Pollution, Aerosols and Climate Change

1. Pollution, Aerosols and Climate Change Laura Marschke Southwest Early College

2. Pollution What are we learning about today? • What is pollution? • Air pollutants • Where does air pollution come from? • Why do we care about pollution? • Health effects • Pollution and climate change • Steps to reduce air pollution • Colorado’s plans for reducing pollution • Do measures to reduce air pollution actually work? • Pittsburgh, Beijing, and London case studies

3. Cleveland, 1973 What is pollution? NYC, 1970s China, 2012 Pittsburgh, 1940s

4. What is pollution? • The introduction of a contaminant into the environment • Land pollution • Littering • Sewage • Nuclear and chemical waste • Air pollution • Emissions • Smoke • Acid rain • Fumes • Water pollution • Pesticides, fertilizers • Oil spills • Sewage • Soaps, antifreeze, oil • Household chemicals

5. Quick facts – air pollution • The average adult consumes 3000 gallons of polluted air every day • Vehicle exhaust contributes to 60% of carbon monoxide emissions in the US (up to 95% in large cities) • London's "Great Smog“ of 1952 was one of the worst air pollution incidents in history • Deaths of more than 4,000 died in just six days • Harvard School of Public Health has recently (2010) come up with the data that approximately 4% of all deaths in the US can be attributed to air pollution

6. Air pollutants • Particulate matter • Ground-level ozone • Carbon monoxide • Nitrogen oxides • Sulfur oxides • Volatiles organic compounds (VOCs) Particulate matter

7. Where does air pollution come from? • Wood burning • Fireplaces • Wood stoves • Land-clearing fires • Burning toxic substances • Garbage • Plastics • Air conditioners, refrigerators, fire extinguishers • Fossil fuel burning • Cars, trucks, etc • Boats • Trains • Gas-powered tools • Household products • Paints • Printer ink • Hairspray, air fresheners • Stirring up dust • Building, driving, any way we change the landscape

8. Why do we care about pollution? • Health effects • Climate effects

9. Health effects of small particulates • Contain cancer-causing materials • Penetrate lungs and collect in air sacs • Coughing/wheezing • Asthma (onset or increases frequency and/or duration of events) • Heart disease • Chronic bronchitis • Emphysema • Pneumonia • Premature births/low birth weight • More emergency room visits • More hospitalizations • More time off of work and school

10. Example - pneumoconiosis • Develops after small particulates, stay and accumulate inside lungs • A deadly occupational disease which develops over a long period of time • Said to be incurable even with contemporary medicine

11. Health effects of ground-level ozone • Irritate eyes, nose, and throat • Inflammation of lungs and airways • Coughing • Asthma • Bronchitis • Chest pain • Difficulty breathing • Susceptibility to lung disease • Damage to lung tissue • Premature aging of lungs • Contribute to chronic lung disease

12. Health effects of carbon monoxide • This is a poison!!! • Small amounts of CO will cause tiredness and chest pains • Larger amounts impair vision and coordination, triggers headaches, dizziness, confusion, and nausea • High concentrations – FATAL!

13. Health effects of other air pollutants • Cancer • Low immunity • Disorders of the nervous system • Interference with child development • And more!

14. Pollution and climate change • Fine particulates • Decrease precipitation downwind • Reduce photosynthetic activity and growth of plants • Can change reflectivity of clouds • Pollution can limit plant productivity and survival • Sulfates and nitrates cause cooling • Regional ozone concentrations will increase • Higher concentrations of ozone increase transpiration and exacerbates tree drought stress • Increases vulnerability to attacks and wildfire

15. Steps to reduce air pollution • Walk or bike more • Carpool or use public transportation • Maintain your vehicle • Combine errands to reduce driving • Drive smart • Accelerate slowly • Drive slower • Avoid letting your car idle • Don’t smoke • Avoid using products in aerosol spray cans • Use a push or electric lawn mower instead of gas-powered • Avoid chemicals or cleaners that emit fumes • Maintain gas appliances and heaters

16. What is Colorado doing? • Must follow Clean Air Act (federal law) • 19 regulations (this is a sample) • Particles, smokes, carbon monoxide and sulfur oxides • Odor control • Air pollution emission • Wood burning controls • VOC controls • Hazardous air pollutants controls • Transportation conformity • Motor/diesel vehicle inspection programs • CFC regulations • Street sanding and sweeping • Acid rain controls • Lead based paint controls http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ap/

17. Does it work?Pittsburgh, 1940s The end result, which is immediately visible even at such a short distance. The air is much cleaner, something that most of us take for granted today. But we shouldn't forget how many people had to fight to get to that point, and how we now have to fight for other things. "A county-wide ordinance was passed in Allegheny County in 1949, after the deadly Donora Fog blanketed a five-state area for five days in 1948. " Here we can see a half-washed building. A "before and after" shot of St. Louis from the newspaper of the time. Probably inspired many to do the same thing in Pittsburgh.

