The Inversion in Utah
Content
The Inversion: What it is, Health Effects, and What’s Being Done About It
Jessica Sempler and Jon Schmidt Advocacy Rotation
Definition of an Inversion
Cooler
air trapped near Earth surface, with warmer air acting as a lid Caused by cooling of the air near the ground at night Worsened by calm winds, clear skies, long nights, and surrounding mountains
Inversion
Effect of Inversion on Air Quality
Pollutants
from vehicles, industry, and fire places are trapped, leading to high AQI (Air Quality Index) levels
greater the AQI level, the greater the air pollution and the greater the health concern
The
How do we measure air quality?
EPA has set NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) for 6 common air pollutants:
Particulate matter Ground level ozone CO SO2 NO2 Pb
PM and O3 pose the greatest threat to human health in the US
Particulate Matter
Particle
Matter
PM 10
Inhalable,
coarse particles 2.5-10micrometers 1/7th the width of a human hair
PM 2.5
Fine
particles, 2.5 micrometers or less Even smaller
Any particles < 10 micrometers can accumulate in the lungs
Sources of PM and O3
Particulate Matter:
Ozone:
Burning of gasoline, natural gas, coal, oil and other fuels Industrial plants Agriculture (plowing or burning fields) Unpaved roads, mining, construction activities. Reaction of VOCs, NO2, So2 and other pollutants in the air (in the winter) Chemical reaction of pollutants; VOCs and NO2 (in the summer)
Sources of other pollutants
Carbon
monoxide
Primary source is motor vehicles Second major source is wood burning
Sulfur
dioxide
Primarily from stationary sources that burn fossil fuels, including power plants and refineries, and a byproduct of copper smelting
AQI: Air Quality Index
"Good" AQI is 0 - 50. Air pollution poses little or no risk. "Moderate" AQI is 51 - 100. For some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. For example, people who are unusually sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms. "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" AQI is 101 - 150. People with lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air. "Unhealthy" AQI is 151 - 200. Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects.
PM 2.5 vs. AQI
PM
2.5 vs. AQI 15 = 50 35 = 100 65 = 150 150 = 200 200 = 250
Why is this important to us?
In December 2009, the EPA found that Salt Lake, Utah, Cache, Box Elder, Toole, Davis, and Weber counties were not meeting federal health standards for PM 2.5
These standards require:
24-hr PM2.5 levels < 35 ug/m3 Annual PM2.5 levels < 15 ug/m3
The three-year average of the 98th percentile must be less than 35 or 15, respectively
We did meet this goal, and actually met the goal for the new standards of <12ug/m3, implemented 12/12.
In Summary:
Our
yearly goals for air quality are being met, but the winter inversion means that we are not meeting EPA standards on a daily basis throughout the winder. Areas not in compliance with NAAQS are known as “nonattainment”
Health Concerns of nonattainment
Particulate
matter:
Can cause nose and throat irritation, lung damage, bronchitis, and early death. Can cause breathing problems, reduced lung function, asthma, irritated eyes, stuffy noses, and reduced resistance to colds and other infections. It may also speed up aging of lung tissue.
Ozone:
Pediatric Asthma
The odds of an ED visit for asthma during the 5th-7th day of a continuous inversion are 1.42 (1.02-1.96) times the odds of an ED visit for asthma on a day when there is no inversion.
This suggests a 42% increase in the odds of going to the emergency department during a prolonged inversion This is significant, as ~21,000 children with asthma live in Salt Lake City
Pollution and Birth Outcomes
Air pollution causes morphologic changes in the placenta, inhibiting blood transfer to the fetus Pregnant women exposed to more air pollution have multiple adverse pregnancy outcomes including higher blood pressure, higher rates of pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth retardation, premature births, low birth wt. syndrome and neonates with smaller head circumference Air pollution is associated with higher rates of birth defects including neural tube and cardiac birth defects
Average number of Unhealthy Days for Children in SLC
According to the EPA:
Jan: 6.8 (2.8 are generally unhealthy) Feb: 0.7 Mar: 0.2 Apr: 0.5 May: 0.3 Jun: 1.7
Jul: 4.5 (0.5 are generally unhealthy) Aug: 2.2 Sept: 0.2 Oct: 0.2 Nov: 0.0 Dec: 2.0
Other concerns of nonattainment…..
