Houston Air Quality
John D. Wilson
Galveston-Houston Association
for Smog Prevention
www.ghasp.org
Happy New Year!
Houston (cough cough) 2003
12 Conroe
74 Aldine
150 µg/m3
32 Channelview
66 µg/m3
World Trade Center Plume
24 hr. Mean = 25 ug/m3
Unhealthy Air Days: 53 per Year
Warning Level
10
Very unhealthy (4)
Average Days per Month
Unhealthy (15)
Unhealthy for
sensitive groups (34)
5
J F M A M J J A S O N D
(0-1-0) (1-1-0)
Source: EPA Air Quality Index for the Houston Region, 2000–2003
Fine Particles 2001
Fine Particles in Houston
Federal Standard
14
Road Dust
12 California Standard
10
PM2.5 (µg/m3)
8
Other / Unknown
6
Minor
Meat Cooking
4
Diesel
Gasoline
2
Industry
0
Galveston La Porte Channelview Clinton Aldine Conroe
Synthesis of various data (1997-1998, 2000-2002). Speciation from Matt
Fraser, Rice University. Total PM2.5 levels from TCEQ.
Freeway Impact on Fine Particles
Additional Fine Particles Due to Freeway Traffic in 2020 (0.1 – 1.0 µg/m3)
Cancer Risk
Additional Risk Due to Exposure to Air Pollution in Houston Area
• Industrial areas:
– Additional risk of 500 – 1,000 per million
– Highest measured risk at sites near
western end of Houston Ship Channel
• Urban / suburban areas:
–Additional risk of 200 – 450 per million
• Inadequate monitoring, especially
outside Houston Ship Channel
Cancer Risk
Additional Risk Due to Exposure to Air Pollution in Houston Area
• Diesel Particulates: 360 (120-690) per million
• Butadiene: 32 (3 - 245) per million
• Aldehydes: 27 (25-34) per million
• PAHs: (17) per million
• Metals: 15-22 per million
• Benzene: 6 (4-14) per million
• Other organics: 1 (1-6) per million
• Acrolein
• Acrylonitrile
Chronic Disease & Air Pollution
Worst pollutants (in order) Systems threatened (in order)
• Acrolein • Respiratory
• Formaldehyde • Skin and sense-organ
• Arsenic • Gastrointestinal & liver
• Ozone • Cardiovascular & blood
• Diesel particulates • Neurotoxicity
• Developmental
• Kidney
Houston Air Quality
John D. Wilson
Galveston-Houston Association
for Smog Prevention
www.ghasp.org
Which of the Following Caused the Most
Death in the U.S., in 2001?
a) Fine Particles: 64,000 (est.)
b) Flu and pneumonia: 62,000
c) Motor Vehicles: 43,800
d) Suicides: 30,600
e) Drugs: 21,700
f) Homicides: 20,000
g) Alcohol: 19,800
h) Malaria: 9
Source: CDC. National Vital Statistics Reports, 2003: U.S.EPA, NRDC
Houston: 435 deaths per year due to fine particulates
according to the Sonoma Study
Fine Particles Get Deep Into Your Lungs
PM2.5
PM10
Primary Particle Emissions
Secondary Particle Formation
• Industrial, power plant, and motor vehicle emissions
• NOX forms ozone and fine nitrate particulate matter
• SO2 : a dangerous gas that forms especially toxic
acidic sulfate particulate matter
Indoor Particle Levels
• When particle levels are high outdoors, they may also be
high indoors
• Prevent particles from entering residence or vehicle
– Close windows
– Run air conditioning on recycle mode
• Reduce indoor sources of particles
– Don’t smoke inside
– Reduce use of gas or wood stoves
– Don’t vacuum
• Air cleaner with HEPA filter will reduce particle levels
indoors
How to Reduce Risk
Dose = Concentration x Ventilation Rate x Time
– Reduce concentration – schedule activities when pollution
levels lower
– Reduce ventilation rate by taking it easier
– Reduce time spent in vigorous outdoor activities
• Pay attention to symptoms
• Follow asthma action plan