18. Does it work?Beijing, 2008 • Before/after in Beijing • The Chinese government imposed new restrictions for air quality before the 2008 Olympic Games • Measures taken • Polluting factories closed or improved • Wastewater treated • Increased forested areas within city • New public transportation using updated emission guidelines • Old taxis, etc have been replaced • Staggered work days to reduce traffic volumes

19. Does it work?Beijing, 2008 • The study (about Beijing air quality) was just recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and describes how air pollution can “affect cardiovascular disease mechanisms in healthy, young people.” What a difference ... these photos were taken just 24 hours apart, on Sunday and yesterday / Pics: Michael Dodge Source: The Daily Telegraph (August 5, 2008) Beijing air quality throughout the Olympics

20. Does it work?Beijing, 2008 • New research shows that levels of carbon monoxide dropped sharply in the Beijing area between 2007 and 2008, due to traffic restrictions imposed because of the 2008 Summer Olympics. • Knowing the levels of carbon monoxide allowed the researchers to infer that carbon dioxide emissions also dropped dramatically. YES

21. Does it work?London, 2012 • It is feared that the city’s nitrogen oxide and ozone concentrations will negatively affect the 2012 Olympic athletes and the vast number of spectators and tourists in attendance • In addition, legal action (to the British government) for failing to comply with the EU’s January 1, 2010 deadline for fulfilling established air quality plans “2012 Olympics might bring the worst air quality in Europe” http://www.londonair.org.uk Current maps of London air quality

22. Aerosols What are we learning about today? • What are aerosols? • Where do aerosols come from? • Why do we care about aerosols? • Health effects of aerosols • Climate effects of aerosols • Steps to reduce aerosol emissions • Summary • Compare and contrast pollution and aerosols

23. What are aerosols? • Minute particles suspended in the atmosphere • They scatter and absorb sunlight • Can be emitted directly (primary) or created through chemistry (secondary) • Act as a site for a chemical reaction to take place • Important: destruction of stratospheric ozone

24. What are aerosols? • Types • Dust • Sea salt • Sulfates • Black carbon • Organic matter • Nitrates sea salt dust volcanic ash Volcanic ash Pollen Sea salt Soot

25. Dust • Mainly from deserts • Solid particles • Mostly natural • Humans contribute from land conversion • Albedo is approximately 0.5 • Does dust cause cooling or warming? • Both

26. Cooling or warming? • Over forest or water? • Cooling • Sand is lighter (higher albedo) than forests or water • Over ice or snow? • Warming • Sand is darker (lower albedo) than snow or ice

27. Sea Salt • Mainly from the oceans • Solid particles unless hydrated with water • Mostly natural • Causes cooling

28. Sulfates (nitrates are similar) • Secondary emission • Produced from SO2 or DMS • Mostly from humans • Fossil fuel combustion • Albedo of 0.99 • Does this cause warming or cooling? • Cooling

29. Black carbon • Mostly from biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion • Appears black to the naked eye • What would it’s albedo be? • Close to 0 • Does this cause warming or cooling? • Warming over snow/ice especially!

30. Organic Matter • Variety of compounds • Natural or from humans • Terpenes from trees, vegetation • Fossil fuel and biomass burning • Can be primary or secondary emissions

31. Where do aerosols come from? • Dust • Deserts • Agriculture • Sea salt • Oceans • Sulfates • Chemical reaction of sulfur dioxide • Volcanoes • Fossil fuel burning • Marine plankton Saharan dust storm off West African coast

32. Where do aerosols come from? • Black carbon • Transportation • Fossil fuel burning • Cook stoves • Biomass burning • Organic matter • Biomass burning • Fossil fuel burning • Nitrates • Chemical reaction of ammonia and sulfates • Agricultural emissions • Biomass burning • Fossil fuel burning

33. Where do aerosols come from? • Pale yellow • Clear sky • Maximum visibility • Dark red-brown • Very hazy conditions • Video of aerosol optical depth over time (1/05 - 6/12) January 2005

34. Where do aerosols come from? • High concentrations due to land clearing and agricultural fires (dry seasons) • South America • July – Sept • Central America • March – May • Central and south Africa • June – Sept • Southeast Asia • January – April • High concentrations due to dust storms • Arabian Peninsula • May – August • High concentrations due to human-produced air pollution • Northern India and Himalayas region • Many months • Eastern China • Most of the year

35. Why do we care about aerosols? • Health effects • Climate effects

36. Health effects of aerosols • Enhanced mortality, cardiovascular, respiratory and allergic diseases • Asthma, bronchitis, cancer, etc • Increased lung toxicity • Super-fine particles can travel to respiratory tracts, enter the blood stream and enter the brain • Suppression of defense mechanisms • Video: African Dust, Coral Reefs and Human Health

37. Aerosols and climate change • Changes in formation of clouds and precipitation • Quantity of droplets • Size of droplets • Changes in reflectivity • Can inhibit or enhance cloud formation

38. Aerosols and climate change • Cause warming or cooling • Black carbon • Warm • Sulfates • Cool

39. Steps to reduce aerosol emissions • Clean Air Act and other legislation • Scrubbers and filters • Advanced combustion techniques • Sustainable agriculture • Conversion to newer technology • Cook stoves, etc • Alternative energy sources • Limiting fossil fuel consumption

