Good News About Pittsburgh's Air Pollution

Is this blog depressing, or is it just me? When I set out to write the Pittsburgh Smog Blog for a class project, I was among the 65% of Pittsburgh residents who believed that our region's air pollution was not a big deal. So finding out that the air my child and I are breathing is among the most polluted in the country came as quite a shock.

But there is some good news. This Thanksgiving week, I'd like to take some time to tell you the top 5 reasons why I believe Pittsburgh is on the right track...


#1. Governor-elect Tom Wolf: Democrat Tom Wolf won the election this month and environmentalists are breathing a huge sigh of relief. Wolf ran on a platform of imposing tougher regulations on Marcellus Shale drillers and other groups with environmental impacts; his predecessor Tom Corbett has been viewed as being lax on regulations and putting profit before environmental issues. It will be interesting to see how things change when Wolf takes office in January 2015!


#2. Mayor Bill Peduto: Pittsburgh's new mayor is known to be a friend to the environment. While serving on city council, he was a vocal supporter of legislation aimed at making Pittsburgh a cleaner, greener city. As mayor, his "100 Days; 100 Policies to Change Pittsburgh" features a number of policies focused on sustainability.

Pennsylvania Governor-elect Tom Wolf (left) and
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto (right) courtesy of YouTube

#3. Particle pollution levels down: while Pittsburgh's fine particle pollution is still at dangerous levels, the 2014 American Lung Association "State of the Air" report shows it at its lowest level in fifteen years. This is due in part to switching some power plants from coal to gas burning, and cleaner burning diesel engines (see #5). So the overall news isn't great but at least we are headed in the right direction!


#4. Bicycle commuting on the rise: Mayor Bill Peduto has vowed to make Pittsburgh into "a cycling mecca." He's even hired a Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, and inconvenienced countless Pittsburghers by closing down local roads to build bike lanes. But I don't mind the temporary shut-downs (or driving behind a slow moving bike when I'm running late)...more bikes mean less air pollution!

Source: bikepgh.org

#5. Cleaner vehicle emissions: responding to federal regulations, Allegheny County has been busy installing new filters and in some cases new engines on PAT buses, school buses, garbage and municipal trucks, and others. These retrofits are estimated to reduce emissions from these vehicles by 90%. While there are still many vehicles on the road that do not meet current standards, the reduction in particle pollution is a step in the right direction and a step away from this:

This photo of a barely visible truck shrouded in a cloud of smoke
(and headed towards the Kennywood sign) courtesy of GASP

Where There's Smoke, There's Pollution

I've never lived in a house with a working fireplace, but like many people I absolutely love the smells, sights, and sounds of a roaring fire. Walking into my house the other day on a chilly day, I smelled the unmistakable aroma of burning wood from a neighbor's fireplace and felt an immediate rush of joy. But that joy quickly turned into a curiosity about what it is I'm actually inhaling.

Source: britannica.com

• 52% of US homes have at least one fireplace or wood burning stove.

• Fireplace owners report that they typically use their fireplaces 52 times per year.

• Fireplaces rank second among top features desired by home buyers.

• 55% of new home builds include a fireplace.

• Pittsburgh homes have nearly 300,000 fireplaces.

Wood Burning

"The passion for wood fire is real and is a strong marketing force," according to Walter Moberg, president of Moberg Fireplaces and quoted in this 2006 marketing report. Moberg states that our affinity for natural, organic fire is embedded in the human psyche and remains a vital part of our culture. But according to health experts, if you can smell wood smoke, you are breathing pollution that is hazardous to your health.  The graphic below shows how wood burning emissions compares to other sources of pollution. 

Source: Puget Sound Clean Air Agency

Health Effects of Wood Burning

Wood smoke is made up of particulate matter (microscopic particles) and gases. Particulate matter (PM) can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where it can cause acute health problems such as burning eyes, runny nose, and respiratory illnesses. Toxic chemicals emitted during wood burning include benzene, formaldehyde, acrolein, carbon monoxide, dioxin, methane, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Many of these are known carcinogens.

