Indoor Air Quality
EPA seeks input on lead
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking comments on policy options the agency is considering as it reviews the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for lead.
The United States has made tremendous progress in reducing lead concentrations in the outdoor air. Average lead concentrations in the air have dropped a dramatic 96% since 1980, primarily as a result of the ban on lead in motor vehicle gasoline. Also, since the late 1970s, blood lead concentrations for children ages one to five have dropped significantly, from about 15 micrograms per deciliter (:g/dL) to less than 2 :g/dL.
EPA has released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR). It is not a proposal, but a new part of the NAAQS review process that offers an additional public comment period before the agency issues a proposed rule. For more about the lead NAAQS rulemaking, see epa.gov
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ASTM addresses asbestos analysis
WEST CONSHOHOKEN, Penna. – An ASTM International standard provides guidance for using data generated by ASTM standards in testing for asbestos in surface dust.
ASTM D 7390, Guide for Evaluating Asbestos in Dust on Surfaces by Comparison Between Two Environments, was approved by ASTM International Committee. The standard can be used to help define the extent of asbestos contamination in a building after the asbestos has been measured: ASTM International standards can be purchased at www.astm.org
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Clearing the air
ATLANTA – For help in understanding the types of indoor contaminants emitted from electronic office equipment, facilities managers can turn to a research report from Aerias-AQS, titled Meeting Green: The Office Equipment Industry’s Guide to Managing Product Emissions.
The report also outlines the health impacts associated with chemical and particulate emissions. It also reviews the available third party certification programs and their respective eco-criteria. In addition, the technology and testing protocols for measuring chemical and particulate emissions and for establishing the health risks associated with these emissions are discussed.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), for example, cause eye, nose and throat irritation; cough; headache; general flu-like illnesses; and skin irritation. Some can cause cancer with repeated exposure. They also can produce odors that may be objectionable and may lead to headache, upper respiratory irritation, and nausea. Inhaling particulates can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation and increase the risk for respiratory infections and illnesses, such as asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia. To learn more, see www.aqs.com
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Petroleum refineries to cut air pollution
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requiring petroleum refineries to reduce air pollution emissions from new, modified, or reconstructed process units by using updated performance standards.
These standards call for refineries to add technology controls shown to reduce emissions. The standards also include options for controlling emissions through work practices.
The agency expects that over the next five years the final standards for new process units will reduce the combined emissions of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and nitrogen oxides from 30 petroleum refineries by nearly 31,000 tons per year. The cost savings from energy recovery associated these amendments is estimated to be about $7 million per year. More information is available at: epa.gov
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EPA seeks input on lead
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking comments on policy options the agency is considering as it reviews the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for lead.
The United States has made tremendous progress in reducing lead concentrations in the outdoor air. Average lead concentrations in the air have dropped a dramatic 96% since 1980, primarily as a result of the ban on lead in motor vehicle gasoline. Also, since the late 1970s, blood lead concentrations for children ages one to five have dropped significantly, from about 15 micrograms per deciliter (:g/dL) to less than 2 :g/dL.
EPA has released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR). It is not a proposal, but a new part of the NAAQS review process that offers an additional public comment period before the agency issues a proposed rule. For more about the lead NAAQS rulemaking, see www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pb/s_pb_cr_fr.html
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ASTM addresses asbestos analysis
WEST CONSHOHOKEN, Penna. – An ASTM International standard provides guidance for using data generated by ASTM standards in testing for asbestos in surface dust.
ASTM D 7390, Guide for Evaluating Asbestos in Dust on Surfaces by Comparison Between Two Environments, was approved by ASTM International Committee. The standard can be used to help define the extent of asbestos contamination in a building after the asbestos has been measured: ASTM International standards can be purchased at www.astm.org.
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Investing in pollution control
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s enforcement program achieved historic results to protect the nation’s air, water, and land in fiscal year 2007. Industries, government agencies and other regulated entities agreed to spend a record $10.6 billion in pollution controls and environmental projects, exceeding the previous record of $10.2 billion set in 2005.
Over the last five years, EPA’s enforcement program has sustained a steady track record of pollution reductions and commitments from regulated entities to install pollution controls. Since 2003, EPA’s enforcement activities have required companies to invest over $33 billion in pollution control equipment to achieve pollution reductions of nearly 4.5 billion pounds.
In FY 2007, EPA’s civil and criminal enforcement actions produced commitments to reduce pollutants by 890 million pounds. Nearly 70% of these reductions were achieved by addressing high-priority air and water pollution challenges. Air priority efforts achieved commitments to reduce 427 million pounds of pollutants, while water priority efforts achieved commitments to reduce 178 million pounds.