40. Summary: compare and contrast Pollution Aerosols • Contaminant to environment • Particulate matter • Ground-level ozone • Carbon monoxide • Nitrogen oxides • Sulfur oxides • VOCs • Emitted directly into the atmosphere • Moderate to severe health effects • Generally cause cooling • Suspended particulate matter • Dust • Sea salt • Sulfates • Black carbon • Organic matter • Nitrates • Emitted directly or secondary after chemical reaction • Moderate to severe health effects • Cause warming or cooling

41. Sources • http://www.bcairquality.ca/101/individual-pollution.html • http://www.bcairquality.ca/101/pollution-climate-causes.html • http://www.bcairquality.ca/health/air-quality-and-health.html • http://www.koken-ltd.co.jp/english/hep.htm • http://www.greenstudentu.com/encyclopedia/pollution • http://pollutionarticles.blogspot.com/2010/05/air-pollution-interesting-facts.html • http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ap/ • http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ap/regoverview.html • http://www.treehugger.com/slideshows/environmental-policy/think-air-quality-regulations-dont-matter-look-pittsburgh-1940s/ • http://www.treehugger.com/corporate-responsibility/olympics-is-the-air-in-beijing-safe.html • http://www.examiner.com/article/2012-olympics-might-bring-the-worst-air-quality-europe • http://www.londonair.org.uk/LondonAir/Default.aspx • http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/athletes-warned-poison-fog-a-killer/story-e6freuy9-1111117108157 • http://www.fs.fed.us/ccrc/topics/air-pollution.shtml • http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/24si.pdf • http://www.wsl.ch/dienstleistungen/publikationen/pdf/8915.pdf • http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/2011/report/climatechange.pdf • http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/factsheets/Aerosols.html • http://www.eoearth.org/article/Aerosols • http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/wg1/pdf/TAR-05.PDF • http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Aerosols/ • http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/GlobalMaps/view.php?d1=MODAL2_M_AER_OD • http://gallery.usgs.gov/videos/223#.UA7cfqAWqLI • http://atmo.tamu.edu/class/atmo689-gs/lectureweek10/aerosolreview.pdf • http://icp.giss.nasa.gov/research/ppa/2001/2001_cross_etal.pdf • http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/climate/factsheets/howhuman.pdf • http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/science/aerosols-and-global-warming-faq.html • https://www2.ucar.edu/atmosnews/news/7535/reducing-traffic-2008-olympics-yielded-large-cut-co2 • Also, special thanks to Jason English at UCAR for some images and information used in this power point

42. Image Sources • http://www.treehugger.com/slideshows/environmental-policy/think-air-quality-regulations-dont-matter-look-pittsburgh-1940s/ • http://www.treehugger.com/environmental-policy/what-us-would-look-without-environmental-protections-photos.html • http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2012/02/06/Pollution-takes-heavy-toll-on-China/UPI-54311328532657/ • http://au.news.yahoo.com/queensland/galleries/g/13928432/mystery-smog-shrouds-chinese-city/13928433/ • http://www.koken-ltd.co.jp/english/particulaterespirators/hep1.jpg • http://www.lbamspray.com/00_Images/particle_pollution.jpg • http://www.sbcapcd.org/images/sbcapcdParticleSize600.jpg • http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1p20WdeXKKs/TQDMQ8C1-rI/AAAAAAAAKUM/Ob4xKgpLSFM/s1600/Ozone.jpg • http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/cmsdepartments/construction/buildingservices/EMS/PublishingImages/OZONE4.jpg • http://web.creativetime.org/system/programs/images/182/original/1990_-_Carbon_Monoxide.jpg • http://www.cleanair.hamilton.ca/images/image001.jpg • http://www-k12.atmos.washington.edu/k12/pilot/danger_in_air/pollutants.html • http://www.wunderground.com/health/pollutiondeaths.jpg • http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2008/08/04/1111117/108179-china-olympics-pollution.jpg • http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Aerosols/ • http://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/globalmaps/data/mov/MODAL2_M_AER_OD.mov • http://apollo.lsc.vsc.edu/classes/met130/notes/chapter16/aerosols.html • http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/dust-images.html • http://www.earthbeatradio.org/images/oceanW.jpg • http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/home/accomp/aero_force.gif • http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/images/diesel_smoke_big_sm.jpg • http://www.climate.org/publications/Climate%20Alerts/Autumn2009/images/Figure4_000.jpg • http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2012/02/20120216-bangladesh-cooking.jpg.492x0_q85_crop-smart.jpg • http://www.occupymonsanto360.org/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/sustain-farm-ghg-emissions.jpg • http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Aerosols/page3.php • http://atmos.caf.dlr.de/projects/scops/sciamachy_book/sciamachy_book_figures/chapter_10/fig_10_16.jpg • Sea salt image – Tiyani Fan, graduate student at the University of Colorado • Black carbon image – Pengfei Yu, graduate student at the University of Colorado