Wood burning fireplaces are associated with the development and/or worsening of the following chronic health problems:

• Asthma: inhaling small particles can trigger asthma attacks. 

• Cancer: EPA researchers say wood smoke is worse than cigarette smoke. 

• Cardiovascular disease: fine particles travel deep into the lungs or into the bloodstream and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Even small amounts of PM can aggravate health problems for those with pre-existing conditions.

• COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: researchers suggest wood smoke has been causing COPD since ancient times: this article notes that evidence of COPD has been found in mummified remains.

• Ear infections: one study found that children breathing the highest levels of wood smoke were 32% more likely to have a doctor visit for a middle-eat infection than those breathing the lowest levels. 

• Respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

• Children are at particularly high risk for health effects from wood smoke because they breathe in more air in proportion to their size than adults. Kids who breathe wood smoke regularly show higher rates of asthma and other respiratory effects, pneumonia, and sleep disturbances. 

Source: EPA

What You Can Do

It is nearly impossible to avoid all wood smoke from fireplaces. Even if you do not have a fireplace in your home, the particulate matter from your neighbor's wood smoke is so small that windows and doors cannot keep it out. If you do have a fireplace, the following guidelines from the EPA can help keep your air safer. 

• Choose only EPA-certified wood-burning appliances.

• Make sure wood-burning equipment is properly installed, inspected, and maintained.

• Avoid smoldering fires. 

• Use only dry, seasoned firewood, split to the right size.

• Reduce the need for fuel by making your home more energy efficient.

Learn more at Burn Wise.

Exercising in Pittsburgh's Air Pollution? You May Want to Think Twice

In my last post, I wrote about local environmental group GASP's program "Athletes United for Healthy Air," a group who believes that everyone has the right to exercise in clean air. In researching this topic, I was shocked to read that the risks of exercising outdoors in polluted air might actually outweigh the benefits. 

Particulate matter and ozone, two areas where Pittsburgh leads the country in unhealthy levels, are particularly bad for those who exercise outdoors. 

Source: imaginepittsburgh.com

People involved in aerobic exercise such as running, cycling, swimming, and walking inhale more air and breathe more deeply. They also tend to breathe through the mouth more, so pollutants that are usually filtered through the nose are able to sneak in. In fact, a 2004 study found that during exercise, "low concentrations of pollutants caused lung damage similar to that caused by high concentrations in people not working out."

Exercising in bad air is associated with the following risks:

• Damage to airways of lungs
• Worsening/development of asthma
• Increased risk of heart attacks and stroke
• Increased risk of death from lung cancer and cardiovascular disease

This short video explains how toxins from air pollution move around in our bodies:

Mitigating the Effects of Air Pollution

As scary as it is, especially if you are someone who likes to exercise outdoors, there are steps you can take to lessen your exposure to dangerous air pollutants:

• Know your air pollution. Check the local air quality index on a daily basis and follow instructions.
• Know your risk! If you have asthma or other special conditions, pay attention to recommendations.
• Limit outdoor exercise at time of the day when it might be particularly bad outside, like at rush hour and midday. 
• Try to exercise at least 50 feet away from roadways, where vehicle exhaust is at its worst.

Solving Pittsburgh's Air Pollution Problem

After learning about Pittsburgh's serious air pollution problem, you might be asking yourself the following questions... 

Why isn't anybody doing anything about this?

How can I get involved?

The good news is that there are plenty of local groups fighting to increase awareness, fund research, and push government and industries to tighten their regulations. The groups highlighted below are certainly not the only ones in Pittsburgh, but they are all very active and approach the problem in different ways. 


The Allegheny Front is a local group known for its popular public radio program covering environmental issues in Southwestern Pennsylvania. On their website, they also provide original content that includes interviews, stories, and political commentary. The Allegheny Front was started in 1991.