Enforcement actions taken in FY 2007 will produce significant health benefits. EPA's 12 largest stationary source air enforcement cases will result in reducing over 500 million pounds of harmful air pollutants, with annual human health benefits estimated at $3.8 billion. These health benefits include reducing approximately 500 premature deaths in people with heart or lung disease, 50,000 fewer days of missed work or school, and 1,000 fewer hospital visits due to asthma and heart failure every year when fully implemented. These actions will reduce harmful air emissions of 308 million pounds of sulfur dioxide, 187 million pounds of nitrogen oxides, and 11 million pounds of particulate matter annually.
During storms, overflows from inadequate combined sewers and sanitary sewers can discharge untreated sewage and industrial wastewaters into rivers, lakes, oceans, and other waterways. Enforcement actions taken in FY 2007 led to investments of $3.6 billion in pollution controls to remove 45 million pounds of pollutants in discharges from overflows of combined sewers and sanitary sewers. These investments are more than three times greater than those obtained in 2006.
As a result of Superfund enforcement and other remediation agreements, responsible parties agreed to invest $688 million last year to clean up contamination. The parties agreed to clean up a record-setting 79 million cubic yards of contaminated soil or enough to cover more than 12,000 football fields with three feet of dirt. In addition, polluters agreed to clean up 1.4 billion cubic yards of contaminated water, which is enough to fill more than 425,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.
EPA continues to seek out and take action to address environmental crimes. In FY 2007, the criminal enforcement program opened 10% more environmental crimes cases than in 2006. Criminal fines and restitution also increased from the previous year by 46%, totaling $63 million. Defendants who pleaded guilty or were found guilty of environmental crimes were ordered by courts to spend $135 million on environmental projects, an increase of 350%.
During FY 2007, EPA reached a record high of 3 million regulated entities through compliance assistance activities to improve environmental management practices and help prevent pollution. EPA has 15 Web-based assistance centers that provide information on environmental regulations and compliance issues for certain industries and groups, such as tribes, construction, health care, and auto recyclers. For more information on EPA's FY 2007 enforcement and compliance program, see: epa.gov/compliance/data/results/annual/fy2007.html
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Sulfur dioxide emissions fall
WASHINGTON, D.C.—For the first time ever, sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from the power sector fell below 10 million tons as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Acid Rain Program and Related Programs 2006 Progress Report.
In 2006, annual SO2 emissions from acid rain program electric power generation sources fell sharply, with reductions of 830,000 tons from 2005 levels and an overall reduction of 40 percent from 1990 levels. NOx emissions were down by over 3 million tons since 1990 and had decreased to nearly half the level anticipated without the Acid Rain Program. These reductions have led to a significant decrease in acid deposition, resulting in improved water quality in U.S. lakes and streams. Reduced formation of fine particles, improved air quality and human health related benefits are all results from the reduction of these emissions.
Since 1995, the market-based cap and trade program has significantly reduced acid deposition in the United States by decreasing sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The program's rigorous emissions monitoring and allowance tracking has resulted in nearly 100% compliance with the program.
The Acid Rain and Related Programs Progress Report includes emissions, allowance market and compliance data, status and trends in acid deposition, air quality and ecological effects, and information on implementation of the Clean Air Interstate Rule, which will further reduce SO2 and NOx emissions by about 70% and 60% respectively from 2003 levels. To see the progress report, go to: epa.gov/airmarkets/progress/arp06.html
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Air quality you can see
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ever used your computer to “fly” through the mountains, or zoom in on a satellite picture of your house? Now you can use the same technology to learn more about emissions and air quality across the country and where you work.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed two tools that let computer users “see” air quality information on a virtual globe. Both tools are available to the public.
The first tool is part of the new “Air Emission Sources” Web site, which is designed to make emissions data for six common pollutants easy to find and understand. Based on the latest National Emissions Inventory, the site uses charts and Google Earth files to answer a user’s questions. Users can look at overall emissions, emissions by type of industry, or emissions by largest polluter.
EPA also is providing Air Quality Index (AQI) information in the Google Earth format. Use the AQI tool to quickly see air quality across the country, then click on a specific location to see that city’s AQI forecast and current levels of ozone or particle pollution. The AQI is EPA’s color-coded tool to inform the public about daily air pollution levels in their communities. EPA, in collaboration with state and local governments, provides AQI forecasts and conditions for more than 300 cities across the United States.
On the web, go to the Air Emissions Sources Web site at www.epa.gov/air/emissions.
To view information in Google Earth format about which facilities emit any of six common pollutants, see www.epa.gov/air/emissions/where.htm
For AQI forecasts and current conditions, check out www.airnow.gov. View air quality information in Google Earth format at airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=google_earth.main
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