world, nearly 625 million people are exposed to hazardous levels of sulfur dioxide and more than a billion to excessive levels of suspended particulates in the air they breathe. (WorldWatch, July - August 1989, p. 39) In Switzerland, for example, 36 percent of all forests now show signs of damage (from air pollution). (Brown, 1987, p. 14) An estimated 60 percent of Calcutta's residents are believed to suffer from respiratory diseases related to air pollution. (Brown, 1987, p. 53) Lung cancer mortality in China is four to seven times higher in cities than in the nation as a whole, and the difference is largely attributable to heavy air pollution." (Brown, 1987, p. 53) In growing Third World cities, uncontrolled emissions from power plants, factories, and automobiles have added substantially to those from the burning of firewood and coal in homes. Between 1976 and 1980, annual sulfur dioxide concentrations in San Paulo, Brazil, averaged 25 percent higher than U.S standards set to protect human health. Similarly, in Beijing, China, sulfur dioxide concentrations for 1982 averaged eight times higher than the nation's primary standard. (Brown, 1987, p. 171) It has been estimated that cutting sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 percent in this country would cost $6 billion a year, less than the economic damage caused by acid rain every year. (Greenpeace Action) In Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana, the petrochemical industry pumps at least 1,000 different chemicals into the air, which then react to form 10,000 secondary compounds. (Sierra Club, 1988, "Every Breath You Take," p. 2) New Jersey suffered an annual average of 100 such accidents every year in the 1980s. In the same time period the EPA identified almost 7,000 chemical accidents nationally, involving hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries, and the evacuation of more than 217,000 people. (Sierra Club, 1988, Every Breath You Take, p. 2) Counties that are downwind from a petrochemical complex have significantly higher respiratory cancer rates than counties that are upwind ... there are 156 such counties in 27 states, and 20% of such counties suffer from the highest cancer rates in the nation. (Sierra Club, 1988, Every Breath You Take, p. 2) In 1986 alone, there were 84 "accidental releases," totaling more than 47,000 pounds of air pollutants. Of the 14 plants cited, only two were fined. (Sierra Club, 1988, Every Breath You Take, p. 1) Of the 54 cities reporting data on sulfur dioxide for the period between 1980 and 1984, 37 exceeded the WHO standard at least once.(World Health Organization & UN Environment Programme, "Assessment of Urban Air Quality") Of the 41 cities monitored for suspended particulate matter, 29 exceeded the WHO norm at least once. Annual average concentrations were as much as five times the standard in Beijing, Kuwait, New Delhi, Shenyang, and Xian. (World Health Organization & UN Environment Programme, "Assessment of Urban Air Quality") People living in as many as half of the cities in the world may be exposed to unhealthy carbon monoxide concentrations. (World Health Organization & UN Environment Programme, "Assessment of Urban Air Quality") People living in one-third of the world's urban areas are subjected to either marginal or unacceptable concentrations of lead. (WorldWatch, July - August, 1989, p. 40) Studies indicate that ground-level ozone is lowering the productivity of our nation's farmland. Estimates of damage to our crops range as high as $2 billion per year. (Sierra Club, 1988, "Every Breath You Take", p. 8) In 1980, human activities released about 110 million tons of sulfur oxides, 69 million tons of nitrogen oxides, 194 million tons of carbon monoxide, 53 million tons of hydrocarbons and 59 million tons of particulates into the atmosphere. (Corson, 1989, p. 218) Over the life of a vehicle, today's catalysts cut emissions of hydrocarbons by an average of 87%, of carbon monoxide by 85%, and of nitrogen oxides by 62%. However, their effectiveness decreases rapidly without proper maintenance. (Renner, 1989, p. 107) Thirty-four percent of West Germany's trees were yellowing, losing needles or leaves, or showing other signs of damage. Preliminary evidence pointed to air pollution and acid rain as contributing, if not leading causes. (Brown, 1987, p. 166) Foresters found that trees covering half of the nation's 7.37 million hectares of forests were damaged due to air pollution and acid rain. (Brown, 1987, p. 166) An overall assessment suggests that the combined effects of airborne acids, ozone, and other air pollutants may be reducing agricultural and forest productivity over large areas in industrial countries by 5 to 15% below historic levels. (Corson, 1989, p. 226) In greater Athens, the number of deaths rises sixfold on heavily polluted days. (WorldWatch Paper 94, 1990, p. 5) In Hungary, a recent report by the National Institute of Public Health concluded that every 24th disability and every 17th death is caused by air pollution. (WorldWatch Paper 94, 1990, p. 5) In Bombay, breathing the air is equivalent to smoking 10 