air module - Minnesota Department of Health
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Transcript air module - Minnesota Department of Health
Air Quality
Climate Change Training Module
Air Quality,
Climate Change
and Public Health
Minnesota Climate and Health Program
Minnesota Department of Health
Environmental Impacts Analysis Unit
October 2012
625 Robert Street North
PO Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975
Notice
MDH developed this presentation based on scientific
research published in peer-reviewed journals.
References for information can be found in the
relevant slides and/or at the end of the presentation.
2
Outline
Introduction to Air Quality and Public Health
Climate Changes in MN
Climate Change and Air Quality
Particulate matter
Ground-level ozone
Allergens
Public Health/Government Strategies
3
Air Quality and Public Health
History
In the twelfth century, air pollution
was already associated with urban
environments and their higher
population densities
1948, Donora, PA smog event:
20 dead, 4,000 hospitalized
1952, “Great Smog” in London,
England
4,000+ excess deaths during 5 day
event (Dec 5 – 9, 1952)
12,000+ excess deaths estimated
due to persisting effects between
Dec 1952 – Feb 1953
Donora, Oct 26-29, 1948
London, Dec 5-9, 1952
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Air Quality and Public Health
Air quality has been improving
From 2001 to 2012:
Ground-level ozone is 13% lower
Year-round particle pollution is 24% lower
Short-term particle pollution is 28% lower
However, we still have a ways to go
Health impacts occur at lower levels of air pollutants than
previously thought
41% of U.S. population lives in counties that have unhealthful levels
of either ground-level ozone or particle pollution
Ramsey County received an “F” in the American Lung Association
2012 State of the Air report for short-term particle pollution
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Air Quality and Public Health
People can be affected by poor air quality
because of exposure and/or sensitivity
Persons affected due to exposure:
Certain occupations, such as professional drivers (trucks, taxis), parking lot
attendants, construction workers and others living and working near pollution
sources
Athletes and outdoor workers on high pollution days
Persons affected due to sensitivity:
Have existing health conditions:
Asthma
Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Heart disease
Allergies
Young children
Elderly
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Introduction to Air Quality and Public Health
Climate Changes in Minnesota
Climate Changes and Air Quality
Particulate matter
Ground-level ozone
Allergens
Public Health/Government Strategies
7
Weather versus Climate
Weather: conditions of
the atmosphere over a
short period of time
Climate: conditions of the
atmosphere over long
periods of time (30-year
standard averaging
period)
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Climate Changes
There have been three recent significant
observed climate trends in Minnesota:
The average temperature is increasing
The average number of days with a high
dew point may be increasing
The character of precipitation is changing
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Climate Changes: Temperature
Temperature has been rising in Minnesota.
Minnesota Average Temperature
12 month period ending December
Source: Western Regional Climate Center
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Temperature (°F)
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37
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Ending Year of Period
Annual Average Temperature
10-Year Running Average
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Climate Changes: Temperature
Three significant observations in this overall
warming:
Winter temperatures have been rising about twice
as fast as annual average temperatures
Minimum or 'overnight low' temperatures have
been rising faster than the maximum
temperature, or ‘daytime high’
Since the early 1980s, the temperature has risen
slightly over 1°F in southern Minnesota to a little
over 2°F in much of the northern part of the state
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Climate Changes: Dew Point
Dew point definition: Dew point is a measure
of water vapor in the air
The higher the dew point, the more difficult it
is for people's sweat to evaporate, which is
how we cool ourselves
The number of days with high dew point
temperatures (≥ 70°F) may be increasing in
Minnesota
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Climate Changes: Dew Point
Source: Dr. Mark Seeley, Climatologist, University of Minnesota
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Climate Changes: Precipitation
On average, the total precipitation in the state has increased
since the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s.
Minnesota Total Annual Precipitation
12 month period ending in December
Source: Western Regional Climate Center
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Precipitation (inches)
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30
25
20
15
10
Ending Year of Period
Total Annual Precipitation
10-year Running Average
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Climate Changes: Precipitation
The character of
precipitation in
Minnesota is changing
More localized, heavy
precipitation events
Potential to cause both
increased flooding and
drought
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Climate Changes
What do the trends mean?
Extreme Weather:
Increased extreme heat events and reduced cooling
overnight
Increased intense, localized storms and flooding
Increased localized drought and fires
Changing ecosystems:
Earlier ice out
Earlier flowering and longer growing season
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Climate Change
Climate changes have not only brought Minnesota an
earlier growing season but changes in the types of plants
that will thrive here
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Outline
Introduction to Air Quality and Public Health
Climate Change in Minnesota
Climate Change and Air Quality
Particulate matter
Ground-level ozone
Allergens
Public Health/Government Strategies
18
Climate Change and Air Quality
One study estimates that each one
degree Celsius (1.8°F) increase in
temperature would cause about
1,000 additional deaths in the US
associated with air pollution.
(Jacobson, 2008)
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Climate Change and Air Quality
Climate change may affect exposures to air
pollutants by:
Creating both more windiness and more air
stagnation events
Increasing temperatures which . . .
