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CARE Program: Evaluating Cumulative Pollution Impacts and Mitigating Health Risks

Learn about the Community Air Risk Evaluation (CARE) Program in Contra Costa County, aimed at assessing the health risks from pollutants and identifying sensitive populations. This program focuses on reducing risks in impacted communities through mitigation actions, land use guidance, and collaboration with various agencies.

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CARE Program: Evaluating Cumulative Pollution Impacts and Mitigating Health Risks

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  1. Community Air Risk Evaluation (CARE) Program Contra Costa County Forum on Cumulative Impacts of Pollution Philip Martien, Ph.D. Bay Area Air Quality Management District December 4, 2008

  2. Overview • Community Air Risk Evaluation (CARE) Program • CARE Mitigation Action Plan • Multi-pollutant Clean Air Plan • Cumulative Impacts Resolution

  3. Regulatory Authority • Regional Air Pollution Control Agencies • Primary regulatory authority over stationary sources • State Air Resources Board • Intrastate mobile sources—cars, trucks, cargo handling equipment • U.S. EPA • Interstate mobile sources—trains, aircraft & ocean going vessels

  4. CARE Program Objectives • Evaluate regional and community cancer and non-cancer health risk from ambient toxic air contaminants • Identify sensitive populations • Focus health risk mitigation measures on locations with higher risk levels and sensitive populations

  5. From Emissions of Toxic Air Contaminants to Health Effects Chronicle/Kurt Rogers Emissions Concentrations Exposure Health Effects 5

  6. Cancer Toxicity-Weighted Emissions: Bay Area (2005) By Pollutant By Source Category 6

  7. TotalCancer Risk-Weighted Emissions:Year 2005 7

  8. Model Estimated Cancer Risk* Expected cancer incidents per million people Modeled concentrations weighted by health risk of each compound Based on year 2005 emissions *Cancer risk from: Diesel PM Benzene 1-3, butadiene Formaldehyde Acetaldehyde 8

  9. Measured Trends in Toxic Air Contaminants Show Risk Reduction • Bay Area average cancer risk from air pollutants is decreasing • BUT, risk in some locations is high compared to average • AND health studies suggest that age and income affect sensitivity to air pollution 9

  10. Demographic & Health Data Population under 18 Asthma Hospitalization Rates 10

  11. CARE Mitigation Action Plan • Focus risk reduction activities where they are most needed • Based on maps of toxic air emissions and sensitive populations, six impacted communities were identified • Grant funds • Outreach efforts • Liaison with local health & planning departments • Land use guidance • Green Ports Initiative

  12. Grant Funds Spent in Highly Impacted Communities – 2008 12

  13. Meet with community members in impacted areas to seek input on projects to fund Provide community-specific information on toxic air contaminants and emission reductions Community Outreach • Hear community concerns • Collaborate on local-scale studies 13

  14. Land Use Guidance • Cities and counties have authority over local land-use decisions • Land-use guidance will help cities and counties • Evaluate health impact resulting from new development projects • Assess the health impact to new development projects from existing toxic sources • Determine when mitigation is required and identify possible measures and their effectiveness • Assist with general plans and project-specific analysis • Provide tool for more informed local decision making

  15. Land Use Issues • New infill development projects in impacted communities • Potential conflict between residential developments and freeways, busy roads, and other sources of diesel emissions • Need health protective land use planning • Opportunities for collaboration • Example: Oakland Army Base

  16. 2009 Clean Air Plan • Update 2005 Ozone Strategy • Consider multiple pollutants in an integrated plan- Ozone- Particulate matter- Toxic air contaminants- Greenhouse gases • Improve air quality & protect public health • Protect our climate • Regional plan will provide local air quality benefits

  17. Cumulative Impacts Resolution • Address community concerns • Air District Board Adopted Resolution (July 30, 2008) • Continue to address cumulative impacts • CARE Mitigation Action Plan • Continue to explore additional options • Next Steps: CARE Working Group • Develop recommendations for the CARE Task Force & Air District Staff • Broad representation • Business groups • Community members • Governmental agencies – health & planning departments • Non-profit, non-governmental agencies • Air District Staff

  18. Key Questions for Working Group • CARE Mitigation Action Plan has focused on reducing diesel PM, especially in the six impacted communities. • What additional actions within these communities? • Other areas where the Air District should focus? • Compare benefit of additional actions to benefits of diesel PM reductions • What actions should be taken by other agencies or groups? • How can we improve collaboration between various agencies and groups?

  19. Contact Information Phil Martien pmartien@baaqmd.gov (415) 749-4660 Community Air Risk Evaluation (CARE) web link: http://www.baaqmd.gov/CARE 19

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