1. Environment, People, Prosperity: Toward A Balance We Can Live With

2. A Brief History of Particulate Matter
Section 6 – Health Effects

3. Outdoor Air Pollution Regulatory Categories
Criteria Pollutants
Present everywhere
Ambient air quality standards
Widely monitored
Air toxics
Long list (>180)
Many carcinogens
Less frequent ambient measurements
Section 6 – Health Effects

4. Select Air Pollution Disasters
1930 Meuse River Valley, Belgium
A three-day episode of severe air pollution makes 6,000 ill and kills 63.
1948 Denora, PA
Oct. 26 to 31: air pollution episode leaves 20 dead out of 14,000 persons.
1952 London, England
Dec. 4 to 9: “Killer Fog” leaves three to four thousand people dead.
Donora, PA at noon on
Oct. 29, 1948
London buses are escorted by lantern at 10:30 in the morning.
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Chico Air Quality – 11/12/18
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6. many different sources
PM is derived from
many different sources
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7. Mouse Lung Exposed to Diesel Exhaust: What It Does
Normal mouse lung
Exposed mouse lung
Diesel Exhaust Particles (DEP) augment inflammation by increasing receptors for bacterial lipopolysaccharide. The effect is to make the lungs highly sensitive to the presence of normal levels of bacteria. This results in greatly heightened production of pro-inflammatory mediators from the cells.
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Human Lung Basics
Air conducting
Trachea
Bronchi
Bronchioles
Gas exchange
Respiratory
bronchioles
Alveoli
Section 6 – Health Effects

10. Particles Affect the Lungs
Respiratory system effects:
Respiratory symptoms – irritation of airways, cough
Decreased lung function
Airway inflammation
Asthma attacks, bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis
Allergies, which are inflammatory responses
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Public Health Risks Are Significant + Health Care Costs in U.S. are at ~ 20% of Economy
Particles are linked to:
Premature death from heart and lung diseases
Aggravation of heart and lung diseases, with increased:
Hospital admissions
Doctor and ER visits
Medication use
School and work absences
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14. Section 6 – Health Effects
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
Emissions from high temperature combustion processes: motor vehicle exhaust and stationary sources for power production
Exposures indoors due to (unvented) gas appliances and infiltration of ambient NO2
(Complex atmospheric chemistry – can be transformed to HNO3 and nitrate particles)
Section 6 – Health Effects

15. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) effects
Strong oxidant and respiratory irritant (forms nitrous and nitric acids in contact with water)
NO2 irritates the nose, throat and lungs especially in people with asthma.
Lowers resistance to respiratory infections such as influenza.
Contributes to ozone formation (and thus to ozone effects indirectly).
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Ozone (O3)
Ubiquitous exposure - formed by natural processes as well as human activities
Principal constituent of photochemical smog – which is not emitted directly
Highly reactive, but poorly soluble, allowing deep lung penetration
Acute toxicity is related to dose = Concentration x Ventilation Rate x Time – increased risk from outdoor exertion
modeling/ For advanced sustainers, and those wishing to understand the systemic function of pollutants on climate, etc.
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18. Good (High) vs Bad Ozone (Low; smog)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are fully halogenated paraffin hydrocarbons that contain only carbon, chlorine, and fluorine, produced as volatile derivative of methane, ethane, and propane.
They are also commonly known by the DuPont brand name Freon. The most common representative is dichlorodifluoromethane.
Many CFCs have been widely used as refrigerants, propellants, and solvents. Because CFCs contribute to ozone depletion in the upper atmosphere, the manufacture of such compounds has been phased out under the Montreal Protocol, and they are being replaced with other products such as hydrofluorocarbons and R-134a.
Section 6 – Health Effects

19. Disease risk – environmental, genetic factors
Estimates of the burden of disease attributable to environmental factors vary depending on
Type of disease
Vulnerability
Genetics
Population group
Socioeconomic aspects
Large differences between people living in
Industrialized/developing countries
East/West of Europe
and others
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20. Ozone Irritates Airways
Symptoms:
Cough
Sore or scratchy throat
Pain with deep breath, or chest pain
Fatigue
Rapid onset, but effect is greater 24 hours after exposure
Similar symptoms for people with or without asthma
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Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Irritant gas resulting mainly from combustion of sulfur-containing fossil fuels (power plants, large industrial facilities, diesel vehicles) and metal smelting.
(Is oxidized/hydrated to form sulfuric acid particles)
Coal miner deaths jump in 2017 after 2016's low point – it is recommended you review this discussion for an understanding of coal mining discussions in the US
Section 6 – Health Effects

22. Public Health Risks Are Significant
Ozone is linked to:
Aggravation of lung diseases, increased
Hospital admissions
Doctor and ER visits
Medication use
School and work absences
Permanent lung changes
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23. At-Risk Groups for Respiratory Irritants
People with heart or lung disease
Greater deposition with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Older adults
Greater prevalence of heart and lung disease
Children
More likely to be active
Breathe more air per kg
Bodies still developing
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24. Will It Matter if Air Pollution Decreases?
The Dublin Experience
Dublin’s air quality deteriorated in the 1980s after a switch from oil to cheaper bituminous coal for heating.
In 1990 the Irish Government banned the use of bituminous coal within the city of Dublin, resulting in a reduction in PM concentrations.
Change in age-standardized total, cause-specific, and age-specific mortality rates for Dublin County Borough for 72 months before and after ban of sale of coal in Dublin: decrease from 4.5 to 15.5 % depending on the specific risk group.
Section 6 – Health Effects