Air Quality Live and Learn Lecture Series November 12, 2013

Pollution: It’s In the Air

Jack Brown, RS, MUADepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

Air Quality in Wichita Metro Area

Regional impactMSA Community Patterns 7 County Area: Sedgwick, Harvey, Butler, Cowley, Sumner and Kingman. 33,000 residents commute into or out of Sedgwick County on a daily basis. (26,583 into Sedgwick and 6,789 out of Sedgwick)

Population Wichita MSA

Wichita Metropolitan Statistical Area: Harvey, Butler, Sedgwick, Sumner and Kingman counties:• Estimated population - 600,444• Adding micro-population areas of Reno and

Cowley counties (total population 723,883)• One of most industrialized areas in Kansas

Background-Clean Air Act

• In 1970 Congress passed the Clean Air Act• Under the CAA nation-wide standards were set to

“protect public health and welfare.”• These numerical standards are known as the

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)• Ambient air is defined as that portion of the

atmosphere external to buildings that the general public has access.

• Since 1972 there has been an established air monitoring network in the Wichita area.

Air monitoring network

Air quality standards

Clean Air Act and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards Criteria Pollutants:• Carbon Monoxide (emitted from combustion

processes; cars, trucks, industrial sources)• Lead (incinerators, smelting operations)• Nitrogen Dioxide (emissions from combustion

processes; cars, trucks, buses, power plants)• Ground level Ozone (formed by NOx, VOCs and

sunlight)• Particle Pollution (micron sized particles from

combustion processes, molds, dust)• Sulfur Dioxide (fossil fuel combustion/coal, diesel)

NAAQS

Every 5 years EPA reviews the standards using these steps:• Information from the scientific community• Risk/Exposure Assessment• Input from the Clean Air Scientific Advisory

Committee• Ruling making and public input process.

Health Effects-Criteria Pollutants

• Harmful for sensitive groups • Worsen bronchitis,

emphysema & asthma• Reduces lung function• Inflames lung lining• Chest pain• Coughing• Congestion• Irritation

Sources of pollution

• Point sources: major industrial facilities; aircraft, chemical production, refineries, power plants, incinerators. (Air Operating Permits required)

• Non-point sources (area sources): smaller often un-regulated facilities: dry cleaning facilities, fabrication shops, auto body painting, gas stations. (Air Operating Permits not required)

• Mobile sources: on road vehicles (cars, trucks and buses), off road (airplanes, trains, construction equipment)

Air Operating Permits

Required for major sources of air pollutants. • A major source is defined as a facility with the

potential to annually emit 10 tons or more of any Hazardous Air Pollutant or

• 25 tons or more of any combination of HAPs; or 100 tons or more of any other regulated air pollutant including SO2, NOx, CO, PM10, Pb, and VOC

Local Air Quality Attainment

• From 1974 – 1982 Wichita was Non attainment for Carbon Monoxide.

• Downtown and surrounding area • 13th Street North, Grove, Ark River and Kellogg• Non attainment was addressed implementing

various projects to improved traffic flow and signalization, a voluntary vehicle inspection program and various street and highway projects.

• In 1988 Wichita achieved attainment for CO.

Current attainment issue Ozone

• Good up high, bad nearby.• Ozone season is from April 1-October 30• Ground level Ozone concentrations have been a

concern for a number of years in the Wichita area.

• The current standard is .075 ppm (2008)• The EPA may lower the standard but has

delayed action based on potential impact to jobs, costs and the economy.

WHERE DOES OZONE COME FROM?

Causes of Ozone FormationNatural background

Ozone or precursors transportedOklahoma City, Tulsa, Dallas Flint Hills burning

HomegrownVOC and NOx emissions

from local industry, businesses, homes and cars

36

Ozone precursors NOx and VOCs

Volatile Organic Emissions

Nitrogen Oxide Emissions

Health Tip: Cut back on strenuous outdoor exercise when air quality is expected to be unhealthy. Exercise during the early morning or late evening hours when ozone levels are at the lowest levels of the day. This is especially important for children and other sensitive groups.

Site2011 4th Highest

2012 4th Highest

2013 4th Highest

2011-13 3 yr Average

Peck 0.077 0.076 0.080 0.076

Health Dept0.081 0.080 0.080 0.075

NW Sedgwick 0.071 0.071 0.071 0.077

Readings are in parts per million

2007-09 2008-10 2009-11 2010-12 2011-1360

62

64

66

68

70

72

74

76

78

4th Highest Ozone Reading Three-Year Averages

PeckWichita Health DeptSedgwick

Years

Ozo

ne in

Par

ts p

er B

illio

n

What If We Go Out Of Attainment?Costs to Community

• Decreased interest from businesses to come in to or expand operations in the Wichita MSA

• New road projects may not be funded

Costs to Individuals• Increased fuel costs

(2-10 cents/gallon)• Health care costs• Increased energy costs

Ozone Alert Day(s)

1. Air Quality Staff will evaluate conditions

2. Air Quality Section may declare an Ozone Alert Day(s)

3. Strategies for reducing ozone precursor emissions ( NOx and VOCs) are recommended

Notification• Information to local

media • Information on City

website• Posting alerts on KDOT

I.T.S. (Intelligent Transportation System)

Short Notice Recommendations

• Idle Reduction Policy Reminder – Don’t idle vehicles unnecessarily

• Turn off lights and office equipment when not in use

• Encourage ridesharing and bringing lunch to work

• Suspend Burn Permits

Alerts equal to or less than 4 hours will result in implementation of the following:

Long Term Ozone Event Recommendations

• Delay Fueling of vehicles until alert is over• If fueling necessary; fuel late in the day & don’t

overfill tank to avoid spillage• Signs will be posted in Fueling Areas • Limit vehicle trips as much as possible during peak

traffic hours• Postpone, or delay to late afternoon, meetings

involving travel to other facilities – substitute with teleconferencing and e-mail

Ozone Alerts that extend past 1 day may result in the following recommendations:

Long Term Ozone Event Recommendations

• Limit use of gasoline powered weed eaters, lawn mowers, tractors, and power tools

• If grounds maintenance is necessary defer to late afternoon or wait until non-action day

• Encourage City landscaping contractors to adhere to same guidelines

• Delay painting activities and any other solvent use actions

Long Term Ozone Event Recommendations

• Encourage vehicle maintenance • Ensure proper inflation of tires• If feasible, implement ten-hour daily schedules

for field crews, extending work into late afternoon and eliminating one employee travel day to work and reducing use of City equipment

• Consider flex hours where workers can remain at home and telecommute

Additional Recommendations• Set Building Air Conditioning Temperatures at highest

comfortable setting (78 degrees recommended)– Use fans to increase cooling efficiencies

• Encourage employees to ride the bus or bike to work • When feasible, replace 2 cycle gasoline powered

equipment with more energy efficient equipment– 4 cycle– Propane – Electric– People power

Local initiatives

• Creation of the Air Quality Improvement Task Force

• Participation in EPA Ozone Advance: 1. Help attainment areas reduce emissions in order

to ensure continued health protection, 2. Better position areas to remain in attainment, and 3. Efficiently direct available resources toward

actions to address ozone and fine particle problems quickly.

Local initiatives

• Idling reduction policies adopted by City of Wichita vehicle fleet

• KSU Pollution Prevention Institute Small Business Environmental Assistance Program

• KDOT Intelligent Transportation System• Voluntary automobile emissions testing at

community events.

For more informationLocal air quality information:

http://online.wichita.gov/airquality/

EPA national air quality conditions:

http://www.airnow.gov/

Questions