Increase pollution from fossil fuel
combustion to meet electricity demand for
increased air conditioner use
Increase production of natural sources of air
pollutant emissions
Increase formation of ground-level ozone
Lengthening the allergy season, creating more
potent allergens
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Outline
Introduction to Air Quality and Public Health
Climate Change in Minnesota
Climate Change and Air Quality
Particulate matter
Ground-level ozone
Allergens
Public Health/Government Strategies
21
Particulate Matter
Particulate matter is a major pollutant for which concentrations are anticipated to be
affected by climate change, and is therefore emphasized for public health impacts.
Particulate matter comes in different sizes (coarse and fine) from a number of sources
including:
Dust and other small particles from construction, mining and agriculture
Pollen
Fine particles from burning fossil fuels in factories, power plants, and diesel- and
gasoline-powered motor vehicles
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Particulate Matter
Particulate matter (PM) can have
serious health impacts
Effects of acute exposure :
Short-term decrease in lung
function
Exacerbation of respiratory and
cardiovascular diseases
Hospitalizations and deaths
Effects of long term exposure:
Respiratory and cardiovascular
diseases
Cardiopulmonary and lung cancer
deaths
Potential health effects of PM
exposure, increased risk of:
impaired respiratory function
chronic cough
bronchitis
chest illness
chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD)
pneumonia
cardiovascular diseases
allergic disease and asthma
cardiopulmonary diseases
cancer
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Particulate Matter
Populations at risk of health
effects from particulate matter
At risk from exposure:
Persons living or working in urban
areas, especially near high-traffic
corridors and/or stationary
sources of PM (such as factories
or power plants)
At risk from sensitivity:
Persons with respiratory and
cardiovascular diseases
Elderly and children
Persons with asthma and/or
allergies
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Particulate Matter
Climate change may affect exposures to PM by:
Increasing emissions from fossil fuel-fired power
plants due to demand for electricity for cooling
Increasing natural sources of air pollutant emissions
Wildfire smoke induced
by drought and heat
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Particulate Matter
2011 Boundary Waters Canoe
Area wildfire burned nearly
145 square miles and costs
reached $21 million. Smoke
and ash spread as far as
northeast Wisconsin and
Traverse City, Michigan.
(MPR News, 2011)
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Outline
Introduction to Air Quality and Public Health
Climate Change in Minnesota
Climate Change and Air Quality
Particulate matter
Ground-level ozone
Allergens
Public Health/Government Strategies
27
Ground-Level Ozone
Ground-level ozone is a main pollutant for which concentrations are
anticipated to be affected by climate change, and is therefore emphasized
for public health impacts.
Ground-level ozone is formed by the reaction of volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) in the presence of sunlight and heat.
Source: American Lung Association
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Ground-Level Ozone
Ground-level ozone exposure is linked to harmful
respiratory conditions and cardiopulmonary impacts
Short-term exposure to elevated ozone can lead
to hospitalizations or death
Long-term exposure to lower levels of ozone can
decrease lung function, and may also cause newonset asthma
Elevated ozone levels can exacerbate other
conditions, such as asthma and allergies
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Ground-Level Ozone
Populations at risk of health effects from
ground-level ozone:
At risk from exposure:
Healthy people, especially athletes
and outdoor workers in landscape
and construction who may be
exposed to higher levels of ozone for
longer periods of time on high
pollution days
At risk from sensitivity:
Persons with respiratory and
cardiovascular diseases
Older adults and children
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Ground-Level Ozone
Climate change could significantly increase summertime
ground-level ozone by:
Increasing temperatures
Creating stagnant air conditions
Affecting natural sources of air pollutant
emissions (biogenic VOCs)
Overall, increase poor air quality index (AQI) days
Effect is most likely during the summer months,
downwind of urban areas
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Air Quality Index
http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/
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Outline
Introduction to Air Quality and Public Health
Climate Change in Minnesota
Climate Change and Air Quality
Particulate matter
Ground-level ozone
Allergens
Public Health/Government Strategies
32
Allergens
An allergy is the body’s immune system
overreacting to certain substances
Common allergens that may be affected
by climate changes include:
Pollen
Mold
Approximately 25 million Americans
suffer from hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
It costs approximately $11.2 billion per
year to treat allergic rhinitis in the U.S.
