Lecture 8 - 2024 Air Pollution Part 2 PDF

Air Pollution Part 2 ENH524-Pollution and Waste Management School of Occupational and Public Health Toronto Metropolitan University Final Exam Information Your final exam is IN PERSON: Dec 6th, 12PM (noon) in DCC 204 and DCC 208 I will sort you into the 2 rooms by last nam...

Air Pollution Part 2 ENH524-Pollution and Waste Management School of Occupational and Public Health Toronto Metropolitan University Final Exam Information Your final exam is IN PERSON: Dec 6th, 12PM (noon) in DCC 204 and DCC 208 I will sort you into the 2 rooms by last name and post this on D2L This is a closed book exam, MC and T/F, covering post-midterm material only There are ~45 questions total  Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) Developed by Health Canada and Environment Canada to help the public make decisions about limiting their short-term exposure to air pollution The higher the number, the greater the risk Provides hourly readings and maximum forecast values for the day, night and following day Provides special messages for “at risk” groups  Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) Health AQHI Health Messages Risk Value At Risk Population General Population Enjoy your usual outdoor Ideal air quality for outdoor Low 1-3 activities. activities. Consider reducing or No need to modify your usual rescheduling strenuous outdoor activities unless you Moderate 4 - 6 activities outdoors if you are experience symptoms such as experiencing symptoms. coughing and throat irritation. Reduce or reschedule Consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors. strenuous activities outdoors if you High 7 - 10 Children and the elderly should experience symptoms such as also take it easy. coughing and throat irritation. Avoid strenuous activities Reduce or reschedule strenuous outdoors. Children and the activities outdoors, especially if Very High >10 elderly should also avoid you experience symptoms such as outdoor physical exertion. coughing and throat irritation.  Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) Is calculated by on cumulative effects of three pollutants: ozone, PM2.5 and NO2 Public Health Ontario analysis of AQHI in 2013: – Found that each unit increase in AQHI is equivalent to a ~1% increase in daily mortality across Ontario – AQHI is most often in the moderate risk category Air quality statements and advisories issued by MOECP and Environment Canada based on AQHI forecasts – Special Air Quality Statement (SAQS) = issued if high (≥7) for 1-2 hours – Smog and Air Health Advisory (SAHA) = issued if high (≥7) for at least 3 hours  Air Quality Monitoring Air quality monitoring = the systematic assessment of the quantity and type of pollution levels over a set area – Ambient monitoring is long-term assessment over a large area – Emissions measurement monitors specific, usually localized sources Ambient air quality monitoring is conducted by MOECP at 40 fixed-site stations around Ontario – Mostly includes federal sites from National Air Pollution Surveillance Network (NAPS), as well as some additional sites – Includes hourly measurements for SO2, NO2, O3, PM2.5, and CO Equipment is expensive and must be maintained regularly Air Quality Monitoring Sites Across Ontario Air Quality Monitoring & Modelling MOECP also deploys mobile monitoring vans which record concentrations of various pollutants every second specific point sources or “hotspots” Dispersion models predict ambient concentrations of air pollutants at specific sites by taking into account: – Meteorology, topography, time, and distances – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzH1-8fDxys Land-use regression models describe the distribution of air pollution within urban and suburban areas: – Measures association between physical and geographic characteristics of an area (measured using GIS) and air pollutant levels  https://www.inhaleproject.ca/ http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5531069-do-it-yourself-air-monitoring-kicks-off/  Black Carbon A potent climate-warming component of particulate matter formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, wood and other fuels Complete combustion would turn all carbon in the fuel into carbon dioxide (CO2), but combustion is never complete and CO2, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and organic carbon and black carbon particles are all formed in the process The complex mixture of particulate matter resulting from incomplete combustion is often referred to as soot  Black Carbon When suspended in the atmosphere, black carbon contributes to warming by converting incoming solar radiation to heat. It also influences cloud formation and impacts regional circulation and rainfall patterns. Industrial Melanism in the peppered moth https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=Pop-xetGaBM  Emission Inventories National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI): – Collects information on the release of >300 pollutants to air, water, land, and on waste transfer (for disposal or recycling) from large emitters across Canada (e.g. factories, power plants) – Reporting legally required under Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, if pollutant threshold values are exceeded Air Pollutant Emission Inventory (APEI): – Compiles emissions from 17 air pollutants that contribute to smog, acid rain, and poor air quality – Includes industrial, non-industrial, mobile, incineration, and other sources  National Pollutant Release Inventory http://ec.gc.ca/inrp-npri/donnees-data/index.cfm?lang=En  Air Pollutant Emission Inventory http://ec.gc.ca/inrp-npri/donnees-data/ap/index.cfm?lang=En  ChemTRAC Toronto program that collects data on the manufacture, process, use and release of 25 priority substances from businesses and institutions, including those that are exempt from national reporting Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) the most commonly released contaminant with carcinogenic toxicity potential in 2015, 2016 and 2017 PAHs are released from burning coal, oil, gasoline, trash, tobacco, and wood. High-temperature cooking, such as grilling, will form PAHs in meat and other foods https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqfBimc8rCU  ChemTRAC Reporting is required by city in “Environmental Reporting and Disclosure” bylaw Certain facilities are exempt: – Facilities engaged solely in retail sales – Medical/dental offices – Construction/building maintenance sites – Food and accommodation services – Facilities that distribute, store or sell fuels – Facilities that only maintain and repair vehicles (not including painting and rebuilding vehicles) https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/chemtrac/chemtrac- interactive-map/  Forest Fires and Air Pollution Wildfire smoke is a mixture of hazardous air pollutants, such PM2.5, NO2, ozone, aromatic hydrocarbons, or lead The amount of air pollution from wildfire smoke is substantial, accounting for about 20 percent of the emissions of PM2.5 Canada’s 2023 wildfires made international headlines, causing billions of dollars in property damage, displacing thousands of people from their homes, and spewing air pollution that traveled as far as Europe and China.  Climate Change and Wildfires Positive feed-back loop on climate change Amount of tree cover loss produced roughly 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide — nearly 4 times the carbon emissions of the global aviation sector in 2022, and 25% more than from all tropical primary forest loss combined in 2023.  Climate Change and Wildfires The 2023 wildfires in Canada accounted for more than a quarter of all tree cover loss globally that year and were largely driven by unusually hot temperatures and low precipitation  Health Effects Milder and more common symptoms of smoke exposure include: – headaches – a mild cough – production of mucus – nose, throat, eye and sinus irritation  Health Effects More serious but less common symptoms of smoke exposure include: – dizziness – wheezing – chest pains – severe cough – asthma attacks – shortness of breath – heart palpitations (irregular heartbeat)  Health Effects Exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to: – stroke – heart attack – premature death – reproductive and developmental effects, such as low birth weight  Prevention: Land Use Planning Most air pollutants, except ozone, are most concentrated at the source and decrease at farther distances – Land use planning can help to reduce point-source air pollution Municipalities can set bylaws to address local air quality, covering for example: – Vehicle idling – Use of wood-burning appliances – Setbacks/minimum distances between sources and receptors Provinces can address some issues through building and fire codes, for example: – Open air burning  Avoid the TRAP Zone https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ohp-trap.pdf?la=en COPY AND PASTE – sometimes clicking doesn’t work!  Prevention: Land Use Planning In Ontario, the Provincial Policy Statement, 2005, issued under the Planning Act provides advice to municipalities on land use planning to address air quality: – Promoting intensification, mixed-land use, and reducing vehicle dependence – Promoting parks and green spaces – Promoting energy conservation, efficiency, and renewability Other Air Pollution Prevention Efforts Residential and commercial sectors can reduce emissions through energy conservation – E.g. energy efficient buildings, energy demand management, loan programs/incentives for homeowners, marketing campaigns Transportation sector can reduce emissions through: – Vehicle emissions standards, which are set by Environment Canada and Transport Canada – Additional actions for heavy-duty diesel vehicles (enhanced fuel efficiency and delivery efficiency)  Health Preventions: Wildfires Check local air conditions using the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), InfoSmog (Quebec), special air quality statements or air quality advisories to determine whether smoke is impacting your area. Keeping windows and doors closed as much as possible. When there's an extreme heat event occurring with poor air quality, prioritize keeping cool. Using a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system based on the manufacturer's recommendations  Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfO- 3Oir-qM