Click here to listen to a recent broadcast that examines where our new governor-elect Tom Wolf stands on environmental issues, as well as other topics.

***

GASP or Group Against Smog and Pollution is a non-profit environmental citizens' group that has been operating in the Pittsburgh area since 1969. GASP uses education, advocacy, public meetings, media strategies, and even litigation to inform the public and enforce and strengthen regulations. GASP has many volunteer opportunities and several cool initiatives (see below) aimed at getting citizens involved:

• Athletes United for Healthy Air: Did you know that the risks of exercising in polluted air might actually outweigh the benefits? GASP's Athletes for Cleaner Air group promotes the idea that all athletes have the right to exercise in healthy air. They sponsor educational events and outdoor activities such as the Clean Air Dash 5K. 

• Bicycle Air Monitoring Program: GASP is providing bicyclists with special monitors to collect air pollution readings around our city, in an effort to identify polluted hotspots. Click here for more information or to sign up! 
• Below is a screenshot showing information collected by bicycle monitors already. The map could use some additional explanation in my opinion, but even here you can see that downtown Pittsburgh has a lot of particulate matter in the air, as evidenced by the red dots. Link to the live map here.

Source: GASP

• Smoke Readers are volunteers trained to spot and measure emissions from local plants; they also learn to file reports when they see a violation. These efforts have led to fines against companies. Want to get trained and get involved? Start here. And see the Smoke Readers in action below in this WTAE story!

***

Marcellus Protest is another environmental group focused on Western Pennsylvania. This group formed in 2010 to protest local Marcellus gas drilling, which is also known as hydraulic fracturing or "fracking." Fracking is associated with air and water pollution, and dangerous health effects. Marcellus Protest organizes rallies, engages in advocacy and fundraising, and promotes stories to the media to call attention to negative health and environmental effects associated with this industry. Take a look at their informative monthly newsletter here or register to volunteer here.

Source: Marcellus Protect Facebook page,
featuring a 2013 protest in Downtown Pittsburgh

***

The Breathe Project is a local initiative launched by The Heinz Endowments in 2011. This group includes citizens, industry, government, and medical research stakeholders on a mission to improve air quality and health in our region. According to their website, working with "Breathe Project Coalition Partners" has yielded positive results for our community, as evidenced by the graphic below showing a 16.5 ton decrease in emissions reduction. Though I do not see any volunteer opportunities, they do provide tips on how you can lessen your personal environmental impact. The organization's Facebook page is more active than the website. I'm looking forward to hearing more from the Breathe Project!

Source: The Breathe Project

***

Here are some other groups that are active in our region. Some are local and others are national groups with local chapters:

• Air & Waste Management Association 
• Clean Air Council
• Clean Water Action
• PennFuture
• Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities
• Sierra Club
• Sustainable Pittsburgh
• Women for a Healthy Environment

Want to be added to the list? Send a comment!

Next Up

Reading about GASP's "Athletes United for Healthy Air" project made me gasp! Aside from walking my dogs and gardening, I don't get much outdoor exercise. But I was shocked to read that exercising in bad air is so risky. Next up in the Pittsburgh Smog Blog, I'll use a video to show you how exactly toxins from air pollution get into our bodies and what happens after they do. 

Health Effects of Air Pollution

I've been talking a lot about Pittsburgh's air pollution. But why should you care? Because air pollution is associated with serious health risks. If you or someone you love is breathing, read on to learn more about how some of these health issues impact us locally.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2013, referring to a report that finds local residents at increased risk for cancer.

• The Centers for Disease Control reports that asthma, COPD, heart disease, and stroke are related to air pollution, and children may be particularly affected. 
• Air pollution is also linked to cancer, and experts say the risk may be "grossly underestimated."
• Other risks include premature birth, premature death, infant mortality, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.

