On Friday, May 24th, GASP and the Environmental Charter School (ECS) raised a green air quality flag, launching the first EPA School Flag Program in Southwest Pennsylvania. The program makes air quality conditions visible to children, one of the groups affected most by poor air quality. Children are more susceptible to air pollution than adults due to their developing lungs, large lung-to-body weight ratio, and high level of exercise. Earlier that morning, the weather forecast called for chilly temperatures and rain. I kept my fingers crossed and hoped the clouds wouldn’t douse the spirit of the day, but still, I threw on some layers and a raincoat, preparing for the worst. Ms. Micco, one of the teachers helping to lead the program, told me that that ECS is a “rain or shine” kind of place, so the weather wasn’t about to stop us. A quick check of the air quality forecast didn’t dampen our plans either. Friday was predicted to be a green day, which meant that outdoor air quality was considered satisfactory, posing little risk to public health. In this way, it was a good day for our event and a good day to be outdoors. When the weather forecast calls for rain, we prepare with raincoats and umbrellas. Similarly, when the air quality forecast is for dirty air, we can protect ourselves by adjusting our activities. Yet unlike the weather, air quality is not as observable. In fact, the smallest particle pollutants, the stuff you can’t see, are the most dangerous type of air pollution. Big particles are typically blocked by your body’s natural airway filters, but smaller particles pass through and head into your lungs. Another main source of air pollution, ozone, is also invisible, and highly reactive with our airway tissue. The EPA School Flag Program is a hands-on activity that makes air quality conditions visible to schools and the community so that they can take steps, if necessary, to minimize their exposure to high levels of air pollution. Excited and brimming with energy, I watched as the newly minted GASP Club, an ECS student group that formed to lead the School Flag Program, prepared themselves for all of the attention they were about to get. The teachers laid out the plan for the morning. Speakers recited their lines, changed a few words, and recited again. Others eagerly attached their “GASP” badges, threw on their coats, and lined up ready for the spotlight.  Hear some of the students here. Outside the school, the crowd spilled onto the side street and lawn, and students held the rainbow of Air Quality Index colors surrounded by fluttering little green flags. Then, we all took a deep breath and cheered loudly as the green flag was hoisted up in front of the school, signaling good-to-go air quality and just the beginning of a program GASP hopes to see at other schools soon. Students in the GASP Club at ECS will check the air quality forecast daily, and raise a flag that corresponds to the Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures the amount of pollution in the air. After observing the flag color, school personnel can take actions if necessary to protect the health of their students. Having an alternative indoor activity, shortening practices, having an asthma action plan, or decreasing the amount of deep breathing during activity are all actions that can be considered during days of high air pollution. The daily air quality forecast for ambient air will not necessarily inform schools of point source air pollution. The program encourages schools to choose exercise areas away from busy streets, idling vehicles, or other sources of air pollution. Friday’s event was the first step in raising awareness. Local media covered the launch of the program as well. Find here the news report from WTAE, and the article from WESA. The Breathe Project also blogged about our event; click here to read the post. Next school year, GASP will take the program to many additional sites throughout the region. If your school or organization is interested in starting its own flag program, please contact Karrie Kressler at schoolflag@gasp-pgh.org. Finally, get the air quality forecast for your area by visiting here. Air Quality Index Outdoor Activity Guidance for Schools: Numbers in parentheses are the AQI Values. (0-50) GREEN – “GOOD” – Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk. It’s a great day to be active outside! (51-100) YELLOW – “MODERATE” – Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a small number of people who are sensitive to air pollution. In general, it’s still a good day to be active outside. Students who are sensitive to air pollution could have symptoms, so watch for coughing or shortness of breath. These are signs to take it easier. (101-150) ORANGE – “UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS – It’s OK for students to be active outside, especially for short activities such as recess and physical education (PE) class. For longer activities such as athletic practice, students should take more breaks and do less intense activities. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. Again, students with asthma are likely to be affected and should follow their asthma action plans and keep their quick relief medicine handy. (151-200) RED – “UNHEALTHY” – Everyone may begin to experience health effects, and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. For all outdoor activities, students should take more breaks and do less intense activities. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. Consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling. Students with asthma should follow their asthma action plans and keep their quick relief medicine handy. (201-300) PURPLE – “VERY UNHEALTHY” – Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects. Move all activities indoors or reschedule to another day. Post by Karrie Kressler, SCA Green Cities Fellow with GASP #EnvironmentalCharterSchool #airpollution #EPASchoolFlagProgram #AirQualityIndex #particlepollution #airquality