Giant Ragweed plant
Source: Mary Jelks, MD,
AAAAI
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Allergens
Allergens can affect persons with
allergies and asthma
Allergens can interact with air
pollution to amplify their
individual effects:
When ground-level ozone levels
are high, it takes much less
ragweed pollen to trigger an
asthmatic or allergic response
Particulate matter also increases
allergic responses by extending
how long the allergens stay in the
body
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Climate Change Impacts on Pollen
Climate change impacts on pollen:
Temperature
Carbon dioxide
Precipitation
Increased pollen production,
longer pollen season,
increased potency airborne
allergens
Proliferation of weedy plant
species that are known
producers of allergenic pollen
Introduction of new allergenproducing plant species
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Allergens: Pollen
Allergenic pollen will be
worse in urban areas: up
to 7x higher than
surrounding rural areas
Minneapolis has already
experienced a 16 day
increase in length of
ragweed pollen season
from 1995 to 2009
Check pollen report at
http://pollen.aaaai.org/
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Allergens: Pollen
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Source: National Wildlife Federation, 2010
Allergens: Mold
Mold growth is enhanced by moisture
Increase in precipitation/floods
Increase in temperature and/or humidity
Increase in plant growth/plant biomass decay (leaf litter)
Improper installation or management of air conditioning systems can
create conditions ripe for mold
Mold can cause coughing,
wheezing, nasal and throat
conditions, and adversely affect
persons with asthma or
weakened immune systems
Extensive mold contamination of ceiling and walls
(Source Terry Brennan, http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldcourse/imagegallery5.html)
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Outline
Introduction to Air Quality and Public Health
Climate Change in Minnesota
Climate Change and Air Quality
Particulate matter
Ground-level ozone
Allergens
Public Health/Government Strategies
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Public Health/Gov’t Strategies
Mitigation
Effective policies to mitigate
health impacts from exposure
to air pollutants focus on the
reduction of air pollutant
emissions
Reduce production of harmful air pollutants
Improve energy efficiency
Use alternatives to fossil fuels
Reduce combustion of fossil fuels
Reduce urban heat island effect
Maintain green space
Example of urban heat
island mitigation:
Target Center Green Roof
Minneapolis, MN
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Public Health/Gov’t Strategies
Adaptation
Policies/strategies to adapt to health impacts from
exposure to air pollutants include:
Monitor AQI days
Promote awareness
Support public health tracking of diseases such as asthma
and allergic disease
Utilize low allergenic pollen producing plants for landscaping
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Summary
Minnesota’s climate is changing:
Increases in temperature
Increases in high dew point temperatures
Increases in extreme precipitation events
Climate changes will likely increase:
Particulate matter
Formation of ozone
Pollen and mold
Certain populations are at greater risk from exposure to pollution and
allergens, especially those with existing respiratory and cardiovascular
conditions, the elderly, and children
Public health awareness, education and coordinated mitigation
planning with other agencies can reduce the health impacts
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Thank You
Questions?
Contact Minnesota Climate and Health Program:
651-201-4893
[email protected]
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/climatechange/index.html
October 3, 2012
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by cooperative
agreement 5UE1EH000738 from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
Special thanks to the following people for their
contributions to the creation of this training module:
Wendy Brunner, Minnesota Department of Health
Hillary Carpenter, Minnesota Department of Health
Anne Claflin, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Gregory Pratt, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Naomi Shinoda, Minnesota Department of Health
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References
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References
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http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/13/pagami-fire-smoke-visible-deep-into-wisconsin/
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Photo Credits
Slide 4: Top image of Donora, PA smog event of 1948 from Prints and Photographs Collection, History of Medicine Division, National Library
of Medicine, as cited in Helfand et al. 2001. “Donora , Pennsylvania: An Environmental Disaster of the 20th Century,” American Journal of
Public Health Vol 91, No 4, pp553. Bottom image of London, UK smog event of 1952 from Wikipedia “Great Smog”, available online:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Smog
Slide 6: Image source – Microsoft Clip Art
Slide 8: Image source – Microsoft Clip Art
Slide 15: Image source – Microsoft Clip Art
Slide 17: 2006 The National Arbor Day Foundation, taken from “Extreme Allergies and Global Warming: National Wildlife Federations 2010”
available online at: http://www.nwf.org/~/media/PDFs/Global-Warming/Reports/NWF_AllergiesFinal.ashx
Slide 19: Image source – Microsoft Clip Art
Slide 20: Top Image source – Microsoft Clip Art; Bottom Image source – Microsoft Clip Art
Slide 22: Image source – U.S. EPA, available online: http://www.epa.gov/airscience/air-particulatematter.htm
Slide 24: Image source – Microsoft Clip Art
Slide 25: Image source – Microsoft Clip Art
Slide 26: Image source – Microsoft Clip Art
Slide 28: Image source – American Lung Association, available online: http://www.stateoftheair.org/2012/health-risks/health-risksozone.html
Slide 29: Image source – Microsoft Clip Art
Slide 30: Image source – Microsoft Clip Art
Slide 31: AQI image source – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, available online: http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/
Slide 33: Giant Ragweed plant image source – Mary Jelks, MD, AAAAI, available online: http://www.aaaai.org/about-theaaaai/newsroom/media-gallery/photos---graphics--plants.aspx
Slide 34: Image source – Microsoft Clip Art
Slide 36: Screen shot of AAAAI pollen report
Slide 37: Image source - National Wildlife Federation, 2010
Slide 38: Image source – Source Terry Brennan, http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldcourse/imagegallery5.html
Slide 40: Image source – Pam Blixt, City of Minneapolis
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