Health Consequences of Energy Choices: The Energy Exercise Crispin Pierce, Ph.D.

Outline How do we use energy? How do we use energy? How do we classify health consequences from energy use? How do we classify health consequences from energy use? What sources of energy do we have? What sources of energy do we have? Coal Coal Natural gas Natural gas Diesel and biodiesel Diesel and biodiesel Solar Solar Wind Wind Biomass Biomass Nuclear Nuclear Hydroelectric Hydroelectric The Energy Exercise The Energy Exercise Questions? Questions?

Uses of Energy Non-renewable: coal, gas, oil, and nuclear. Non-renewable: coal, gas, oil, and nuclear. Renewable: solar, wind, biomass, biodiesel. Renewable: solar, wind, biomass, biodiesel. Transportation Transportation Heating Heating Manufacturing Manufacturing

Health Consequences TIME TIME Immediate/short-term (e.g., refinery explosion) Immediate/short-term (e.g., refinery explosion) Long-term (e.g., cancer) Long-term (e.g., cancer) REVERSABILITY REVERSABILITY Temporary injury (e.g., skin burn from gasoline spill) Temporary injury (e.g., skin burn from gasoline spill) Permanent disability (e.g., lung disease from coal plant emissions) Permanent disability (e.g., lung disease from coal plant emissions) CONTROLABILITY CONTROLABILITY “Voluntary” (e.g., driving a car) “Voluntary” (e.g., driving a car) “Involuntary” (e.g., nuclear plant risk) “Involuntary” (e.g., nuclear plant risk)

Coal Advantages Advantages Large US reserves Large US reserves Known technology Known technology Potential for lowering mercury emissions. Potential for lowering mercury emissions. Health Risks Health Risks Acid rain Acid rain Mercury in fish Mercury in fish Particulate matter Particulate matter Global warming Global warming Degraded water quality Degraded water quality

Natural Gas and Oil Advantages: Advantages: Known technology Known technology Infrastructure exists Infrastructure exists Health Risks Health Risks Air pollution (NO x, particulates, CO) Air pollution (NO x, particulates, CO) Drilling, piping, and refining effects Drilling, piping, and refining effects Global warming Global warming Natural protection losses Natural protection losses Wars over oil supplies Wars over oil supplies Photo: EcotechDaily

Diesel and Biodiesel Advantages Advantages Can be less expensive Can be less expensive Biodiesel is renewable Biodiesel is renewable Health Effects Health Effects Particulate emissions cause lung disease and cancer Particulate emissions cause lung disease and cancer Refining and production job risks Refining and production job risks Photo: Thoroughbred Diesel

Nuclear Advantages Advantages Very low emissions Very low emissions Relatively safe Relatively safe Health Effects Health Effects Major water needs for cooling Major water needs for cooling Extremely toxic spent fuel materials cause cancer Extremely toxic spent fuel materials cause cancer Extremely long half- lives of these wastes Extremely long half- lives of these wastes Terrorism and war (?) Terrorism and war (?)

Wind Advantages Advantages Renewable Renewable Very low impact Very low impact Local generation Local generation Health Risks Health Risks Bird losses: Bird losses: Vehicles: million Vehicles: million Buildings and Windows: million Buildings and Windows: million Powerlines: tens of thousands million Powerlines: tens of thousands million Communication Towers: million Communication Towers: million Wind Generation Facilities: 10, ,000 Wind Generation Facilities: 10, ,000 Installation and operation accidents Installation and operation accidents Marine mammal disruption from offshore installation and operation Marine mammal disruption from offshore installation and operation

Solar Heating Advantages Advantages Renewable Renewable Local generation Local generation Low impact Low impact Health Risks Health Risks Allergenic molds and fungi Allergenic molds and fungi Environmental costs of materials to produce solar systems Environmental costs of materials to produce solar systems

Solar Photovoltaic Advantages Advantages Renewable Renewable Local generation Local generation Creates electricity Creates electricity Low impact Low impact Health Effects Health Effects Battery production and operation Battery production and operation Semiconductor materials production (production of silicon) Semiconductor materials production (production of silicon) Land space for panels less useful as natural resource Land space for panels less useful as natural resource

Biomass Advantages Advantages Renewable Renewable Local generation Local generation Simple Simple Health Risks Health Risks Particulates and lung disease Particulates and lung disease Local deforestation Local deforestation Agricultural effects: water consumption, runoff, herbicides, pesticides Agricultural effects: water consumption, runoff, herbicides, pesticides

Hydroelectric Advantages Advantages Renewable Renewable Regulated supply Regulated supply Disadvantages Disadvantages Potential exposure to pathogens Disruption of natural water filtration

Global Warming Effects Heat deaths (70,000 people died in the summer of 2003). Heat deaths (70,000 people died in the summer of 2003). Spread of mosquito, tick and other insect- borne diseases. Spread of mosquito, tick and other insect- borne diseases. Increased air pollution death and diseases. Increased air pollution death and diseases. Disruption of food production. Disruption of food production.

