Air Pollution in California Presentation for Tamalpais High School Environmental Science Classes

1. Air Pollution in California Presentation for Tamalpais High School Environmental Science Classes Mill Valley, CA 13 January 2014 Amy Zimpfer, P.E. Associate Director Air Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9

2. Overview • History of Air Pollution and Health Effects • Clean Air Act Overview • California Air Quality • Strategies and Actions to Reduce Air Pollution • San Francisco Bay Area PM2.5 Pollution • Questions?

3. Los Angeles, CA 1943 First recorded photo of smog in Los Angeles, 1943 (Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times Collection, Department of Special Collections, UCLA Library). On July 26, 1943, in the midst of World War II, Los Angeles was attacked -- not by a foreign enemy, but a domestic one -- smog. The Los Angeles Times reported that a “pall of smoke and fumes descended on downtown, cutting visibility to three blocks.”

4. Donora, Pennsylvania 1948 In 1948, a lethal haze caused by air pollution from steel and zinc smelters, coupled with an inversion layer killed nearly 40 people in Donora, Pennsylvania.

5. LONDON: Fog descended thicker than ever today for the second straight evening in London to threaten another killer smog if it does not clear soon. Four thousand Londoners died in less than a week of smog last year. Druggists reported a rush to get "smog masks" although only a few appeared on the streets. The weather bureau predicted the fog would not lift for another 48 hours. International Herald-Tribune, Nov, 1953 London, England 1953 Source of london for info: http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/environment/air_quality/docs/50_years_on.pdf

6. Ozone (“Good Up High, Bad Nearby”) “Nearby” ozone forms from the reaction between VOCs (or ROGs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), and is dependent on the presence of heat and sunlight http://www.epa.gov/airquality/ozonepollution/

7. Health Effects of Ozone • Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems including: • Chest pain • Coughing • Throat irritation • Congestion • Reduced Lung Function • It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. • Repeated exposure may permanently scar lung tissue.

8. Particulate Matter: PM2.5 • Solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere • PM10: fine particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 microns or less • PM2.5: aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 microns or less (sometimes referred to as fine PM)

9. Health Impacts of PM2.5: • premature death in people with heart or lung disease • nonfatal heart attacks • irregular heartbeat • aggravated asthma • decreased lung function • increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing.

10. Scientists investigated, and states began passing clean air legislation. • Congress passed Clean Air Act in 1970. Pollution Events and Science Catalyze U.S. Clean Air Act U.S. Clean Air Act Structure • Title I – Attainment and Maintenance of National Ambient Air Quality Standards • Title II – Mobile Sources • Title III – Hazardous Air Pollutants • Title IV – Acid Deposition • Title V – Operating Permits • Title VI – Stratospheric Ozone • Title VII – Enforcement  Major Revisions occurred in 1977 and 1990

11. EPA Sets U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to Protect Public Health

12. What’s the Air Quality?  Monitor Ambient Air • What’s Causing the Pollution?  Emissions Inventory + Air Quality Modeling (Meterology, Atmospheric Chemistry) • How to Clean Up the Pollution?  Air Quality Plan • Regulations/Rules • Incentive to Convert to Clean Technology • Voluntary Programs • Will Air be Clean by the Clean Air Act Deadline?  Attainment Demonstration • How to Ensure Actions Happen? Enforcement and Reevaluation EPA’s Steps to Clean Air

13. National Air Quality - 8-hour Ozone Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

14. National Air Quality - PM2.5 Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

15. Ozone • 1. Los Angeles – Long Beach – Riverside, CA • 2. Visalia – Porterville, CA • 3. Bakersfield – Delano, CA • 4. Fresno – Madera, CA • 5. Hanford – Corcoran, CA Most Polluted U.S. Cities • 24-Hour PM2.5 • 1. Bakersfield-Delano, CA • 2, Fresno-Madera, CA • 3. Hanford-Corcoran, CA • 4. Los Angeles – Long Beach – Riverside, CA • 5. Modesto, CA • Annual PM2.5 • 1. Bakersfield-Delano, CA • 2. Merced, CA • 3. Fresno-Madera, CA • 4. Hanford-Corcoran, CA • 5. Los Angeles – Long Beach – Riverside, CA Source: American Lung Association, http://www.stateoftheair.org/

