Junfeng (Jim) Zhang, PhD Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health UMDNJ- School of Public Health Presented at NJ Clean Air Council Presented at NJ Clean Air Council April 14, 2010 Public Hearing
Daytime in London, December Source: National Archives Particle levels – 3,000 g/m3
Smoke and sulphur dioxide, mg/m 3 November December Deaths per diem Greater London, 1952 Smoke Sulphur dioxide Deaths mg/m 3 not ug/m 3
Pittsburg During the Pre-EPA Industrial Era U. Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh in 2009
NYC Thanksgiving Smog Episode
Coal Burning Banned in NYC EPA formed by Nixon SO 2 Concentrations in NYC
Major improvement since the 1960s 1975 – post CAA Sulfur Dioxide Concentrations in New Jersey Second Highest Daily Average
Smoke Shade as and indicator of Particulate Matter – 10X Reduction CAA Figure 11 Long Term Trend in Particulate Levels State Average
Middle of proposed revision
NJ has substantially improved Air Quality and reduced unhealthy levels of Air Pollution Criteria Pollutants Reductions to meet the original standards Reductions to meet mandates of Revised Standards Reasons Sound implementation Plans Regional and Local strategies Verdict
Contact with pollutant (Exposure) Dose Poison (Health Effects)
Historically – Just about anywhere Outdoors – very high pollution levels – An important consideration since: Houses were not well insulated – High AER led to high indoor levels from outdoor air No Air Conditioning increased Outdoor Air Pollution indoors and increased exposure to outdoor air pollution More Urban living in NJ Less Travel Contact with Air Pollution
Currently Outdoors is still dominant for some pollutants but at much lower levels Indoors -- especially for VOCs and SVOCs, the levels will be higher than measured outdoors Transportation More suburban living More in-transit time Contact with Air Pollution
Challenging Issues Healthy Communities and Environmental Justice Identifying problems, e.g. invisible sources under blue sky Smoking gun– new pollutants Air toxics: little actions on them Pollution hot spots Within a community Living near roads Contact with Air Pollution
Future Types of Sources Outdoors – for the foreseeable future most will be the same Energy sources may change if the country finally gets focused on energy independence Energy conservation and efficiency Renewable energy and nuclear power Fuel-efficient vehicles Electric cars – Not environmentally neutral – may shift the pollution sources Science, technology, public awareness, and policy Contact with Air Pollution