CO2 Causes Global Warming Generate CO2 Generate CO2 Coal Coal Oil Oil Gas Gas Waste combustion Waste combustion Diesel Diesel CO2 Neutral CO2 Neutral Biomass Ethanol Solar Wind Tidal Geothermal Nuclear Biodiesel

Renewable Energy is Not Risk-Free Health risks from renewable energy sources come from the large amounts of material and labor needed, as well as energy backup and storage requirements. Health risks from renewable energy sources come from the large amounts of material and labor needed, as well as energy backup and storage requirements. The diagram on the next page represents short- and long-term health risks from different sources of energy. Which sources are most dangerous? Which are safest? The diagram on the next page represents short- and long-term health risks from different sources of energy. Which sources are most dangerous? Which are safest?

Haddad and Dones, IAEA

Gohlke et al. (2008)

Energy conservation avoids all these risks.

The Energy Exercise Goal: To understand how energy use choices affect our health, finances, and comfort. Setup: Each participant receives ten credits of health, money, and comfort credits. Play: Ten year-round energy “choices” are made. Goal: To understand how energy use choices affect our health, finances, and comfort. Setup: Each participant receives ten credits of health, money, and comfort credits. Play: Ten year-round energy “choices” are made. Result: Participants learn about how their choices affect their quality of life. Result: Participants learn about how their choices affect their quality of life.

Get your pencil ready! Create three columns with the labels below, starting with ten in each column. As you answer each question on the following pages, add or subtract to each column. HealthCostComfort

Housing ActivityHealthMoneyComfort I Choose a House and Lawn in the Country House in the City Condo Downtown Cost

Your Yard ActivityHealthMoneyComfort Tidy Lawn -2 Native Landscape +1 Anything Goes +1+2

Summer Heat ActivityHealthMoneyComfort Air Conditioning for a Hot Summer -2+2 Open Windows and a Fan +1+1 Sweating it Out +1+2

Trips to the Cabin ActivityHealthMoneyComfort Weekend Trips to the Cabin -2 One Trip with Friends +1 Backyard/Local Camping +2

Travel ActivityHealthMoneyComfort Flying to a Good Friend’s Wedding Taking a Bus Stay Home and Send a Gift +2+1

Food ActivityHealthMoneyComfort A Month of Steaks Meat 3x Per Week -2+1 Going Veggie +3+2

Transportation ActivityHealthMoneyComfort New SUV Used Prius +1 Nice Bike

Heat ActivityHealthMoneyComfort Winter Warmth from Oil/Gas -2+1 Insulation and Solar Heating +2 Blankets and Hot Chocolate

Food Choices ActivityHealthMoneyComfort Summer Fruit in Winter +1 Local Restaurants and Food +2+1 Organically-Grown Food and Preserves

Winter Sports ActivityHealthMoneyComfort Snowmobiling Downhill Skiing -2+2 X-Country Skiing +3+2

Which category has the highest score? Comfort? Comfort? Finances? Finances? Health? Health? Did you learn about how your choices affect your health (and the health of all of us)? Did you learn about how your choices affect your health (and the health of all of us)?

Summary All energy sources have health consequences. All energy sources have health consequences. Coal, oil and gas cause the most death and disability of all energy sources. Coal, oil and gas cause the most death and disability of all energy sources. Renewable energy causes death and disability from the large amounts of material and labor needed, as well as energy backup and storage requirements. Renewable energy causes death and disability from the large amounts of material and labor needed, as well as energy backup and storage requirements.

Energy conservation greatly reduces these health risks. Energy conservation greatly reduces these health risks. Individual lifestyle choices directly and indirectly impact our health. Individual lifestyle choices directly and indirectly impact our health.

Thanks for your Attention!

References Haddad and Dones, IAEA: s/Bulletin/Bull333/ pdf Haddad and Dones, IAEA: s/Bulletin/Bull333/ pdf s/Bulletin/Bull333/ pdf s/Bulletin/Bull333/ pdf Gohlke et al. (2008):Environ Health Perspect June; 116(6): A236–A23, Economy, and Environment: Sustainable Energy Choices for a Nation; Julia M. Gohlke, Sharon H. Hrynkow, and Christopher J. Portier Gohlke et al. (2008):Environ Health Perspect June; 116(6): A236–A23, Economy, and Environment: Sustainable Energy Choices for a Nation; Julia M. Gohlke, Sharon H. Hrynkow, and Christopher J. Portier

Contact Information Crispin Pierce, PhD Crispin Pierce, PhD (715) (715)