pollution prevention measurement examples ann terese heil, p.e. senior engineer sanitation districts...

Pollution Prevention Measurement Examples

Ann Terese Heil, P.E.

Senior Engineer

Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County

1955 Workman Mill Road, Whittier CA 90601

562/699-7411 x2950 fax 562/692-5103

aheil@lacsd.org

SANITATION DISTRICTS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Lindane Outreach Project• Targeted

• Three mailings

• Mass media

• PTAs

• Environmental groups

• Web site

• Hotline• Multi-lingual

Measurement Elements

Wastewater sampling

Surveys

Pharmacy sales

Other outcomes

Pilot project, so heavy focus on measurement

Wastewater Sampling• Each episode: seven 24-hr samples

• 4 episodes in Long Beach (1 before, 3 after)

• 4 episodes in Pomona (1 before, 3 after)

• Burbank (18 samples before, 1 episode after)

• Cost: $11,000

Sample Results - Impact of Outreach in Long Beach Area

0

10

20

30

40

Control Outreach

Before Before

After

After

Med

ian

Lin

dan

e, p

pt

Sample Results - Impact of Outreach in Burbank Area

0

5

10

15

20Before

After

Ave

rag

e L

ind

ane,

pp

t

Surveys

• Telephone surveys to 80 members of the target audience (doctors, school nurses, pharmacists, day care centers)

• Pre- and post-outreach

• Cost: $10,000

Survey Results - Awareness Change

0

20

40

60

80

100

Before

After

Per

cen

t

Before

After

Highly Toxic to Humans Pollutes Environment

Survey Results - Physician Behavior Change

0

20

40

60

80

100

Doctors Prescribing Lindane

Before

After

Per

cen

t

Pharmacy Study

• Done under a WERF grant• 18 pharmacies (8 control; 10

outreach)• Track sales of lindane and

non-lindane lice and scabies remedies

• Cost: $9,000

Pharmacy Study Results - Sales Ratios

0

1

2

3

4

Rat

io L

ind

ane

to N

on

-L

ind

ane

Rem

edie

s

Control Outreach

Bonus Result!

• AB 2318 Lowenthal

• Ban medical uses of lindane in California

• Signed by Governor Davis in Sept. 2000

• Took effect January 1, 2002

Lindane Leaving LACSD Water Reclamation Plants

40

340

30

120

40

130

40

130

40

130

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Lin

da

ne

, p

art

s p

er

tril

lio

n

San JoseCreek

Pomona WhitterNarrows

Long Beach Los Coyotes

Median Maximum

CTRLimits

Source Control: Before

63 ppt

19 ppt

Lindane Leaving LACSD Water Reclamation Plants

1 3 4 6 3 10 4.5 7 4.520

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Lin

da

ne

, p

art

s p

er

tril

lio

n

San JoseCreek

Pomona WhitterNarrows

Long Beach Los Coyotes

Median Maximum

CTRLimits

Source Control: After

63 ppt

19 ppt

Lindane Update• FDA Restrictions

– 2 ounces only– medical guide– don’t use on children– last resort

• International Action– Commission for Environmental Cooperation – North American Regional Action Plan

Chloride Outreach Project

• Public outreach in two neighborhoods– letter + FAQ sheet– mass media– web page– opinion leaders

• Effectiveness– phone surveys– wastewater sampling

Surveys

• Telephone surveys to 30 households in the target areas

• Pre- and post-outreach

• Cost: $6,000

Survey Results

• 0% removed their self-regenerating water softeners

Survey Results

0

20

40

60

80

100

Per

cent

S

urve

yed

Before After

Aware chloride pollutes the river?

Survey Results

0

5

10

15

20

Per

cent

S

urve

yed

Before After

Using non-chlorine bleach?

Survey Results

• 73% found the materials easy to understand (100% of those who read them)