Improving Life, One Breath at a Time LUNG-USA Terry Hargrove Director of Community Relations

Air Quality State of the Air Report 2006 Knowledge of Impact on Health Growing Unique Impacts on Children

Ozone Pollution Ozone is powerful irritant that burns our lungs and airways, causing them to become inflamed, reddened, and swollen. Image box

What is Ozone Pollution? Sometimes called smog Created in the atmosphere NOx + VOCs + + = Ozone (O3)

OZONE POLLUTION Nearly 7.0 million people in the DC metro area live in areas with unhealthy ozone pollution Children, senior citizens and people with respiratory diseases, like asthma, are particularly vulnerable to ozone pollution DC metro area is ranked 12 th worst for ozone exposure

OZONE POLLUTION Health effects include: Coughing and wheezing Asthma attacks Reduced lung function Chest pain Birth defects Premature death

Particle Pollution Fine particles are so small they bypass the body’s natural defenses and penetrate some of the most fragile parts of the lung, causing serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Image box

PARTICLE POLLUTION Senior citizens, people with heart and lung diseases and children are most vulnerable to particle pollution DC metro area ranked 12th worst for short-term particle exposure and 21st for year-round exposure to particles

PARTICLE POLLUTION Health effects include: Coughing and wheezing Asthma exacerbations Respiratory Irritation Heart Attacks Irregular Heartbeat - (cardiac arrhythmias) Premature Death

Clean Air Interstate Rule - Restrict the purchase of allowances from in- state or out-of-state facilities for facilities located in a nonattainment area (HB 1055/SB 651) - Creating Public Health Set Asides - Support Ozone Transport Commission’s efforts to achieve further reductions in air pollution from stationary sources beyond CAIR

Clean Air Act - Fight efforts to create loopholes that will erode the effectiveness of the Clean Air Act - Monitor development of State Implementation Plans to meet ozone, particle pollution standards - Support more protective limits on particle pollution in the air - Urge EPA to promulgate protective emission standards for locomotive and marine diesel engines

Protect our Kids from Dirty Diesel -Reduce school bus idling times -Retrofit current fleet and introduce clean fuels -Replace older buses with ones meeting stringent pollution control standards -Also implement with public transit Image box

Clean Up Our Fleet Be the Model -State owned truck, bus and non-road vehicles retrofitted with pollution controls -Automobile fleets comprised of hybrids and other fuel efficient models -Use clean fuels Image box

Contact Information Terry Hargrove Director of Community Relations 9221 Forest Hill Avenue Richmond, VA ext

Improving Life, One Breath at a Time For 100 years, the American Lung Association has been the lead organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while other leading causes of death have declined. The American Lung Association funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association is “Improving life, one breath at a time”. For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call LUNG-USA ( ) or log on to