F R O M T H E J A M A I C A E N V I R O N M E N T T R U S T

WHAT IS AIR?Air is a naturally occurring mixture of invisible gases, chiefl y nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) with small amounts of argon, carbon dioxide and water vapour. Oxygen (O2) is particularly important for humans, as 65% of a human’s body mass is made of oxygen. When we breathe in oxygen-rich air, it gives our bodies fuel to supply nutrients to our heart and other important organs.

Oxygen (O2) is produced through photosynthesis, a biochemical process in which green plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to manufacture their food and generate oxygen as a byproduct.

WHY IS CLEAN AIR IMPORTANT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT? Pollutants are substances that have a harmful effect on our health and the environment when present in high enough concentrations in the water, air or soil. The concentration that makes a pollutant harmful varies between substances as some are only harmful in large amounts and others are harmful in very small amounts.

Some air pollutants are known to cause climate change, a global phenomenon that is threatening the survival of animal and plant species, causing unusual heat waves, rising sea levels and other serious impacts (See Earth Facts on Climate Change). Air pollutants also affect humans directly by causing health problems, which can range from sinusitis to asthma, bronchitis and even cancer.

HOW DOES AIR GET POLLUTED? Air pollution can be anthropogenic (caused by human activity) or come from natural sources.

Major natural sources

• Volcanic activity - produces sulphur (SO2), chlorine, and ash particulates

CLEAN AIR AND PUBLIC HEALTH

JAMAICA ENVIRONMENT TRUST

EARTH HOUSE11 Waterloo Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica

Phone : (876) 960-3693 • Fax: (876) 926-0212E.mail: jamentrust@cwjamaica.com

Website: www.jamentrust.org

EARTH HOUSE11 Waterloo RoadKingston 10, Jamaica

E A RT H FA C T S I S F U N D E D B Y T H E E N V I R O N M E N TA L F O U N D AT I O N O F J A M A I C A

1.5 billion urban residents worldwide endure levels of outdoor air pollution that exceed maximum recommended levels. As many as half a million deaths can be attributed to air pollution, mostly from vehicle exhaust emissions.

(Source: World Health Organization)FACT

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• Dust - usually from large areas of land with little or no vegetation

• Animals and Organic waste - the process of digestion in animals and the decomposition of vegetation emits methane (CH4)

• Wildfi res - emit smoke and carbon monoxide (CO)

• Pine trees - emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

MAJOR ANTHROPOGENIC SOURCES

• Gasoline and diesel powered vehicles – emit large amounts of Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxide (NO), Ozone (O3) and other pollutants

• Power plants and industry – emit large amounts of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)

• Burning crop waste and garbage - releases particulates that can contain Lead (Pb), Dioxins (PCDD) and other chemicals

• Cattle farming – the process of digestion in animals, usually cattle, emits Methane (CH4)

• Landfi lls – waste deposition in landfi lls generate Methane (CH4)

• Paint, varnish and other solvents – can emit Lead (Pb) and Ozone (O3)

• Military actions – the use and testing of nuclear bombs, toxic gases and germ warfare can emit nitrogen oxide (NO),carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur oxides (SOx), hydrocarbons, asbestos and harmful bacteria