March 20 marked the public launch of the Center for Sustainable Shale Development—a nonprofit collaboration between shale gas producers, environmental organizations, and philanthropic foundations, aimed at reducing the impacts of shale gas development on communities, human health, and the environment. GASP is one of the organizations participating in the development of CSSD. The CSSD announcement provoked a variety of reactions, from praise, to skepticism, to hostility. CSSD has been described as “a heartening breakthrough in the war over fracking,” “a positive development but . . . the devil is in the details,” “an organization that compromises (too far) with eco-nuts,” and “a new greenwashing group backed by the oil and gas industry.” Now that the initial controversy has subsided, we thought we should explain why GASP decided to get involved with CSSD and address some of the criticisms directed at the organization. About CSSD First, a bit more information about the Center. CSSD aims to reduce the impact of shale gas development by developing performance standards and a certification process for companies that commit to meeting these standards. The idea is to create something like the shale-gas equivalent of LEED certification for green buildings or the Forest Stewardship Council certification for responsible forest management. The CSSD performance standards include requirements to conduct a geological review prior to drilling a well to ensure there are no unintended pathways for frack fluid or methane migration (e.g. an abandoned well bore) and to meet ongoing water monitoring requirements after the well is completed. These are similar to underground injection control requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act that would apply nationwide if not for the Halliburton Loophole. Other CSSD performance standards include requirements to reduce air emissions from trucks, frack pumps, drill rigs, stationary compressor engines, condensate tanks, and well completions. In addition to reducing the negative impacts of this industry in general, the certification process is also intended to provide a credible means for more responsible companies to distinguish themselves from less responsible ones—which is particularly valuable given the relatively wide observed variation in environmental compliance from one operator to another. Clearly we think CSSD is a step in the right direction, but not everyone is convinced. Next I’ll discuss some of the specific criticisms of CSSD we’ve encountered. Criticism #1: “Voluntary standards are no substitute for regulations.” We agree. The CSSD standards are not enforceable regulations, nor are they any substitute for strong, effective regulations. Rather, these are voluntary standards intended to go above and beyond existing regulatory requirements. Some of the critics of CSSD have misinterpreted the term “voluntary” to mean that compliance with the standards is based entirely on the honor system. This is not the case. The CSSD certification process will include ongoing measures, such as third-party inspections and recordkeeping and reporting requirements, to ensure companies are meeting the CSSD performance standards. Criticism #2: “The standards don’t address every negative impact of shale gas development.” Again, we agree, but we had to start somewhere. The current CSSD performance standards address a number of issues, but they certainly aren’t all inclusive. The CSSD performance standards will always be a work in progress. Over time, the Center will develop additional performance standards to address other impacts of the industry, as well as update existing standards to ensure they continue to go beyond the status quo. Criticism #3: “CSSD is just another industry PR campaign.” We knew many would view CSSD as an industry green wash effort, and frankly, it’s a perfectly reasonable reaction. Industry efforts to portray themselves as socially or environmental responsible rarely correspond with reality. GASP has no interest in endorsing an industry PR campaign, but neither do we expect mere words to alter the opinion of those who view CSSD as a PR stunt. If CSSD is to win over the skeptics, it won’t be based on what the organization says it will do, but what it actually does. GASP supports CSSD because we believe it is a promising means to significantly reduce the negative impacts of shale gas development. If CSSD is successful, it will achieve tangible results that, over time, will convince the skeptics it’s not just another industry PR campaign. Criticism #4: “CSSD undermines moratorium efforts.” First, a reminder of GASP’s position on shale gas development:Prior to allowing shale gas development in the Commonwealth, Pennsylvania should have conducted a thorough examination of the risks associated with shale gas extraction and adopted a regulatory framework sufficient to protect communities, the environment, and human health from these risks.  