Lecture 5 Flashcards
Temperature inversions
-An inversion is an extremely stable layer of the
atmosphere that forms over areas.
-Temperature inversions trap pollutants close to the
ground.
-These inversions involve layers of hot air sitting
above cooler air near ground level.
-When particles
accumulate in the air layer, they are unable to rise into
the atmosphere where winds will disperse them
Donora Pennsylvania Smog
-1948
-Donora sits in a valley (temperature inversion)
-Smog pollution came from factory emissions ( Hydrogen Fluoride and
sulfur dioxide emissions)
-7000 residents reported respiratory issues (1/2 of population)
-21 deaths and then 50 more deaths in following months
Donora smog triggered what act?
-The Clean Air Act and the formation of the U.S. EPA in 1970
-Clean Air Act is viewed as the most influential public health
law ever instituted in the U.S. due to its protection of human
life
Mary Amdur
-The mother of smog research
* Researched the Donora Smog Event
-Her research was foundational to the development of air pollution standards and inhalation toxicology methods
London Smog
-Cause: Temperature inversion, industrial pollution, and domestic fires
* Worst pollution-based fog event in London’s history
* Plays and concerts were cancelled because the audience could not see the stage
* Pneumonia and Bronchitis deaths and hospitalizations
-prompted British clean air act of 1956
British Clean Air Act
-established smoke-free areas
* restricted coal burning and industrial furnaces
* offered grants for homeowners to transition to oil, natural gas, and electricity
Utah Valley Air pollution
Geneva Steel Mill caused industrial emission pollution in utah valley (main source of pollution)
-assisted with WWII efforts
Arden Pope
-Famous for environmental epidemiology
-first to show long term health impacts of particulate matter (PM10)
-one of the most referenced studies in air pollution
Delamar mill- Nevada
-silica exposure
- all men working in the mill suffered acute bronchitis
-many who worked in the mill for 7-9 months were dead or sick
Other sources of silica
-Some countertops have more crystalline silica than natural stone
-Cutting, grinding, polishing, and drilling can release silica in the air
Asbestos
-Naturally occurring fibrous minerals
-resistant to heat, electricity, and chemical damage
–Highly toxic and banned in most developed countries but still found in older buildings
-Exposures: mining, construction, ship building
Heath effects of asbestos exposure
-Lung cancer
-Mesothelioma = tumor in pleural cavity
-Asbestosis (fibrotic disease) =extra fibrotic tissue and harder to breath
Libby Montana
Vermiculite mined
-economy based on natural resources (logging, mining)
-The vermiculite was used as insulation in homes but it was found to be contaminated with asbestos
EPA superfund site occurred here to remove this and penalize responsible parties
-secondary exposures from trees that had grown in soil with vermiculite, when wood was burned, the vermiculite would be in the air
Methyl Isocyanate
-Bopal Gas Tragedy: gas leak of methyl isocyanate from a storage tank of the pesticide plant
-Toxic to respiratory system, cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, pulmonary edema(drowned from inside), Acute and chronic respiratory effects
Where is the worst air pollution in the world for PM?
-Lahore, Pakistan
most top are found in India and China
Beijing Olympics
-Air quality was a major concern (worst in olympic history)
-Large scale clean up efforts and weather conditions helped
-all coal plants had do decrease emissions, chemical plants shut down, price of gas increased, more public transportation, spray roads to prevent dust
-during the games: only odd numbered licence plates could drive on odd days
-This worked and PM decreased by 18% and 30% during games
Trenchless Rehabilitation
-Cured-in-place pipe
-One of the most widely used methods to repair water, sewer, gas and
chemical pipes
* Resin impregnated tube hardened in a broken pipe using curing methods
(hot water, steam, UV light)
* Used in 50% of underground pipes in the U.S
Effects of Sarin gas
- Tokyo Sarin Gas Attack on subway system, 5 people on different subway lines punctured plastic bags to release sarin gas
-13 died
-Effects: respiratory distress, vision problems, nausea, loss of consciousness
Burn pits
-set up at military bases for disposal of non-hazardous solid waste (in iraq and afghanistan)
-often used bensene as an accelerant which is a carcinogen (had many harmful effects)
Mike Malloy
-Mike the Durable, Iron mike, Irish Rasputin, Juggernaut
-Unemployed, alcoholic, homeless “yellow scarecrow”
-People tried to murder him to get life insurance policy money but he would not die (Ethanol+alcohol = cancel out), hit and run
-Eventually died of carbon monoxide poisoning but said it was methanol poisoning
-Quick burial made insurance companies suspicious (autopsy found CO poisoning and the people involved in murder were executed by electric chair)