MAJOR AIR POLLUTANTS AND THEIR HEALTH EFFECTS ON HUMANS

CO2 Carbon Dioxide

A colourless and odorless, nontoxic gas that

in high concentrations can cause increased

breathing rate and even death

COCarbon

Monoxide

A colourless, odorless, toxic gas can affect

the body’s ability to carry oxygen in the

bloodstream, causing death

Dioxins

Toxic chlorinated compounds that build

up in living tissue and can cause acne,

abnormalities in children’s teeth and cancer

Pb Lead

A silvery grey metal can accumulate in the

body, causing circulatory, reproductive, liver,

kidney damage, mental retardation and death

CH4 Methane

A fl ammable, odourless and colourless gas,

which can cause dizziness, fatigue and

headaches

NO2

Nitrogen

Dioxide

A reddish-brown gas with pungent irritating

odour that increases susceptibility to lung

infections

O3 Ozone

At ground level, this bluish gas can injure

trees, crops and can cause severe respiratory

illnesses in humans

PCDD Particulates

This includes small particles in dust, fumes,

soot and smoke that contribute to respiratory

illnesses in humans

SO2 Sulphur Dioxide

This is a colourless gas with a pungent

irritating odour that damages the respiratory

system, decreases the growth rate of crops

and contributes to acid rain

VOCVolatile Organic

Compounds

Organic chemical compounds that can cause

eye and respiratory irritation, as well as cancer

In Jamaica, the main sources of air pollution come from industrial activities, motor vehicles and the burning of waste. The main industries that contribute to air pollution are: bauxite/alumina, power and steam generation, cement, lime manufacturing, chemical processing and petroleum refi ning. The rapid growth in motor vehicle use, particularly in Kingston, has also contributed to the deterioration of our air quality.

• Plant and take care of trees to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air – It is estimated that one mature tree consumes about 13 lbs of CO2 per year

• Do not burn – burning puts carbon dioxide and other toxic chemicals (depending on what is burned) into the atmosphere

• Create a compost heap from garbage to make a natural fertilizer – you can reduce your waste by nearly two-thirds if you compost garden cuttings, fruits and vegetable peelings

• Use public transportation or carpool with others to reduce gasoline or diesel consumption

• Use compact fl uorescent bulbs to save energy – compact fl uorescent bulbs use about ¼ the energy of an incandescent bulb

• Avoid keeping your refrigerator cooler than necessary – a fridge that is 10 degrees cooler than necessary increases energy consumption by 25%

• Reduce your consumption of electricity – conserving reduces emissions of Sulphur Oxides (SOx), Nitrogen Oxide (NO2) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter.

Approximately two million children under fi ve die each year from acute respiratory infections. The largest global killer of young children, these infections are aggravated by environmental factors such as indoor and outdoor air pollution.

(Source: United Nations Environment Programme)FACT

SOURCES

BBC Weather Glossary at http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/weatherwise/glossary/, June 2005

The Story of Air by the Maryland Department of the Environment at http://www.mde.state.md.us/CitizensInfoCenter/kids/story.asp, June 2005

Hamilton Naturalists’ Club Glossary at http://www.hamiltonnature.org/habitats/glossary.htm, June 2005

What are the Elements of the Human Body in About Chemistry at http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howthingswork/f/blbodyelements.htm, June 2005

Clean air Strategy for Alberta Handout – Alberta, Energy and the Environment. Alberta, 1990.

Energy, Water and the Environment booklet – JET & JPS Co. Ltd. Kingston, Jamaica, 1996

Environmental Health Center Website, Washington D.C. http://www.nsc.org. May 2004

UNEP Chemicals – Information on Dioxins – PDF fi le at http://www.chem.unep.ch/pops/infosheets/is1-pdf/fact1.pdf June 2005

NEPA fl yer on air pollution at www.nepa.gov.jm

Freedman,Bill, 1995. Environmental Ecology:The Ecological Effects of Pollution, Disturbance, and other Stresses, Academic Press, 2nd edition

The number of cars in Jamaica doubled from 171,000 to 348,000 between 1993 and 1999. Gasoline consumption doubled from 2 to 4 million barrels between 1989 and 1996.

(Source: Inland Revenue Department, Jamaica)

FACT

• Avoid using products that contain hydrocarbons – products such as cleaning agents, furniture polish, fabric softeners, hair sprays, shaving creams, and car waxes exacerbate air pollution

• Keep your engine properly tuned to avoid wasting petrol – a poorly tuned car uses 9% more gasoline than a well tuned one

• Buy water based or low solvent paints – oil based paints contain heavy metals including lead, which can affect the central nervous systems

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

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