Houston Air Quality

John D. Wilson

Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention

www.ghasp.org

Happy New Year!Houston (cough cough) 2003

74 Aldine

150 µg/m3

66 µg/m3

12 Conroe

32 Channelview

World Trade Center Plume

24 hr. Mean = 25 ug/m3

Unhealthy Air Days: 53 per Year

Source: EPA Air Quality Index for the Houston Region, 2000–2003

J

5

10

F M A M J J A S O N D

Ave

rag

e D

ays

per

Mo

nth Very unhealthy (4)

Unhealthy (15)

Unhealthy for sensitive groups (34)

Warning Level

(0-1-0) (1-1-0)

Fine Particles 2001

Fine Particles in Houston

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Galveston La Porte Channelview Clinton Aldine Conroe

Industry

Gasoline

Diesel

Meat CookingMinor

Other / Unknown

PM

2.5 (

µg

/m3)

Road Dust

Synthesis of various data (1997-1998, 2000-2002). Speciation from Matt Fraser, Rice University. Total PM2.5 levels from TCEQ.

California Standard

Federal Standard

Freeway Impact on Fine ParticlesAdditional Fine Particles Due to Freeway Traffic in 2020 (0.1 – 1.0 µg/m3)

Cancer RiskAdditional Risk Due to Exposure to Air Pollution in Houston Area

• Industrial areas:– Additional risk of 500 – 1,000 per million– Highest measured risk at sites near

western end of Houston Ship Channel

• Urban / suburban areas:–Additional risk of 200 – 450 per million

• Inadequate monitoring, especially outside Houston Ship Channel

Cancer RiskAdditional Risk Due to Exposure to Air Pollution in Houston Area

• Diesel Particulates: 360 (120-690) per million

• Butadiene: 32 (3 - 245) per million

• Aldehydes: 27 (25-34) per million

• PAHs: (17) per million

• Metals: 15-22 per million

• Benzene: 6 (4-14) per million

• Other organics: 1 (1-6) per million

• Acrolein

• Acrylonitrile

Chronic Disease & Air PollutionWorst pollutants (in order)

• Acrolein

• Formaldehyde

• Arsenic

• Ozone

• Diesel particulates

Systems threatened (in order)

• Respiratory

• Skin and sense-organ

• Gastrointestinal & liver

• Cardiovascular & blood

• Neurotoxicity

• Developmental

• Kidney

Houston Air Quality

John D. Wilson

Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention

www.ghasp.org

Which of the Following Caused the Most Death in the U.S., in 2001?

a) Fine Particles: 64,000 (est.)b) Flu and pneumonia: 62,000c) Motor Vehicles: 43,800d) Suicides: 30,600e) Drugs: 21,700f) Homicides: 20,000g) Alcohol: 19,800h) Malaria: 9Source: CDC. National Vital Statistics Reports, 2003: U.S.EPA, NRDC

Houston: 435 deaths per year due to fine particulates according to the Sonoma Study

PM10

PM2.5

Fine Particles Get Deep Into Your Lungs

Primary Particle Emissions

Secondary Particle Formation

• Industrial, power plant, and motor vehicle emissions

• NOX forms ozone and fine nitrate particulate matter

• SO2 : a dangerous gas that forms especially toxic

acidic sulfate particulate matter

Indoor Particle Levels

• When particle levels are high outdoors, they may also be high indoors

• Prevent particles from entering residence or vehicle– Close windows– Run air conditioning on recycle mode

• Reduce indoor sources of particles– Don’t smoke inside– Reduce use of gas or wood stoves– Don’t vacuum

• Air cleaner with HEPA filter will reduce particle levels indoors

How to Reduce Risk

Dose = Concentration x Ventilation Rate x Time

– Reduce concentration – schedule activities when pollution levels lower

– Reduce ventilation rate by taking it easier

– Reduce time spent in vigorous outdoor activities

• Pay attention to symptoms

• Follow asthma action plan