cigarettes a day. (WorldWatch Paper 94, 1990, p. 5) According to data collected from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) manufacturing facilities across the United States spewed almost 2.7 billion pounds of toxic chemicals into the air in 1987. These number do not include air pollution from dry cleaners or gas stations, or from larger sources, such as sewage treatment plants and incinerators. Federal facilities are also omitted, although nearly one-third of all Superfund sites are federal arsenals, munitions factories and military bases. (National Wildlife Federation. Conservation 89 - pp. 6,7,8, & 9.) ################################################################## ===================== R E F E R E N C E S ===================== Brown, Lester, et al. STATE OF THE WORLD 1987, New York: W. W. Norton,1987. California Air Resources Board. FACTS ABOUT HOW AIR POLLUTION DAMAGES HEALTH. Sacramento, CA , 1983. Corson, Walter. CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. Washington, D.C.: Global Tomorrow Coalition,.1990. French, Hillary. WORLD WATCH PAPER #94 - CLEARING THE AIR. Washington, D.C.: World Watch Institute, 1990. National Wildlife Federation. CONSERVATION 89, Volume 7, No. 4. Washington, D.C.: NWF, 1989. Renner, Michael. "Rethinking Transportation," STATE OF THE WORLD - 1989. New York: W.W Norton, 1989. Sierra Club. EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE. San Franciso, CA, 1988. World Health Organization & UN Environment Programme. ASSESSMENT OF URBAN AIR QUALITY1973-1980. Rome and Nairobi, 1984. World Resources Institute and International Institute for Environment and Development. WORLD RESOURCES 1988-89. Washington, D.C. : World Resources, 1988. ################################################################## ------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 5 Air Pollution Resources gan gan.air.climate 6:45 am Feb 7, 1991 ------------------------------------------------------------------ ======================================= RECOMMENDED RESOURCES FOR AIR POLLUTION ======================================= BOOKS: French, Hilary. CLEARING THE AIR: A GLOBAL AGENDA, Worldwatch Paper 94. Washington, D.C. : Worldwatch Institute, 1990. This book reports on global air pollution's effects on human health and the environment, and provides policy suggestions to combat the problem. MacKenzie, James. BREATHING EASIER: TAKING ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, AIR POLLUTION AND ENERGY SECURITY. Washington, D.C. : World Resources Institute, n.d. This booklet describes the linked issues of climate change, persistent air pollution and growing dependence on imported oil, along with technological and policy choices that would cut these threats down to size. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. EMISSION CONTROLS IN ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND INDUSTRY. Washington, D.C.: OECD, 1989. This book describes progress in several countries in reducing the impact of fossil fuel burning on the environment, and environmental aspects of rational energy use. Powlick, Thomas. A KILLING RAIN: THE GLOBAL THREAT OF ACID PRECIPITATION. San Francisco, CA: Sierra Club, 1984. An urgent and far-reaching report describing how dangerous the acid rain problem has become. Quarles, John and William H. Lewis, Jr. THE NEW CLEAN AIR ACT. Washington, D.C. : Morgan, Lewis and Bockius, 1990. This handbook is a general introduction to the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990. It provides a neutral and objective explanation of the key features of the new law with an emphasis on industrial compliance. World Resources Institute. 1990-91 WORLD RESOURCES: A GUIDE TO THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990. Provides objective and up-to-date reports of conditions and trends in the world's natural resource base and in the global environment. Contains detailed information on air pollution as well as other environmental topics. For additional material, see the recommended resources under [conference]: "GAN.AIR.CLIMATE" Topics Acid Rain and Global Warming. PERIODICALS: Air and Waste Management Association. JOURNAL OF THE AIR AND WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION. Contact: AWMA, P.O. Box 2861, Pittsburgh, PA 15230. Monthly journal of the technical society serving the air pollution control and hazardous waste management industries. Includes technical research reports, legislative analysis and general air and waste information. "Winds of Poison" CONSERVATION 89. Vol. 7, nos. 2-8, 1989. A six- part series on air pollution in America. ORGANIZATIONS: AIR AND WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION. P.O. Box 2861, Pittsburgh, PA 15230; (412) 232-3444. A nonprofit, nongovernmental technical association whose activities are directed to the collection and dissemination of authoritative information about air pollution control and hazardous waste management. AIR RESOURCES INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE. Center for Environmental Education, Inc. 46 Prince St., Rochester, NY 14607; (716) 271-3550. Provides comprehensive reference and referral, current awareness and educational services to scientists, educators, government, business and public interest groups. Maintains special library collection. