The Most Important Global The Most Important Global Public Health Issue: AIR Public Health Issue: AIR

POLLUTIONPOLLUTIONBy: Maria MuellerBy: Maria MuellerMargaret NdettiMargaret Ndetti

Dr. ButlerDr. ButlerDate: November 19, 2007Date: November 19, 2007

OverviewOverview

IntroductionIntroduction Health EffectsHealth Effects Case StudiesCase Studies Control DevicesControl Devices PreventionPrevention ConclusionConclusion

IntroductionIntroduction

Air pollution:Air pollution:The presence of substances in The presence of substances in the air at concentrations and the air at concentrations and frequencies that affect human frequencies that affect human healthhealth

Source: www.britannica.com

Major Pollutant SourcesMajor Pollutant Sources

Combustion of fuels for electricity Combustion of fuels for electricity generation, transportation, industrial generation, transportation, industrial processes, heating and cookingprocesses, heating and cooking

Some reactions in the atmosphere among Some reactions in the atmosphere among air pollutants that produce secondary air air pollutants that produce secondary air pollutants.pollutants.

Major Pollutant SourcesMajor Pollutant Sources

ParticlesParticles

Sulphur OxidesSulphur Oxides

OzoneOzone

Carbon MonoxideCarbon Monoxide

Nitrogen Oxides: Most significant to human health is Nitrogen Oxides: Most significant to human health is nitrogen dioxidenitrogen dioxide

Heavy metals: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, Heavy metals: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury and nickel.manganese, mercury and nickel.

Health EffectsHealth Effects

Decreased lung capacityDecreased lung capacity AsthmaAsthma BronchitisBronchitis Heart ProblemsHeart Problems Decreased Life ExpectancyDecreased Life Expectancy

Air Pollution and its Impacts on Air Pollution and its Impacts on Health Case StudiesHealth Case Studies

Santiago, Chile:Santiago, Chile:-5 million people-5 million people- 800,000 vehicles- 800,000 vehicles

High concentrations of PM10 High concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5. Particulate and PM2.5. Particulate concentration is 74 concentration is 74 μμg/cubic g/cubic meter. meter.

Late fall and winter an Late fall and winter an inversion layer that prevails inversion layer that prevails about 600-900m above the about 600-900m above the city, preventing natural city, preventing natural dispersion.dispersion.

Source: www.julioetchart.com

Case Study Santiago ChileCase Study Santiago Chile

Association between PM10, PM2.5 and adverse health effects such Association between PM10, PM2.5 and adverse health effects such as premature mortality and urgent care ailmentsas premature mortality and urgent care ailments

Health Effects quantified by using a threshold of 30 Health Effects quantified by using a threshold of 30 μμg/cubic meter g/cubic meter (EPA standard) and 20 (EPA standard) and 20 μμg/cubic meter (European Union limit g/cubic meter (European Union limit value)value)

Daily counts of mortality from all causes between 1989 and 1991 Daily counts of mortality from all causes between 1989 and 1991 and PM concentrationsand PM concentrations

Results indicate that :Results indicate that :

For a threshold of 30 For a threshold of 30 μμg/cubic meter g/cubic meter -700 cases of premature mortality -700 cases of premature mortality -5000 cases of hospitalization for cardiovascular disease-5000 cases of hospitalization for cardiovascular disease-4600 extra cases of respiratory disease-4600 extra cases of respiratory disease

Case Study Santiago ChileCase Study Santiago Chile

For a threshold of 20 For a threshold of 20 μμg/cubic meter g/cubic meter

-860 cases of premature mortality-860 cases of premature mortality

-6000 cases of hospitalization for cardiovascular disease-6000 cases of hospitalization for cardiovascular disease

-5520 extra cases for respiratory disease-5520 extra cases for respiratory disease

They also found that :They also found that :

A 10 A 10 μμg/cubic meter change in the PM was associated with g/cubic meter change in the PM was associated with 0.75% change in daily all cause mortality and 1.27% 0.75% change in daily all cause mortality and 1.27% respiratory mortalityrespiratory mortality

Case Study: Air Pollution and Case Study: Air Pollution and Mortality in Six U.S. CitiesMortality in Six U.S. Cities

8111 participants over 16 years; 8111 participants over 16 years; white men and women in six citieswhite men and women in six cities

Mortality increased as concentration Mortality increased as concentration of air pollutants increased.of air pollutants increased.

Fine, inhalable, and sulfate particles Fine, inhalable, and sulfate particles have more effect on mortality. have more effect on mortality.

Control DevicesControl Devices ScrubbersScrubbers BaghousesBaghouses Adsorption systems such as Adsorption systems such as

activated carbon activated carbon biofiltersbiofilters vapor recovering systemsvapor recovering systems

PreventionPrevention

Commute Commute Alternatives:Alternatives: Mass TransitMass Transit CarpoolCarpool

Regulation of Regulation of EmissionsEmissions

ConclusionConclusion

Air Pollution is the most important Air Pollution is the most important global public health issue.global public health issue.

Humans are exposed to air more Humans are exposed to air more than anything else.than anything else.

Air pollution can increase the Air pollution can increase the mortality rate in a population.mortality rate in a population.

QuestionsQuestions

ReferencesReferences

Air Pollution Prevention. Air Pollution Prevention. Earth 911. Earth 911. http://earth911.org/air-quality/http://earth911.org/air-quality/

Brunekreff,B. and Holgate, S. (2002). Air Brunekreff,B. and Holgate, S. (2002). Air Pollution and Health. Pollution and Health. The Lancet.The Lancet. 360; 360; 1233-1242.1233-1242.

Dockery, D.W., Pope, C.A., et. al. (1993). An Dockery, D.W., Pope, C.A., et. al. (1993). An Association between Air Pollution and Association between Air Pollution and Mortality in Six U.S. Cities. Mortality in Six U.S. Cities. The New England The New England Journal of Medicine. Journal of Medicine. 329(24); 1753-1759.329(24); 1753-1759.