Air Quality on Interview Day
14 12 10
12.67%
"Good" 0-12 µg/m3 "Moderate" 12-34 µg/m3
% Matched
8 6 4 2 0
6.25%
"Unhealthy"
PM 2.5 <55 1
PM 2.5 >55 2
How we measure up
According
to the American Lung Association, out of 277 metropolitan areas, we ranked:
#7 for 24-hr particle pollution #52 for high ozone days # 88 for annual particle pollution
How we measure up, cont.
What is being done
In
2010, UofU initiated a 3-year, $1.3 million study to better understand the inversion, and effects on air quality Largest study of Utah atmospheric conditions in over a decade
Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment
Last week Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment held a press conference at the Utah State Capitol
They called upon Governor Herbert to take immediate action and declare Utah’s air pollution a public health emergency.
Dr. Ellie Brownstein, Pediatrician, Dr. Rich Kanner, Pulmonologist, Dr. Cris Cowley, Cardiac Anesthesiologist, Dr. Brent Muhlestein, Cardiologist, Dr. Howie Garber, ED Dr. Kirtly Jones, Ob/Gyn
Letter to the Governor
“Because
of the adverse affect of air pollution on placental blood flow and ultimately on chromosomal function, what we are experiencing right now can have life long and irreversible impacts on the health of babies in utero” “The systemic inflammatory response precipitated by air pollution does not disappear until weeks after the pollution has resolved…”
Proposals from UPHE
ENERGY: All new electric energy supplies for the state of Utah should come from renewable resources. State-of-the-art controls on existing plants A goal of attaining 25% renewable energy sources by the year 2020
GOVERNMENT: A 20% emissions reduction strategy by the Air Quality Board State funding for more extensive environmental monitoring Provide medical expertise to organizations working on urban planning, renewable power, increasing fuel efficiencies, and transportation alternatives.
Proposals, cont.
TRANSPORTATION: A reduction of the speed limit to 55mph when air pollution exceeds EPA limits Public subsidies for mass transit, free ridership and expanded service Encouragement for school districts to use school buses that runs on alternative fuels Policies that prohibit school buses should from idling in school yards while waiting for students
Proposals, cont.
EDUCATION: Strategies to increase public awareness about the negative health effects of air pollution The establishment of air pollution warning indices that promote the safety of pregnant women and their unborn children Educate people about the sources of pollution and their health consequences
Already in place
Red light/Green light program for wood burning Idle Free Utah “Air Quality Alerts” on freeway message boards
Appears to be decreasing miles driven by 3-4%
Kennecott offered free UTA passes on Red Air days
After they gave 2,500, they shut down the website
What we’ve accomplished: Maintenance Areas
Previously
non-compliant, have subsequently demonstrated adequate improvement to the EPA
Ozone:
Salt
Lake County and Davis County SLC, Provo
Carbon Monoxide:
Ogden,
Areas for continued improvement
Current
SLC,
nonattainment areas in UT:
Logan, Provo
PM 2.5:
PM 10:
Salt
Lake and Utah Counties
Sulfur dioxide:
Salt
Lake County and East Toole county above 5,500 feet
If you’re riled up…
[email protected]
To sign the letter to the governor Or to join UPHE
References
Environmental Protection Agency
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
http://www.epa.gov/airquality/particlepollution/designations/2006standards/final/TSD/tsd_4.0_4.8_4.8.2_r08 _UT.pdf http://www.epa.gov/aircompare/compare-trip.htm http://www.epa.gov/air/criteria.html http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/climate/TemperatureInversions.php http://www.deq.utah.gov/ http://www.airquality.utah.gov/aqp/slc-currentconditions.html http://www.airquality.utah.gov/Public-Interest/annual-report/.pdf/2012Annual%20Report.pdf http://www.unews.utah.edu/old/p/012710-2.html http://www.stateoftheair.org/2012/msas/Salt-Lake-City-Ogden-Clearfield-UT.html http://www.stateoftheair.org/2012/states/utah/salt-lake-49035.html http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.aqi http://www.uphe.org/
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
University of Utah UNewsCenter
American Lung Association Air Now
Utah Physicians for Healthy Environment
Utah Moms for Clean Air Kennecott Utah Copper
http://blog.utahmomsforcleanair.org/ http://kennecott.com/pledge-receive-free-uta-pass
Jessica Sempler and Jon Schmidt Advocacy Rotation
Definition of an Inversion
Cooler
air trapped near Earth surface, with warmer air acting as a lid Caused by cooling of the air near the ground at night Worsened by calm winds, clear skies, long nights, and surrounding mountains
Inversion
Effect of Inversion on Air Quality
Pollutants
from vehicles, industry, and fire places are trapped, leading to high AQI (Air Quality Index) levels
greater the AQI level, the greater the air pollution and the greater the health concern
The
How do we measure air quality?
