Air Pollutants and the Chesapeake Bay

1. Air Pollutants and the Chesapeake Bay

2. TODAY’S MESSAGE The air pollution we create also pollutes our land and water. Therefore In order to clean up our water, we must also clean up our air!

3. Why are we concerned about air pollution? Air quality effects- air pollution can contribute to human health problems and degrade visibility. Land effects-nitrogen deposition saturates systems and overloads vegetation Water quality effects- eutrophication caused by the over-fertilization of coastal/fresh waters and acidification of streams and lakes.

4. Organization of the presentation (in case all of this air talk goes to your head) • Vocabulary for Airheads • Air Pollutants of “Water Quality” Concern • Where air pollutants come from and their impacts • What Has Been Done to Date • What Still Needs to be Done

5. Vocabulary for Airheads Volatilization: to pass off in vapor. Emissions: pollution being released into the air from sources. Particulate matter: includes dust, soot and bits of solid materials released into and move around in the air. Atmospheric Transport: air pollutants traveling short or long distances.

6. Vocabulary for Airheads Atmospheric Deposition: the process whereby airborne particles and gases settle to the Earth's surface. - Wet Deposition: pollutants deposited in rain, fog, and snow). - Dry Deposition: pollutants deposited with out rain, fog or snow but in the form of airborne particles. Atmospheric load: total amount of an air pollutant that a water body receives.

7. Air Pollutants of “Water Quality” Concern Nitrogenis a nutrient which all things need to grow. However, human activities contribute more nitrogen than an ecosystem needs. Nitrogen Compounds Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Ammonia/Ammonium (NH3/NH4) Organic Nitrogen (Org-N)

8. Air Pollutants of “Water Quality” Concern continued... Chemical contaminants are natural or manmade compounds that have the potential to become toxic: Chemical contaminants Metals (lead, cadmium, copper) Mercury Organic Contaminants (pesticides, PCBs, PAHs)

9. Where Air Pollutants Come From What goes up Stationary and area sources Mobile sources Agricultural sources Natural sources must come down

10. Stationary Sources Stationary Sources: • do not move • are thought of as large point sources • release relatively consistent quantities of pollutants. Stationary Source

11. Area Sources Area sources: • smaller clustered stationary sources • individual emissions may be low • collective emissions can be significant. Area Source

12. Mobile Sources Mobile sources: • are capable of moving. • can be an “on-road” category. • can be “non-road” or “off-road” category. On Road Mobile Sources

13. Agricultural Sources Agricultural operations can generate emissions of gases, particulate matter, and chemical compounds. These emissions come from: • animal housing • storage of animal waste • land-applied animal waste • crop production Crops Livestock

14. Natural Sources Natural sources of air pollutants include: • lightning • erupting volcano • weather-caused forest & prairie fires • unconfined wild animals Nature

15. Atmospheric Deposition

16. Acid rain Smog (ozone and visibility) Eutrophication Accumulation in terrestrial ecosystems and in drinking water IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTANTS Nitrogen

17. Bioaccumulate Persist Bind to sediments Affect biological processes IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTANTS Chemical Contaminants

18. What Has Been Done to Date to Reduce Air Pollution A Historical Perspective: Clean Air Act (1970) and Amendments • To ensure that all Americans have air that is safe to breathe.

19. What Has Been Done to Date to Reduce Air Pollution Clean Water Act (1972) and Amendments -To restore & maintain the chemical, physical, & biological integrity of the nation’s waters.

20. What Has Been Done to Date to Reduce Air Pollution 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments Great Waters Program Calls for a program to identify and assess the extent of atmospheric deposition of hazardous air pollutants to water bodies such as the Chesapeake Bay.

21. What Has Been Done to Date to Reduce Air Pollution OVER 20 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES STATE/DISTRICT GOVERNMENT: MD, PA, VA, DC LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHESAPEAKE BAY CLEANUP PRIVATE INDUSTRY ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS UNIVERSITIES & RESEARCHERS CONCERNED CITIZENS The Bay Cleanup Involves Partners at All Levels

22. So What Have We Learned About the Bay and Atmospheric Deposition?

24. Area of NOx Emissions that contribute Nitrogen Deposition to the Bay and its Watershed

26. Status of Chemical Contaminant Effects on Living Resources in the Chesapeake Bay’s Tidal Rivers 3 HOT SPOTS 10 WARM SPOTS 8 HEALTHY SPOTS 20 UNKNOWN 21 areas with fish consumption advisories due to chemical contaminants

27. SO WHAT?

28. What can you do to reduce air pollution? As an individual, as a group or as a community Help YOUR community put the pieces of the puzzle together... Communicate concerns to your community & representatives. Attend town meetings Educate others to make good decisions. Raise awareness.