Instead, Pennsylvania has allowed this industry to grow at an astonishing rate in a regulatory environment inadequate to address the challenges it poses. While Pennsylvania should have pursued a more cautious, deliberative approach, the reality is that the shale gas industry is here, and its impact on our air, our water, and our communities cannot be ignored.  GASP supports efforts to minimize these impacts. While GASP is focused on mitigating the present impacts of shale gas development rather than moratorium efforts, we disagree with the notion that CSSD undermines efforts to secure or maintain shale gas moratorium. It’s no more inconsistent for a moratorium advocate to support efforts to reduce shale gas impacts than for a peace activist to support the Geneva Conventions. Conclusion CSSD is the result of a successful collaboration between shale gas companies and environmental organizations. While this cooperative approach does represent a notable departure from the generally polarizing nature of the shale gas debate, by no means is it a departure from the mission or principles GASP has pursued for over 40 years. Our participation in CSSD is simply a new avenue for GASP to pursue its efforts to improve air quality in southwestern Pennsylvania. GASP’s other efforts to improve air quality, including our shale gas work, will continue unabated. #regulations #LEEDcertifications #CenterforSustainableShaleDevelopment #shalegas #MarcellusShale #frackfluid

Keisha missed a few days of third grade when her asthma flared up. Joshua struggles with obesity and sometimes has trouble keeping pace. Ashley recently received an autism diagnosis and her family and teachers are working on ways to help her achieve her goals in school. As a nation, we’re in the middle of a children’s public health crisis. Both asthma and obesity rates have nearly tripled over the last 30 years, while the prevalence of diabetes has nearly doubled since 1995. Rates of autism spectrum disorder diagnoses have recently been pegged at one in 50 children, triple the rate from just a decade ago. Food allergies are also more prevalent, as many school districts could tell you, with the rate of peanut allergies tripling since the mid-1990s. At the same time, the condition of school buildings is declining. The last major survey of school conditions showed that 14 million students in the United States attend schools needing major repair or replacement. More recently, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave America’s schools a “D+” in its 2013 report card of national infrastructure, noting the linkage between school condition and academic performance. And while building conditions themselves are important, it is the health impacts caused these conditions that can greatly affect student health and well-being. National research shows a strong linkage between buildings, education and health; children that attend schools in poor condition have worse health outcomes and lower academic performance. These statistics paint a grim picture of public and environmental health, issues that are further complicated by regional air quality issues caused by manufacturing facilities, electric power plants and vehicle exhaust. So what do schools have to do with this? Children’s exposure to air pollution such as diesel exhaust, pesticides, cleaning products, and formaldehyde can trigger asthma attacks, create new cases of asthma, bring on headaches and nausea, or far worse, cause learning disabilities or cancer. Since more than 50 million American children spend upward of 40 hours a week inside schools, the quality of the school environment can have a big impact on children’s health, well-being and ability to learn. Today, April 30 is National Healthy Schools Day, an excellent time for us to consider these issues and recognize the importance of environmental health in schools. Every child – including those with asthma, allergies, chemical sensitivities, and other conditions –deserves to have a safe, healthy learning environment. The silver lining here is that schools can do many things low- or no-cost things to immediately improve conditions. Clutter in classrooms, for example, can restrict the flow of fresh air and increase the concentrations of dust and other contaminants, so removing it can make a difference in air quality. Other simple ideas to help improve air quality? Try switching to non-toxic cleaning chemicals, setting up entryway systems that remove more of the contaminants that are tracked in, eliminating pesticides wherever possible, and ensuring that ventilation systems are all working correctly. No one single measure will fix the problem, but every little bit helps. The benefits of healthy schools can be felt throughout the community. Healthier students mean better attendance; more