The document provides an agenda and materials for an event on air quality and health. The agenda includes sessions on how air quality impacts the environment, the federal government's role, and actions individuals can take to reduce pollution. The sessions will discuss how ozone pollution and particulate matter harm crops, forests, wildlife, and the climate. They will also suggest ways for individuals to help through reducing electricity use, transportation choices, advocacy, and more. Presenters will discuss these topics from the Ohio Environmental Council and American Lung Association.
1. Air Quality & Your Health
Session II
June 28, 2013
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2. David R. Celebrezze
Dir. of Air & Water Special Projects
Ohio Environmental Council
Shelly Kiser
Director of Advocacy
American Lung Association of the
Midland States
Air Quality & Your Health
Session II
June 28, 2013
3. Agenda-Session II
10:30 - 10:40 a.m. Welcome
10:40 - 11:00 a.m. Air Quality Impact on the Environment
11:00 - 11:45 a.m. Air Quality & The Federal Government
11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. What You Can Do To Reduce
Pollution
12:15 - 12:30 p.m. Q&A
4. Ohio Environmental Council
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respected environmental advocate for a healthier, more
sustainable Ohio.
Our experts work daily to restore, protect, and strengthen the
quality of life for families and communities—from the air we
breathe and the water we drink to the food we eat and natural
resources we enjoy.
Please join us! OEC members:
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strengthen the quality of life for families and communities in
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5. Quick recap-what is ozone?
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) + Volatile
Organic Compounds (VOCs) + hot,
long summer sun= ozone pollution.
9. Does air quality impact our environment?
Yes!
Ozone pollution and particulate
matter can impact our natural
heritage
10. What do you think some of the sources are in your
neighborhood/community?
11. Does air quality impact our environment?
Sources: power plants, foundries,
diesel engines (older ones), cars,
fossil fuel extraction
Acid rain
Causes crop damage
Mercury bioaccumulates in fish
Deadening of waterways
NOx emissions run off
12. Does air quality impact our environment?
Ozone pollution impacts crops
forest
interfering with the ability of sensitive
plants to produce and store food
damaging the leaves of trees and other
plants, negatively impacting the
appearance of urban vegetation, as well
as vegetation in national parks and
recreation areas (US EPA)
13. Does air quality impact our environment?
Ozone pollution impacts crops
forest
reducing forest growth and crop yields,
potentially impacting species diversity in
ecosystems.
The U.S. soybean crop is suffering
nearly $2 billion in damage a year due to
rising surface ozone concentrations
harming plants and reducing the crop’s
yield potential, (2009 NASA)
14. Does air quality impact our environment?
Wildlife
Exposure through inhalation, ingestion
(pollution landed on vegetation or up food
chain), absorption (esp. vulnerable are
amphibians).
Respiratory damage (especially birds-
higher respiratory rates)
Organs targeted: kidney, liver, brain
Source: www.air-quality.org.uk
15. Does air quality impact our environment?
The Worm
Dioxins 5 times higher than surrounding
soil
They didn’t die
But what about animals that eat a bunch
of worms: birds, small mammals, frogs,
salamanders?
16. Does air quality impact our environment?
Climate change
CO2
Black carbon
From diesel engines, OWB, kilns, etc.
2,000 times more potent than CO2 as climate
warming
agent.
Climate change=unstable climate, more rain,
droughts, smog, etc.
17. Air Quality & The Federal Government
Shelly Kiser
Director of Advocacy
American Lung Association of the Midland States
19. Take a moment to think of ways in which you can
help improve air quality in your community
20. What you can do to reduce pollution?
(individual level)
use less electricity
Turn off lights when out of room
CFL (or LED) light bulbs
Energy Efficient appliances
Insulation of house
EE windows
Look at solar panels
21. What you can do to reduce pollution?
(individual level)
Transportation
Car pool
don’t idle
Bike
Public transit
Fight “dumb growth” (ex. expansion of our
highways).
22. Side Bar
Idling more than
ten seconds:
Can damage the cylinders
and spark plugs
Gets 0mpg
Pollutes our air
Wastes money and fuel
Where do people idle?
23. Side Bar
Where do people idle?
RR crossings
Drive thru s (food, bank)
Waiting to pick someone up
Gas stations
At home during cold mornings
24. But it’s only one car…
8,261,613 registered passenger cars in
Ohio
Reduce their idling by 5 minutes each day
251,290,728 hours reduced
201,032,583 gallons saved (if burn
~.8gallons an hour) (keep in mind 1 gallon
burned= 20 pounds of CO2)
$669,438,501 (one gallon=$3.33)
Side Bar
26. What you can do to reduce pollution?
(individual level)
Have kids or nieces/nephews?
Kids air quality coloring book
Air quality events
Talk with there school
No-idling policy
Air quality alert day information
27. What you can do to reduce pollution?
(individual level)
Place of work
No idling policy
Car pool program
Work from home at times
Fuel efficient cars (if they buy cars)
Sponsor an “air fair”
28. What you can do to reduce pollution?
Does the hospital, university, or local
government have no-idling policy
and/or clean construction
requirements?
Do you have a connection with any
of those institutions?
29. What you can do to reduce pollution?
Restrict or don’t buy outdoor wood-
fired boilers
Stay alert to attacks on clean air
standards.
Sign up for OEC’s action alerts:
www.theoec.org