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Houston Air Quality

Houston Air Quality. John D. Wilson Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention www.ghasp.org. Happy New Year! Houston (cough cough) 2003. 12 Conroe. 74 Aldine. 150 µ g/m 3. 32 Channelview. 66 µ g/m 3. World Trade Center Plume. 24 hr. Mean = 25 ug/m 3.

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Houston Air Quality

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  1. Houston Air Quality John D. Wilson Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention www.ghasp.org

  2. Happy New Year!Houston (cough cough) 2003 12 Conroe 74Aldine 150 µg/m3 32Channelview 66 µg/m3

  3. World Trade Center Plume 24 hr. Mean = 25 ug/m3

  4. Unhealthy Air Days: 53 per Year Warning Level 10 Very unhealthy (4) Unhealthy (15) Unhealthy for sensitive groups (34) Average Days per Month 5 F M M J A S N D J A J O (0-1-0) (1-1-0) Source: EPA Air Quality Index for the Houston Region, 2000–2003

  5. Fine Particles 2001

  6. Fine Particles in Houston Federal Standard 14 Road Dust California Standard 12 10 8 PM2.5 (µg/m3) Other / Unknown 6 Minor Meat Cooking 4 Diesel Gasoline 2 Industry 0 Galveston La Porte Channelview Clinton Aldine Conroe Synthesis of various data (1997-1998, 2000-2002). Speciation from Matt Fraser, Rice University. Total PM2.5 levels from TCEQ.

  7. Freeway Impact on Fine ParticlesAdditional Fine Particles Due to Freeway Traffic in 2020 (0.1 – 1.0 µg/m3)

  8. Cancer RiskAdditional Risk Due to Exposure to Air Pollution in Houston Area • Industrial areas: • Additional risk of 500 – 1,000 per million • Highest measured risk at sites near western end of Houston Ship Channel • Urban / suburban areas: • Additional risk of 200 – 450 per million • Inadequate monitoring, especially outside Houston Ship Channel

  9. Cancer RiskAdditional Risk Due to Exposure to Air Pollution in Houston Area • Diesel Particulates: 360 (120-690) per million • Butadiene: 32 (3 - 245) per million • Aldehydes: 27 (25-34) per million • PAHs: (17) per million • Metals: 15-22 per million • Benzene: 6 (4-14) per million • Other organics: 1 (1-6) per million • Acrolein • Acrylonitrile

  10. Worst pollutants (in order) Acrolein Formaldehyde Arsenic Ozone Diesel particulates Systems threatened (in order) Respiratory Skin and sense-organ Gastrointestinal & liver Cardiovascular & blood Neurotoxicity Developmental Kidney Chronic Disease & Air Pollution

  11. Houston Air Quality John D. Wilson Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention www.ghasp.org

  12. Which of the Following Caused the Most Death in the U.S., in 2001? a) Fine Particles: 64,000 (est.) b) Flu and pneumonia: 62,000 c) Motor Vehicles: 43,800 d) Suicides: 30,600 e) Drugs: 21,700 f) Homicides: 20,000 g) Alcohol: 19,800 h) Malaria: 9 Source: CDC. National Vital Statistics Reports, 2003: U.S.EPA, NRDC Houston: 435 deaths per year due to fine particulates according to the Sonoma Study

  13. Fine Particles Get Deep Into Your Lungs PM2.5 PM10

  14. Primary Particle Emissions

  15. Secondary Particle Formation • Industrial, power plant, and motor vehicle emissions • NOX forms ozone and fine nitrate particulate matter • SO2 : a dangerous gas that forms especially toxic acidic sulfate particulate matter

  16. Indoor Particle Levels • When particle levels are high outdoors, they may also be high indoors • Prevent particles from entering residence or vehicle • Close windows • Run air conditioning on recycle mode • Reduce indoor sources of particles • Don’t smoke inside • Reduce use of gas or wood stoves • Don’t vacuum • Air cleaner with HEPA filter will reduce particle levels indoors

  17. How to Reduce Risk Dose = Concentration x Ventilation Rate x Time • Reduce concentration – schedule activities when pollution levels lower • Reduce ventilation rate by taking it easier • Reduce time spent in vigorous outdoor activities • Pay attention to symptoms • Follow asthma action plan

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