EPA has set NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) for 6 common air pollutants:
Particulate matter Ground level ozone CO SO2 NO2 Pb
PM and O3 pose the greatest threat to human health in the US
Particulate Matter
Particle
Matter
PM 10
Inhalable,
coarse particles 2.5-10micrometers 1/7th the width of a human hair
PM 2.5
Fine
particles, 2.5 micrometers or less Even smaller
Any particles < 10 micrometers can accumulate in the lungs
Sources of PM and O3
Particulate Matter:
Ozone:
Burning of gasoline, natural gas, coal, oil and other fuels Industrial plants Agriculture (plowing or burning fields) Unpaved roads, mining, construction activities. Reaction of VOCs, NO2, So2 and other pollutants in the air (in the winter) Chemical reaction of pollutants; VOCs and NO2 (in the summer)
Sources of other pollutants
Carbon
monoxide
Primary source is motor vehicles Second major source is wood burning
Sulfur
dioxide
Primarily from stationary sources that burn fossil fuels, including power plants and refineries, and a byproduct of copper smelting
AQI: Air Quality Index
"Good" AQI is 0 - 50. Air pollution poses little or no risk. "Moderate" AQI is 51 - 100. For some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. For example, people who are unusually sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms. "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" AQI is 101 - 150. People with lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air. "Unhealthy" AQI is 151 - 200. Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects.
PM 2.5 vs. AQI
PM
2.5 vs. AQI 15 = 50 35 = 100 65 = 150 150 = 200 200 = 250
Why is this important to us?
In December 2009, the EPA found that Salt Lake, Utah, Cache, Box Elder, Toole, Davis, and Weber counties were not meeting federal health standards for PM 2.5
These standards require:
24-hr PM2.5 levels < 35 ug/m3 Annual PM2.5 levels < 15 ug/m3
The three-year average of the 98th percentile must be less than 35 or 15, respectively
We did meet this goal, and actually met the goal for the new standards of <12ug/m3, implemented 12/12.
In Summary:
Our
yearly goals for air quality are being met, but the winter inversion means that we are not meeting EPA standards on a daily basis throughout the winder. Areas not in compliance with NAAQS are known as “nonattainment”
Health Concerns of nonattainment
Particulate
matter:
Can cause nose and throat irritation, lung damage, bronchitis, and early death. Can cause breathing problems, reduced lung function, asthma, irritated eyes, stuffy noses, and reduced resistance to colds and other infections. It may also speed up aging of lung tissue.
Ozone:
Pediatric Asthma
The odds of an ED visit for asthma during the 5th-7th day of a continuous inversion are 1.42 (1.02-1.96) times the odds of an ED visit for asthma on a day when there is no inversion.
This suggests a 42% increase in the odds of going to the emergency department during a prolonged inversion This is significant, as ~21,000 children with asthma live in Salt Lake City
Pollution and Birth Outcomes
Air pollution causes morphologic changes in the placenta, inhibiting blood transfer to the fetus Pregnant women exposed to more air pollution have multiple adverse pregnancy outcomes including higher blood pressure, higher rates of pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth retardation, premature births, low birth wt. syndrome and neonates with smaller head circumference Air pollution is associated with higher rates of birth defects including neural tube and cardiac birth defects
Average number of Unhealthy Days for Children in SLC
According to the EPA:
Jan: 6.8 (2.8 are generally unhealthy) Feb: 0.7 Mar: 0.2 Apr: 0.5 May: 0.3 Jun: 1.7
Jul: 4.5 (0.5 are generally unhealthy) Aug: 2.2 Sept: 0.2 Oct: 0.2 Nov: 0.0 Dec: 2.0
Other concerns of nonattainment…..