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND, Inc. 257 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010. (212) 505-2100. A nationwide public interest organization of lawyers, scientists and economists dedicated to protecting and improving environmental quality and public health. Pursues responsible reform of public policy through research and public education, judicial, administrative and legislative action. SIERRA CLUB. 730 Polk St., San Francisco, CA 94109; (415) 776- 2211. The Sierra Club's goals are to explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth, to promote responsible use of natural resources and to educate citizens to protect and restore the quality of the natural environment. Works with legislation, litigation, public information, wilderness outings and conferences. WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE. 1709 New York Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20006; (202) 638-6300. A policy research center to help governments, international organizations, the private sector and others address vital issues of environmental integrity, natural resources management, economic growth and international security. AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS: CLEAN AIR ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1990: A PREVIEW OF THE CONFERENCE DEBATE. Features William Becker (STAPPA/ALAPCO), William Faye (Clean Air Working Group), John Beale (US EPA), and Blake Early (Sierra Club). June 1990. Contact: ELI Associates Videotape Library, Environmental Law Institute, 1616 P St., NW, Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20036; (202) 328-5150. Available to ELI Associates for $10 rental. LET'S CLEAR THE AIR. This program explains what causes pollution and describes what is being done to control it. It also explains acid rain and why some parts of the country are more affected than others. Professionally narrated. 15 minutes. Contact: National Wildlife Federation, 1400 16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036- 2266; (800) 432-6564. Filmstrip purchase $26.95, slide/tape $29.95. POLLUTION OF THE UPPER AND LOWER ATMOSPHERE. This film looks at the fixtures in our world such as the internal combustion and jet aircraft, and analyzes their effects on the earth's atmosphere. 17 min. Contact: Coronet/MTI Film and Video, 108 Wilmot Rd., Deerfield, IL 60015-5196; )800) 621-2131. 16 mm film purchase $300, video purchase $220, rental $75. ELECTRONIC RESOURCES: There are a number of conferences available through the Econet conference system that provide more information on air and climate issues. They are easily and readily assessible to you similar to the GAN conferences. The following is a partial list of topics within the "conferences" index of Econet: en.cleanair -- Issues of air pollution, including government policy and initiatives to public forum and action ideas. en.climate -- Discussion of pollution, its effects on our world and methods for dealing with it. en.pollution -- Pollution issues, including effects, sources, policy and advocacy. gan.air.climate -- Comprehensive information and what you can do about air pollution. gl.bioindicato -- TERC Global Lab discussion and reports on bioindicators. gl.brainstorm -- TERC Global Lab Project brainstorming of new and developing ideas. gl.electronics -- The TERC Global Lab Project-discussion of electronic monitoring. gl.notebook -- TERC Global Lab Project evolving global ecology research guide. gl.ozone -- TERC Global Lab Project--discussion of ozone monitoring. gl.phenology -- TERC Global Lab phenology projects discussion & reports. gl.plots -- TERC Global Labs plots and field notes; reports & discussion. gl.profiles -- TERC Global Lab Project-descriptions and user names of participants. gl.project -- TERC Global lab Project description, information and general business. gl.reports -- TERC Global Lab Project - reports of participant activities. gl.temperature -- TERC Global Lab Project-discussion of temperature monitoring projects. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - See also ACTIV-L archives; use GET with ACTIV-L INDEX (see top of this file) for a listing of files; see also AMLDBASE DOC file (use GET command with that file name) for a tutorial on using ACTIV-L's database features to search thru megabytes of ACTIV-L articles for environmental articles on topics of interest. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ############################################################### # Harel Barzilai for Activists Mailing List (AML) # ################################################################ { For more info about ACTIV-L or PeaceNet's brochure send } { inquiries to harel@dartmouth.edu / mathrich@umcvmb.bitnet } To join AML, just send the 1-line message "SUB ACTIV-L " to: LISTSERV@UMCVMB.BITNET; you should receive a confirmation message within 2 days. 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