Source: The Breathe Project

Pittsburgh Air Pollution & Your Health

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

Overall

In 2010, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette conducted a yearlong study of regional health effects from air pollution, in which they performed "mortality mapping" to look for relationships between power plants and specific diseases. Click here to read this amazing series of articles.

According to the Post-Gazette, statistics show that 14,636 more people died from heart disease, respiratory disease, and lung cancer in the region from 2000-2008 than national mortality rates would predict. Even after adjusting for slightly higher smoking rates in Pennsylvania, that's a 10% higher mortality rate overall than expected. Although other factors contribute to the development of these diseases, they have all been linked to air pollution exposure.

A report from the non-profit environmental group Clean Air Task Force, entitled "The Toll from Coal" underscores the impact that our region's coal-fired power plants have on our health. The charts below shows that Pennsylvania is first for health impacts from these plants.

Source: Clean Air Task Force

Asthma

Though genetics, indoor air quality, and smoking play a role in the development and course the disease, experts agree that air pollution contributes to the problem. Since days of high pollution exacerbate asthma attacks, improving air quality in Pittsburgh will improve asthmatics' quality of life.

• Many of the dangerous air pollutants in Pittsburgh, such as particulate matter, ground level ozone, and sulfur dioxide, are known to trigger asthma. 
• About 13-14% of Pittsburghers suffer from asthma, compared with 8-10% of people nationwide.
• Pittsburgh moves from 16th to 15th worst place for asthma, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. 
• Kids in the Northgate Schools, which is downwind from Neville Island's industrial pollution, have asthma rates that are more than double the state average. Researchers think it may be related to black carbon from the area's coke plants. The video below from local station WTAE details the situation.

Cancer

Allegheny County residents are in the top 2% in the country for cancer risk from air pollution, according to a 2013 report released by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. And in some particularly bad areas, the cancer risk is 20 times what would normally be expected.

This increased risk is due to a broad class of air pollutants called hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), which are also known as air toxics. HAPs are a category of approximately 200 unique pollutants specifically identified by the EPA that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects and have a tendency to reach significant concentrations in the air we breathe. 

Most HAPs are released into the atmosphere as the result of human activity, with industrial plants and motor vehicles contributing the most. The chart below explains the specific sources of HAPs:

Source: PRETA Report

The report found that the areas with the highest risk levels are clustered in the southeastern corner of Allegheny County where heavy industry affects air quality:

• Liberty-Clairton area near US Steel's Clairton Coke Works
• Communities downwind from Neville Island, home to many industrial sources
• Downtown Pittsburgh, where diesel emissions play a major role

Autism

There is not much research in this area yet, but a recent University of Pittsburgh study made big headlines in our area. Preliminary results from the study revealed that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were more likely to have been exposed to high levels of air toxics during their mothers' pregnancies through the age of 2. The study was performed by interviewing 217 local families with children on the autism spectrum in the Pittsburgh region (Allegheny and five other counties) and comparing that data to families who did not have children with autism. The group then looked at air pollution information to make the correlation. 

The Post-Gazette reports that "Children who fell into higher exposure groups of styrene and chromium were at a 1.4- to two-fold greater risk of ASD, after accounting for the age of the mother, maternal cigarette smoking, race and education. Styrene is used in plastics and paints and is a product of combustion from burning gasoline in vehicles. Air pollution containing chromium is typically the result of the industrial process from industries such as steel manufacturing."

While the researchers agree that more research is needed, the lead author points out that the findings are consistent with the few previous studies that have shown a link between air pollution and ASD.

Know Your Risks & Get Involved!

If you've ever heard a warning about an "Air Quality Action Day" on the news, it's because monitors have detected high levels of air pollution. Click here to see Pittsburgh's air quality (it's good today!) on the AirNow website. 

