B. Clean Air and Water

1. B. Clean Air and Water • Read the textbook for a history of regulations • Try to remember the main environmental laws, even if you don’t remember all the amendments • See also the six “criteria pollutants” targeted by the EPA • Compare the book’s emphasis on problems and crises to Assignment 2 – have the regulations worked? (More on this in a few minutes)

2. C. Particulate Matter • Textbook has information on previous regulations – this section focuses on more recent developments

3. 1. PM 2.5 • Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns (about 1/20 the width of a human hair) • Consensus says 2.5 microns and below is most dangerous to human health • One study’s finding: decrease soot by 1 microgram/cubic meter  3% fewer deaths from respiratory/cardiovascular disease • More than 2000 peer-reviewed studies agree that PM 2.5 is hazardous to health. EPA estimate = 20,000 deaths/year

4. 2. Levels of PM 2.5 • Harvard “Six Cities Study” Data:

5. a. Current levels of PM 2.5 • Fluctuates over time and space • Texas

7. b. Regional Differences

8. b. Regional Differences

9. c. Trend: Decline?

10. 3. No single cause of PM2.5

11. VI. Trends and Policies • Is pollution increasing or decreasing in the US? (Assignment 2 used global, not national, data). CO2 already covered. Some more examples to consider: • Major industries – Power plants, chemical industry, refining, mining, agriculture

12. a. Power Plants

13. b. The chemical industry

14. c. Refineries: Criteria Pollutants

15. c. Refineries: Carcinogens · Excluding BP Texas City, the refinery industry reported a 13% decrease in emissions of carcinogens between 1999 and 2004.

17. d. Mining and Agriculture • Little data available on mining – reporting not required for most pollutants (i.e. cyanide) • Agriculture: Major pollutants are methane, fertilizer runoff, and POPs (pesticides)

18. Agriculture: Methane Emissions

19. No data on runoff. • Fertilizer use

22. 2. Cars

23. 3. Toxic Chemicals a. Mercury

24. b. Volatile organics

26. c. Lead

28. 4. Other Criteria Pollutants (Air) a. Ozone

29. c. Carbon Monoxide (CO)

31. b. NOx

33. c. SO2

36. 5. PM10

38. 6. Water Pollution • Little long-term data like that for air pollution. Best estimates are probably water quality measures

39. Problem: Inadequate Monitoring

40. B. Is Pollution Too High? 1. Legal standards: 40% of Americans breathe polluted air and 8-10% drink water from violating sources

41. 2. US vs. Europe: One Example

42. C. Costs of Regulation 1. Growth can coexist with pollution reduction

43. 2. Typical cost curves • Marginal costs of pollution control usually increase. Why? Costs 0 25% 50% 75% 100% Pollution Reduction

44. Possible Benefits Curves • Marginal costs of pollution control usually increase. Why? • Need to know size and shape of benefits curve (generally linear or diminishing returns) Costs 0 25% 50% 75% 100% Pollution Reduction

45. 3. The Apple-Orange Problem • Costs are largely economic: pollution control / prevention costs money – and other things one can buy with money. • Benefits are only partly economic: Fewer health problems means more hours worked and less spent on medical care – but also keeps Grandma alive for her grandkids!

46. Coal Processing Plant, Bigler, PA • The coal chute crosses a road

47. Coal Processing Plant, Bigler, PA • Across the road is a house

48. Wallace and Violet Dixon

49. The Story • Coal plant begins operating in 1981 • Coal chute is uncovered  coal dust blankets nearby homes for years • Lawsuit in 1980s gains each family about $5000 in damages, agreement to cover chute • Violet awarded more than others since she lived next to the chute and experienced chronic respiratory distress BUT pretrial agreement divides all awards evenly between all plaintiffs • Violet’s respiratory symptoms are severe by the time the lawsuit is concluded

50. Wallace outlives Violet by 13 years