29. What you do daily makes a difference • Conserve electricity. • Recycle AND purchase recycled products. • Use electric lawn mowers and tools instead of gas- • powered ones. • Reduce amounts and types of chemicals you use. • Instead of charcoal lighter fluid use a charcoal • chimney, electric starter, or propane grill. • Reduce the amount of miles you drive. • Carpool, telecommute, or use public transportation. • Purchase fuel efficient automobiles. • Follow state guidelines on emissions testing & • maintain any pollution-control devices.

30. What you do daily makes a difference continued... • Plan car trips carefully. • Turn off your engine when waiting. • Take alternate routes to eliminate idling. • Accelerate gently and evenly, and use your cruise control. • Use vehicle’s flow-through vents instead of air conditioning or open a window. • Check a car’s cooling system thermostat. • Keep car tuned and properly inflate & align tires to save gas & to reduce wear on tires over time.

31. In conclusion... • The Air pollution we create also pollutes our land and water. • Therefore in order to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, we must also clean up the air. THANK YOU

32. OPTIONAL SLIDES

33. Chesapeake Bay ProgramOrganizational Chart

34. Air’s Role in Bay Program Commitments 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement- a commitment to reduce annual nutrient loads. Water Quality Goal: “Quantify the impacts and identify the sources of atmospheric inputs on the Bay system." 1992 Amendments:"... incorporate into the Nutrient Reduction Strategies an air deposition component which builds upon the federal Clean Air Act and explores additional implementation opportunities to further reduce airborne sources of nitrogen entering Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.”

35. Air’s Role in Bay Program Commitments continued... 1994 Basinwide Toxics Reduction & Prevention Strategy “... establish more complete loadings baselines and source identification for... atmospheric deposition... and set reduction targets from those baselines to be achieved over the next decade.” 1997 Chesapeake Executive Council Directive:“Work toward additional reductions of airborne nitrogen delivered to the Bay and its watershed from all sources including states outside the watershed, and seek improved understanding of how airborne nitrogen affects the Bay and its watershed.”

36. Air’s Role in Bay Program Commitments continued... Chesapeake 2000 Agreement • “By 2003, assess the effects of airborne nitrogen compounds and chemical contaminants on the Bay ecosystem andhelp establish reduction goals for these contaminants.” AND “By Fall of 2000, reevaluate and revise, as necessary, the “Chesapeake Bay Basinwide Toxics Reduction and Prevention Strategy” focusing on: Complementing state and federal regulatory programs to go beyond traditional point source controls, including nonpoint sources such as groundwater discharge and atmospheric deposition, by using a watershed-based approach...”.

37. Air’s Role in Bay Program Commitments continued... Toxics 2000 Strategy “By 2002 develop and begin implementing strategies to prevent or reduce chemical contaminants responsible for fish consumption advisories.” “By 2005, in impacted areas and areas at risk, reduce by 15% chemicals of concern from 1998 levels by working with publicly and privately owned treatment works and industries (including air sources). “By 2006,in impacted areas and areas at risk, reduce by 50% chemicals of concern from 2001 levels from priority federal facilities.

38. Air’s Role in Bay Program Commitments continued... “By 2006, in impacted areas and areas at risk, reduce by 50% chemicals of concern from 2001 levels from priority federal facilities. “By 2010, reduce nonpoint sources of chemicals of concern to the Regions of Concern by at least 30%, through implementation of pollution prevention means and other voluntary nonpoint source programs and through accounting of reductions achieved through regulatory”

39. Air Subcommittee Supports • Research • economic studies, environmental effects studies, nitrogen and chemical contaminant studies • Monitoring • Smith Island Wet deposition monitoring site (began in 1995- current) • Outreach • Informative publications, workshops, literature syntheses, web site http://www.chesapeakebay.net/stressor1.htm • Modeling • Atmospheric deposition and loadings

40. In 1985 Other Nonpoint Sources (48%) -Fertilizer and manure -Septic tanks -Natural Sources Atmospheric (27%) atmospheric -Vehicles from land Point Source (25%) -Electric Utilities (21%) -Industry -Wastewater Treatment Plants In 2000 -Industry atmospheric to water (6%) Source: Chesapeake Bay Program Other Nonpoint Sources (48%) Phase 4.3 Watershed Model, 1985 Reference Scenario and 2000 progress scenario -Fertilizer and manure -Septic tanks -Natural Sources Atmospheric (32%) atmospheric -Vehicles from land Point Source (20%) -Electric Utilities (25%) -Industry -Wastewater Treatment Plants -Industry atmospheric to water (7%) , Sources of Nitrogen Loads to the Bay