We all breathe air, so if you live in Pittsburgh, there is not much you can do to avoid the pollution. But you can spread the word about the dangers in our community and get involved in groups that advocate for change! Next up in the Pittsburgh Smog Blog, we will look at local groups fighting for cleaner air.

The Battle Over Regulations

While Pittsburgh has more than its share of air pollution problems, environmental issues affect everyone. In response to concerns about global warming and health effects of air pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently introduced the Clean Power Plan. The goal of the plan is to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which account for 82% of greenhouse gases. This plan will also cut unhealthy particle pollution, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide by more than 25%.

Over the past century, human activities have released large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The majority of greenhouse gases come from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas to produce energy. Because Pennsylvania ranks fourth in coal production and third in overall energy production and CO2 emissions, the proposed regulations are particularly important for our region. The graphic below illustrates why power plants and steel factories in Allegheny County (yes, we still have them) will be up for review. 

Source: EPA as of 8/2014

What Are Greenhouse Gases?

Many chemical compounds found in the Earth’s atmosphere act as “greenhouse gases.” Some are naturally occurring such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and nitrous oxide. Other are man made like gases used in aerosols.

Source: EPA

Greenhouse gases allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere freely. When sunlight strikes the Earth’s surface, some of it is reflected back towards space as infrared radiation or heat. Greenhouse gases absorb this infrared radiation and trap the heat in the atmosphere. Over time, the amount of energy sent from the sun to the Earth’s surface should be about the same as the amount of energy radiated back into space, leaving the temperature of the Earth’s surface roughly constant. Evidence of climate change shows that this process has been affected by human action, and the global average temperature has increased by 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit over the last century, with significant impacts on health and environment.  

Source: EPA

Clean Power Plan

In 2009, the EPA determined that greenhouse gas pollution threatens Americans' health and welfare by leading to long lasting changes in our climate that can have a range of negative effects on human health and the environment. As noted above, carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas pollutant. Although there are limits at power plants for other pollutants like arsenic and mercury, there are currently no national limits on carbon. Fossil fuel power plants that produce electricity are the top producer of CO2, accounting for 32% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2012 nationally.  

Source: EPA

On June 2, 2014, the EPA proposed a plan to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% from 2005 levels. States must reach these goal by 2030, but they have a choice in how they arrive at these numbers. Options include: making plants more efficient; moving to renewable or nuclear energy; switching from coal to gas, which emits half the CO2; or by simply using less energy through efficiency and conservation.

What Does This Mean for Pittsburgh?

As mentioned in my previous post Coal Remain's Pittsburgh's Top Pollutant, coal-fired power plants are our region's biggest air polluters and are top contenders for change under the Clean Power Plan. The proposal would require a 32% reduction of carbon pollution from Pennsylvania power plans by 2030 from 2012 levels. Pennsylvania power plants put out 48% of the state's CO2, according to the EPA. 

In August 2014, the first hearings in Pittsburgh on the issue were met with vocal protestors and supporters on both sides. Supporters of the new plan assert that stricter regulations mean improved health and slowing climate change. Those opposed argue that the plan means lost jobs in the coal mining and associated industries and higher energy prices because coal is cheap and plentiful. But many experts argue that restrictions will not in fact raise energy prices, and others point out that the regulations will result in new jobs.

High Stakes

States have until 2016 to come up with a plan to meet the new regulations, and expected legal challenges from the electric power and coal industries could delay implementation of the Clean Power Plan indefinitely. While lost jobs are a reality of the plan, the benefits of improved health, slowed climate change, and an ability to attract population and business to our area will likely outweigh the risks. Next up in the Pittsburgh Smog Blog: health problems associated with air pollution in our region.

Coal Remains Pittsburgh's Top Pollutant

In my previous post, I noted that Pittsburgh has the 6th worst air pollution in the US and scores a failing grade for ozone. Whenever I mention Pittsburgh's poor air quality to anyone, the first question they ask is "Why?" I was surprised to find that as in the past, our current top polluter is coal. Specifically, coal-fired power plants, which we will discuss at length below. 

