at its worst, the “airpocalypse” that settled over beijing and northern china in late february...
TRANSCRIPT
Air Pollution from Stationary Sources
At its worst, the “airpocalypse” that settled over Beijing and northern China in late February had a fine particulate matter reading 16 times the recommended upper limit, turning Beijing into a veritable smoking lounge.
China Wakes Up to Its Environmental Catastrophe – Bloomberg Businessweek
1963 and amendments in 1970, 1977, and 1990
Purpose:◦ Control common pollutants◦ Hazardous pollutants◦ Area wide and global pollutants
Clean Air Act and Amendments
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) Nitrogen oxides (NOx) Ozone (O3) Particulate matter (PM) Lead (Pb) Carbon monoxide (CO)
Common (criteria) Pollutants
5
Criteria pollutant sources and impacts
Pollutant Chief source Health impacts SynergiesOzone Vehicle exhaust,
industrial emissions, fuel and solvent
vapors.
Irritation, wheezing, coughing, inflamed skin,
asthma, bronchitis, permanent lung damage.
Created by reaction between NOx, VOC,
and sunlight.
Carbon monoxide Vehicles Heart disease, central nervous system,death.
Lead Metals processing Neurological effects in children, cardiovascular
in adults.
Nitrogen dioxide Vehicles, electricity generation, fossil fuel
combustion.
Asthma, damage to lungs.
Contributes to ozone, particulates, acid rain, visibility, water quality,
toxic chemicls, and global warming.
Particulates Industry, vehicles, power plants.
Asthma, bronchitis, irregular heartbeat, heart
attacks, premature death.
Particles consist of liquid droplets, acids,
organic chemicals, metals, soil, and dust,
Sulfur dioxide Vehicles, equipment, fires, solvents,
electricity generation, fossil fuel
combustion.
Temporary breahting problems, aggravated
asthma, heart disease, acid rain.
Present in fuel and metal ore; released when combusted or
processed.
EPA set standards States develop plans to achieve standards Tougher rules for new sources of pollution Non-attainment areas
◦ Chattanooga◦ Knoxville◦ Memphis◦ Kingsport-Bristol
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
7
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
Pollutant Level Averaging TimeCarbon 9 ppm
Monoxide (10 mg/m3)35 ppm
(40 mg/m3)0.15 µg/m3 (2) Rolling 3-Month
Average1.5 µg/m3 Quarterly Average
Nitrogen Annual
Dioxide (Arithmetic Average)
53 ppb (3)
Lead
Primary Standards
8-hour (1)
1-hour (1)
Pollutant Level Averaging TimeParticulate
Matter (PM10)
Particulate Annual (6)
Matter (PM2.5) (Arithmetic Average)
35 µg/m3 24-hour (7)
0.075 ppm
(2008 std)
0.08 ppm
(1997 std)0.12 ppm 1-hour (10)
Sulfur Annual
Dioxide (Arithmetic Average)
0.14 ppm 24-hour (1)
24-hour (5)
15.0 µg/m3
Ozone 8-hour (8)
8-hour (9)
0.03 ppm
150 µg/m3
9
Ozone
10
Improving trends for air emissions
Emissions have also greatly improved.
Source: http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/sixpoll.html
11
Improving trends for air quality
Air quality (pollution concentrations) has improved greatly, particularly since 1990.
Source: http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/sixpoll.html
12
Estimates of criteria pollutant emissions
13
Economy v pollution tradeoff?
•Emissions have declined greatly even though the economy continues to grow.
•We have become much more efficient at growing the economy without adding to air pollution.
14
Growth v Pollution?
15
Persisting air quality problems
•High levels of ozone and fine particulates still persist.
•142 million people in the U.S. live in areas with high levels of ozone, particulates, SO2, or lead.
16
Number of People Living in Counties with Air Quality Concentrations Above the Level of the NAAQS in 2012
Are the air standards efficient? Are the air standards cost-effective? Are the air standards worth doing?
Economics of Air Pollution
Offset program (1970s) Smog Trading (California) Acid rain program (tradable permits) Climate change (later in the term)
18
Innovative Approaches