A Short History of Air Pollution

William F. Hunt, Jr.

Introduction
Air Pollution has been around a long time.
Roman philosopher, Seneca, wrote of the
heavy air of Rome in 61 AD.
Edward I of England banned the burning of
sea coal in craftsman’s furnaces be
prohibited because of foul smelling fumes,
1306.
Elizabeth I of England banned the burning of
coal while Parliament was in session.
Air Pollution Episodes
 Meuse Valley (Belgium) - 1930
 Donora, PA - 1948
 Poza Rica (Mexico) - 1950
 London - 1952
 New York - 1953 to 1966
 Bhopal (India) - 1984
Some Systems of the Human
Body Effected
 Respiratory
 Cardiovascular
 Skin and eyes
 Other
Examples of Health Effects on
Respiratory System
 Bronchitis (acute and chronic)
 Pulmonary emphysema
 Lung cancer
 pneumoconiosis
 cough
 chest pain
Examples of Health Effects
from Air Toxics
 Cancer
 Respiratory irritation.
 Reproductive toxicity
 Developmental effects
 Pulmonary toxicity
 Liver toxicity
Changes in Society and the
Economy
 Population growth
 Industrialization
 Growth and distribution of wealth
 Changing social attitudes
 Environmental activism
Local Control Initiatives
  1661 - London, smoke control
  1880’s - Chicago and Cincinnati, municipal
regulation of smoke emissions
  1940’s - Pittsburgh, public protest against
smoke; changes in fuels, combustion
practices
  1980’s - Denver, Metropolitan Air Quality
Council
State Control Initiatives
 1940’s - California and LA County study
causes and effects of smog
 1952 - Oregon: first state air pollution
control agency
 1980’s - growth of state air toxic
programs
 1990’s – Regional Approaches – NOx
SIP Call
Federal
 Research and studies
 Need for National perspective - pollution
respects no State borders
 USEPA established in 1970
Major Legislative Landmarks
 Air Pollution Control Act - 1955
 Clean Air Act - 1963
 Air Quality Act -1967
 Clean Air Act - 1970
 Amendments to CAA - 1977
 Amendments to CAA - 1990
Clean Air Act of 1970
 USEPA
 Air Quality Management
  NAAQS
  SIPs

 NESHAP/NSPS
 Citizen Lawsuits
Clean Air Act Amendments of
1977
 Nonattainment
 PSD
 Strengthened mobile source provisions
 Visibility/Stratospheric Ozone
Clean Air Act Amendments of
1990
 Major change in approach to
attainment/nonattainment
 Overhaul of hazardous air pollutants
 Market based incentives
 Enhanced ozone monitoring - PAMS
Criteria Pollutants
 Regulated under NAAQS
 Ubiquitous
 Health-based standards
 Standards apply to all States equally
 SIPs
Criteria Pollutants
 Particulate Matter
 Lead
 Sulfur Dioxide
 Carbon Monoxide
 Nitrogen Dioxide
 Ozone (ground level)
Hazardous Air Pollutants
 Any of 189 chemicals and compound
groups listed in CAAA of 1990 as
hazardous air pollutants
 List can be revised as new substances
are found
Some Hazardous Air Pollutants
  Asbestos   Heptachlor
  Benzene   Hydrochloric Acid
  Carbon Tetrachloride   Mercury
  Chlordane   Methanol
  Chloroform   Phenol
  Formaldehyde   Toluene
Environmental Effects of Air
Pollution
 Ecosystem effects
 Property damage
 Quality-of-life effects
 Global climate change
Ecosystem Effects
 Acidification of lakes and stream
  Wildlife
  Aquatic life

  Population of endangered species

 Vegetation Damage (forests, crops,

ornamental plants)
 Other natural resource damage
Property Damage
 Acid rain: damaged buildings,
ornamental plants, etc.
 Ozone: causes cracking of rubber,
nylon, polymer plastics, etc.
 Particulate matter: causes soiling
 Sulfur dioxide: causes deterioration of
metal and stone
Quality-of-Life Effects
 Reduced visibility - acid rain and smog
 Reduced enjoyment of outdoors
 Added work - cleaning of soiled
property
 Detrimental economic effects -
damaged cash crops
Visibility

Shenandoah National Park – Yosemite National Park –

visual range in the top photo is 25 km visual range in the top photo is 111 km
visual range in the bottom photo is 180 km. visual range in the bottom photo > 208 km.
Interagency Monitoring of
Protected Visual Environments
Network (IMPROVE)
Visibility Trends
Global Climate Change
Global Temperature Changes, 1880-2000

 Global mean surface temperatures have

increased 0.5-1.0°F since the late 19th
century. The 20th century's 10 warmest
years all occurred in the last 15 years of
the century.
UN Reports from the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
1990 Report Medieval_Warm_Period

Little Ice Age

Medieval Warm
Period
Temperature Reconstruction
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
  Historical Records Medieval_Warm_Period
  Tree Rings (yr/
season)
  Lake Sediments (yr)
  Corals (yr)
  Ice Cores (yr)
  Pollen (20 yrs)
  Others (100-500
yrs)
UN Reports from the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change
2001 Report
1990 Report

Little Ice Age

Medieval Warm
Period
2001 UN Report from the IPCC
(Wegman Review for U.S. House Committee on
Energy & Commerce)
  Mann et al. misused
statistical methods.
  Problem with Peer
Review Process.
  Researchers not
interacting with
statistical community.
  Authors of policy-
related science (Published by Mann, Bradley & Hughes in
assessments should not Nature, 1998 & Geophysical Research Letters
assess their own work. in 1999)

  Should involve
interdisciplinary teams.
Air Emissions Trends - Continued
Progress Through 2005
http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/2006/econ-
emissions.html
Modeling Uncertainty
Modeling Uncertainty - Fay - 8-18-08
Modeling Uncertainty -
GUSTAV – 8/26/08