Types of Air Pollution

According to the Breathe Project, there are three main categories for air pollution in our region: 

• Ground-level ozone
• Particle pollution
• Air toxics

Ozone: Ozone, or smog, is a gas formed when oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds react chemically with heat and sunlight. The precursors to ozone are emitted by sources such as power plants, coke and steel making plants, refineries, chemical plants, motor vehicles, and others. This "bad" ozone should not be confused with the "good" ozone in the stratosphere.

Source: EPA

Particulate matter: Particulate pollution is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles such as dust, dirt, soot, and smoke can be seen with the naked eye. Smaller particles can only be detected with an electron microscope. Sources of particulate matter include construction sites, unpaved roads, smokestacks, fires, power plants, and motor vehicles. The figure below illustrates the size of particulate matter.

Air toxics: These are hazardous air pollutants that can cause cancer, reproductive effects, and birth defects, among other health issues. Examples include benzene (found in gasoline), perchloroethylene (used in some dry cleaning), and heavy metals (emitted by coal-fired power plants).

Our Region's Coal Problem

The Sierra Club reports that the state's 31 coal-fired power plants are the single largest source of pollution in a 10-county region of southwestern Pennsylvania. Specifically, 64% of the particulate matter in this region results from electrical generation. No other single source contributes more than 10% of the total. 

Coal-fired units produce electricity by burning coal in a boiler to heat water to produce steam. At tremendous pressure, the steam flows into a turbine, which spins a generator to produce electricity. 

Source: Tennessee Valley Authority

Coal-burning power plants release millions of pounds of toxic pollutants into the air every year. Notably, they emit 84 of the 187 hazardous air pollutants identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as posing a threat to human health and the environment including:

• Dioxins
• Metals such as mercury, arsenic, chromium, lead, nickel, and cadmium
• Formaldyhyde
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• Volatile organic compounds including benzene, tolulene, and xylene
• Acid gases such as hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen fluoride
• Small amounts of radioactive materials such as radium, thorium, and uranium
• Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which react with precipitation to form acid rain

Southwestern Pennsylvania's Biggest Polluters

The Pittsburgh Business Times lists the following plants as the top 10 air polluters in our region:

• US Steel Clairton Works, Clairton
• NRG Energy, Cheswick
• US Steel Edgar Thomson Works, Braddock
• US Steel Irvin Works, West Mifflin
• Shenango, Inc,, Neville Island
• Guardian Industries, Jefferson Hills
• Allegheny Ludlum, Brackenridge
• Allegheny Energy Supply, Springdale
• Bay Valley Foods, Pittsburgh
• Allied Waste Systems, Imperial

The Breathe Project features an online map of polluters on its website. Beneath is a screenshot of the map, featuring US Steel's Edgar Thomson plant, which is just a few miles from my house. Click here to see which plants are near you or to get more information about the industries and pollutants.

Geography

Even if you don't live close to a plant, your air quality is still affected. While people living near large sources of pollution are at particular risk, the problem is not confined to these areas. Nine out of 10 of the air quality monitors in Allegheny County rank in the worst third in the nation for particle pollution. Six out of 10 fall among the worst 10% in the country. According to Harvard environmental epidemiology professor Joel Schwartz, southwestern Pennsylvania is in an "unfortunate position" because it produces considerable industrial pollution, is downwind from industrial and utility plants in Ohio that produce pollutants, and has hills and valleys that trap bad air. 

The Good News/Looking Ahead

There is some good news for Pittsburgh residents. While our air quality is bad, the amount of fine particulate matter in our air is improving and is the lowest it has been since 2000. This is due in part to some plants switching from coal to natural gas. More clean burning diesel engines help too. The government is also fighting to impose stricter regulations on these plants, which is being met with opposition. These regulations and the fight against them will be the next topic in the Pittsburgh Smog Blog.