Air Pollution and Air Quality

1. January 22, 2014 Air Pollution and Air Quality

2. The Problem- Los Angeles

3. The Problem- Los Angeles • Why is clean air important for all living things? • What causes air pollution? • Can air pollution have long term effects? • How do you think you are affected by air pollution? • Do you think your organism is impacted?

4. The Right to Breathe • What is environmental justice? • Why does air quality matter? • What causes air pollution in parts of town? • What type of problems are caused from bad air quality? • How many deaths a year are there? • What can we do, as citizens? After the movie… • How do you think the air impacts non-humans living in Los Angeles?

5. The Problem • Everything is connected, especially air. • World’s most polluted cities • China- coal mines and cars • Mexico City- over 20 million people, 4 million cars • 7 of 10 newborn babies have higher lead levels in their blood than World Health Organization allows • US most polluted cities • California- AQI forcast

6. Causes of Air Pollution • Cars and trucks • 1/3 of all state air pollution from cars • Due to the lack of public transportation, and people’s individual obsession with the automobile • 70% of drivers report driving to work alone (http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kgrenfell/people_in_los_angeles_say_air_1.html) • More likely to take Metro than carpool • Coal fired power plants/ Oil refineries • Factories emit particulates and sulfur dioxide

7. Causes of Air Pollution cont. • Cigarette smoking • CA, and Los Angeles, a leader with prohibiting smoking while dining and in indoor areas. • Also banned at city beaches, parks, farmers markets, within 25 feet of playgrounds, bleachers, sports courts and fields and picnic areas

8. It pollutes the ocean as well • Burning of fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide • The ocean absorbs CO2, making seawater more acidic -> changing the ocean chemistry • Over the last 250 years, there has been a 30% increase in ocean acidity • By destroying calcium carbonate, impacts shells and skeletons of animals and coral reef formation http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/article/2011/06/20110607140922enaj0.434292.html

9. Ocean cont. • Also, air pollution effects the phytoplankton • Plant plankton- a major food source of the ocean • Too much CO2, and lack of O2, results in eutrophication causing “dead zones” • Pollutants are directly deposited into the ocean- known as atmospheric deposition. • Contaminants could be: nitrogen, mercury, pesticides, heavy metals http://see-the-sea.org/topics/pollution/air/AirPol-body.htm

10. Air Pollution Monitoring • 1970- US passed the Clean Air Act • Clean air federally regulated and mandated • EPA and other agencies monitor pollutant concentrations in the air of: ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, lead, particulates and sulfur dioxide • In 1997, 107 million Americans lived in areas that did not meet standards for at least one of the above pollutants • South Coast Air Quality Management District

11. Smog • Ozone pollution and particulate matter • Caused by trapping of air in valley • San Gabriel Mountains (north) • San Bernardino Mountains (north and east) • San Jacinto Mountains (south east) • Santa Ana Mountains (south) • Became a problem in mid 50s • 1984 study- children raised in South Coast Air Basin (LA), have 10-15% decrease in lung function compared to children who grow up outside of LA.

12. Solutions • Awareness and education about the impacts • Goal of zero emissions goods movements • Ports, ships, trucks, factories • Regulations on cars • Smog testing • Cars built cleaner emissions • Gasoline additive • Electric cars account for 70% reduction of lung illness (http://inhabitat.com/electric-vehicles-could-account-for-70-reduction-in-lung-illnesses/)

13. Solutions cont. • Monitoring by the people • Mandatory • Voluntary

14. How does air pollution impact… • People? • Asthma rates • Healthcare costs • Animals? • Plants? • Summary- include topic sentence, 3-5 details, conclusion. • More great info…Weather explained