Noah Wyatt Florida Forest Service June 22, 2016
Introduction to Pollution
Pollution Laws and Regulations
Florida and Nationally
Effects of Pollution
Definitions Types of Pollution
Plants and Animals Environment Human Health
Pollution Abatement and Minimization How Can We Help with Pollution?
What is pollution?
Pollution: An undesirable change in the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of air, water, soil, or food that can adversely affect the health, survival, or activities of humans or other living organisms.
Air Pollution Water Pollution Land/Soil Pollution Light Pollution Noise Pollution Thermal Pollution
Outdoor
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Six common air pollutants
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Lead (Pb) Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Ozone (O3) Particle Pollution (PM) Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Indoor
Radon (Rn) Carbon Monoxide (CO) Asbestos Formaldehyde Lead (Pb) Biological Pollutants Volatile Organic Compounds
Second Leading Cause of Lung Cancer in U.S. Natural Test is only way to ID National health advisory since 2005 Should remedy when levels above 4 pCi/L Outdoors average 0.4 pCi/L Indoor average 1.3 pCi/L
Clean Air Act (1970) Regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources, authorizes EPA to establish NAAQS Turning point in national environmental protection efforts Major improvement from 1967 Air Quality Act Still needed amendments added in 1977
Clean Water Act (1972) Originally Federal Water Pollution Act of 1948 Amended in 1972, and became known as Clean Water Act (CWA) Regulates pollutant discharges into waters of the U.S. Gave EPA authority to implement pollution control programs Funded the construction of sewage treatment plants through grant programs
Who Enforces Pollution Laws? Nationally: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Florida: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FLDEP)
Fresh Water and Fauna of the U.S. Fresh water valuable commodity world wide <3% of all water National Rivers and Stream Assessment (NRSA) 2008-2009 1,924 river and stream sites sampled, nearly 1.2 million miles Biological Quality 28%-good 25%-fair 46%-poor 1%Not assessed Chemical stressors: Phosphorus and Nitrogen Physical Habitat Stressors : Poor riparian vegetative cover and riparian disturbance
Worldwide: Plastic: Laysan Albatross and Midway Atoll Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Acid Rain Excessive Nitrogen and Eutrophication Good and Bad Ozone (O3) Climate Change
Human Health
Ozone (O3) “ Can irritate your respiratory system, causing coughing, irritation in your throat or a burning sensation in your airways. It can reduce lung function, so that you may have feelings of chest tightness, wheezing, or shortness of breath. Ozone can aggravate asthma and trigger asthma attacks. People at greater risk from ground-level ozone are people with lung diseases, such as asthma, older adults and children and adults who are active outdoors.”
Human Health Airborne Particles Comprised of acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, soil or dust particles, and allergens (such as fragments of pollen or mold spores). Small particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter pose the greatest problems Particle exposure can lead to a variety of health effects. For example, numerous studies link particle levels to increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits and even to death from heart or lung diseases. Both longand short-term particle exposures have been linked to health problems.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” Example: Unleaded Gasoline Reduced Lead concentrations in the air by 98% from 19802004. The Montreal protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987) First treaty to ever receive universal ratification by the U.N. (197 Countries)
Clean Air Act Clean Water Act NAAQS “Developing Common-sense Regulatory Initiatives” “Partnering With the Private Sector”
Reduce Pollution! Check your carbon footprint Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Drive Wise Buy Wise: Energy Star CARE: Community Action for a Renewed Environment Practice Greenscaping Maintain Your Septic System MOST IMPORTANTLY SHARE WHAT WE KNOW!
Protect our Health Monitor UV Index at www.epa.gov Radon Tests Improve Indoor Air Quality Control Mold and Moisture in your home Monitor Carbon Monoxide Levels (CO) Check for Air Quality, Beach Monitoring, and Fish Advisory notifications to reduce exposure to toxins
www.EPA.gov https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files /2013-12/documents/tipsforp2.pdf www.noaa.gov Miller, Tyler G., Jr. Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections, and Solutions, 15th Edition. Belmont: Thomson, Brooks/Cole, 2007. Print
“We
abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”- Aldo Leopold