16. Los Angeles & San Joaquin Valley • Exposure vs. Other Metro US Nationwide, the vast majority health impacts from PM2.5 and ozone occur in the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley, CA PM2.5 8-Hour Ozone (NOx) Population-weighted incremental exposure to: PM2.5 above the NAAQS annual standard based on 2007-2009 data and ozone above the 8-Hour NAAQS (> 75 ppb), based on 2008-2010 design values

17. San Joaquin Valley, CA –Overview • 64,000 km2 • 4 million residents • Significant sources: • Agriculture • Oil production • Motor vehicles • Residential wood burning • Significant secondary NH4NO3 (from NOx) and NH4 precursors • Highest 24-hour PM2.5 concentrations in winter Sources:Terry, Magliano, and Kaduwela, (CARB), September 2013; A&WMA Environmental Manager; http://www.sjvgeology.org/maps/index.html

18. SJV NOx Emissions (2020 estimates)

19. USEPA & CA Set Engine and Fuel Standards for New Vehicles 1980’s: Mechanical Engine • “Zero-Emission” • No emissions from tailpipe/exhaust 1990’s: Electronic Engine Retarded Timing 2010: 98% Cleaner EGR Hybrid DPFs Electric SCR Fuel Cells

20. USEPA & CA Establish National Emission Standards for Industrial and Consumer Sources Utility Boilers Refineries • Consumer Products • e.g. Hairspray, Fingernail Polish • Other Combustion Sources • e.g. Woodstoves • Cement Plants • Other Industrial Operations • e.g. Cement Plants, Aerospace etc Power Plants

21. Provide Incentive Fundingto Convert to Clean Vehicles AB 118 Carl Moyer >$100M Prop 1B $250M1 School Bus $200M2 BAR ~$25M ARB ~$30M CEC ~$100M Truck Loans Trucks and buses Low carbon fuels and vehicles Trucks Light-duty scrap and repair Off-road equipment Locomotives Clean school buses Advanced technology vehicles & equipment Marine vessels Ag pumps Support infrastructure Marine vessels Shore power R & D Locomotives Smog/PM in goods movement corridors Children’s air toxic exposure Criteria pollutants and toxics Climate change goals Smog from gross polluters SIP emission reductions 1Contingent on bond sales 2One time funding

23. PM2.5 Nonattainment in 2025

24. SJV NOx Emissions(2020 estimates)

25. San Joaquin Valley—Additional Measures • Rules • Tighter Woodburning Restrictions • Control of Underfired Charbroiling • Confined Animal Feeding Operations • Public Education • Spare The Air Days/Don’t Light Tonight • Technology Advancement • Electric Agricultural Pumps • Cleaner Diesel Trucks and Tractors • Renewable Energy • Cleaner Dairy Manure Systems • Alternative Fuels Source: San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District

26. National Rules to Reduce Greenhouse Gases Stationary Source GHG Rules Light Duty Vehicle Emission Standards Renewable Fuel Standard 2 GHG Reporting Rule

27. S.F. Bay Area Winter PM 2.5 Trends Source: Bay Area Air Quality Management District

28. San Francisco Bay Area PM2.5 Pollution 11/1/13 – 1/8/14

29. S.F. Bay Area Winter PM 2.5 Sources Source: Bay Area Air Quality Management District

30. What would YOU do to reduce Wintertime PM2.5 in the Bay Area? • Source: Bay Area Air Quality Management District

31. Questions? epa.gov/oar epa.gov/region9 zimpfer.amy@epa.gov THANK YOU!