Air Quality on Interview Day
14 12 10
12.67%
"Good" 0-12 µg/m3 "Moderate" 12-34 µg/m3
% Matched
8 6 4 2 0
6.25%
"Unhealthy"
PM 2.5 <55 1
PM 2.5 >55 2
How we measure up
According
to the American Lung Association, out of 277 metropolitan areas, we ranked:
#7 for 24-hr particle pollution #52 for high ozone days # 88 for annual particle pollution
How we measure up, cont.
What is being done
In
2010, UofU initiated a 3-year, $1.3 million study to better understand the inversion, and effects on air quality Largest study of Utah atmospheric conditions in over a decade
Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment
Last week Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment held a press conference at the Utah State Capitol
They called upon Governor Herbert to take immediate action and declare Utah’s air pollution a public health emergency.
Dr. Ellie Brownstein, Pediatrician, Dr. Rich Kanner, Pulmonologist, Dr. Cris Cowley, Cardiac Anesthesiologist, Dr. Brent Muhlestein, Cardiologist, Dr. Howie Garber, ED Dr. Kirtly Jones, Ob/Gyn
Letter to the Governor
“Because
of the adverse affect of air pollution on placental blood flow and ultimately on chromosomal function, what we are experiencing right now can have life long and irreversible impacts on the health of babies in utero” “The systemic inflammatory response precipitated by air pollution does not disappear until weeks after the pollution has resolved…”
Proposals from UPHE
ENERGY: All new electric energy supplies for the state of Utah should come from renewable resources. State-of-the-art controls on existing plants A goal of attaining 25% renewable energy sources by the year 2020
GOVERNMENT: A 20% emissions reduction strategy by the Air Quality Board State funding for more extensive environmental monitoring Provide medical expertise to organizations working on urban planning, renewable power, increasing fuel efficiencies, and transportation alternatives.
Proposals, cont.
TRANSPORTATION: A reduction of the speed limit to 55mph when air pollution exceeds EPA limits Public subsidies for mass transit, free ridership and expanded service Encouragement for school districts to use school buses that runs on alternative fuels Policies that prohibit school buses should from idling in school yards while waiting for students
Proposals, cont.
EDUCATION: Strategies to increase public awareness about the negative health effects of air pollution The establishment of air pollution warning indices that promote the safety of pregnant women and their unborn children Educate people about the sources of pollution and their health consequences
Already in place
Red light/Green light program for wood burning Idle Free Utah “Air Quality Alerts” on freeway message boards
Appears to be decreasing miles driven by 3-4%
Kennecott offered free UTA passes on Red Air days
After they gave 2,500, they shut down the website
What we’ve accomplished: Maintenance Areas
Previously
non-compliant, have subsequently demonstrated adequate improvement to the EPA
Ozone:
Salt
Lake County and Davis County SLC, Provo
Carbon Monoxide:
Ogden,
Areas for continued improvement
Current
SLC,
nonattainment areas in UT:
Logan, Provo
PM 2.5:
PM 10:
Salt
Lake and Utah Counties
Sulfur dioxide:
Salt
Lake County and East Toole county above 5,500 feet
If you’re riled up…
[email protected]
To sign the letter to the governor Or to join UPHE
References
Environmental Protection Agency
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
http://www.epa.gov/airquality/particlepollution/designations/2006standards/final/TSD/tsd_4.0_4.8_4.8.2_r08 _UT.pdf http://www.epa.gov/aircompare/compare-trip.htm http://www.epa.gov/air/criteria.html http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/climate/TemperatureInversions.php http://www.deq.utah.gov/ http://www.airquality.utah.gov/aqp/slc-currentconditions.html http://www.airquality.utah.gov/Public-Interest/annual-report/.pdf/2012Annual%20Report.pdf http://www.unews.utah.edu/old/p/012710-2.html http://www.stateoftheair.org/2012/msas/Salt-Lake-City-Ogden-Clearfield-UT.html http://www.stateoftheair.org/2012/states/utah/salt-lake-49035.html http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.aqi http://www.uphe.org/
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
University of Utah UNewsCenter
American Lung Association Air Now
Utah Physicians for Healthy Environment
Utah Moms for Clean Air Kennecott Utah Copper
http://blog.utahmomsforcleanair.org/ http://kennecott.com/pledge-receive-free-uta-pass