instructional time; decreased health care burden; greater contribution to society and the economy; a higher capture rate of state and federal reimbursement to school districts; and, healthier students also mean happier and healthier teachers and a host of benefits that come with it. Nearly every school can do better by their students, staff and parents to provide safer and healthier environments. If you are ready to step forward and be the change agent that your school needs, here are some things to get started: Be a healthy schools advocate – learn more about environmental health, speak to your district’s administration, and share what you have learned with others in your community. Be an observer – does the school appear clean? Are there unusual or strong odors? Do you or your child experience headaches, dizziness or other conditions while in one or more parts of the school? Are there any signs of moisture damage on ceilings, walls, or flooring? Build a team – talk to parents, teachers, students, and administration officials about starting a healthy schools or indoor air quality committee in your school. Stay positive – emphasize the benefits and opportunities of improved environmental health, instead of focusing on shortcomings and what may have been done poorly in the past. This will help you build the foundation for collaboration that is critical to success. Our children are counting on us to look out for their health and well-being. We can step up and look at new, better options for learning, so our community’s future leaders can grow up without the burden of chronic illness or the sub-par education that results from sub-par learning environments. During this year’s National Healthy Schools Day, think about what you can do to ensure that the children in your life have a safe and healthy place to live, learn and grow. Please browse the Healthy Schools Collaboration website to find out what you can do. Guest post by Andrew Ellsworth #airpollution #airquality #HealthySchoolCollaboration #NationalHealthySchoolsDay

The American Lung Association’s “State of the Air 2013” report came out today, and the raw data shows our region’s air quality as getting slowly better. However, many Pennsylvania counties (including Allegheny) still have air quality that is dangerous to breathe for millions of residents. When it comes to air pollution, the Pittsburgh region ranks in the top 10 worst cities for particle pollution, and top 25 for ground-level ozone. Environmental groups here have a unified message: the air quality is improving, but there are many miles to travel before we can rest. Read the groups’ press release here. For the full report about our local air quality, please visit the ALA’s web site here. #airpollution #airquality #AmericanLungAssociation #StateoftheAIr

These are the 2013/14 nominees for election/reelection to the GASP Board.  Only dues-paying GASP members are permitted to vote. Please read the candidates’ bios, and choose “Yes” or “No” in the space below.  Ballots must be completed by April 30, 2013. Candidates will be elected by a simple majority of member votes and the results announced at the Annual GASP Business Meeting on May 1, 2013 at 7:00 PM at 5135 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh. Please RSVP to rachel@gasp-pgh.org if you plan to attend the annual meeting. Julie Bamonte Burgo is the Pennsylvania Chair of Clean Air Revival, Inc., a national non-profit organization that provides education about the health hazards of wood smoke and other fine particulate pollution.  She is a member of several national cancer prevention organizations, including Breast Cancer Fund, Pure Prevention, and Cancer Prevention Coalition.  Julie graduated with a degree in psychology from Bethany College in 1989 and earned her elementary education teaching certificate from Carlow University in 1992. Maren Cooke is currently the Secretary of GASP.  She is a planetary scientist by training, having received her PhD from Cornell in 1991.  After a postdoc at MIT, she continued working for NASA but also stepped up her activities in science education including teaching, informal outreach, and curriculum development and illustration.  A lifelong environmentalist, Maren has been active on air quality, land use, and other sustainability issues since coming to Pittsburgh in 2000.  She began working with GASP in 2003. Greg DiMedio is the CEO at Greener Expressions and leading the launch of the Greener Pittsburgh initiative and website. He is working with nonprofit, business, and government stakeholders to promote sustainability in the Pittsburgh region.  Greg has an MA in Rhetoric and Linguistics from the University of South Carolina and over 12 years of experience promoting businesses, nonprofits and causes through print and internet marketing media.  An avid hiker and fly fisherman, Greg has served as a steward and lifetime member of Trout Unlimited and as a writer and activist for the Sierra Club. David Eibling is a practicing Ear-Nose-Throat physician at the VA Pittsburgh and a faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh.  His career has focused on treating patients with head and neck cancer and teaching, primarily to residents, medical students, physicians and nurses.  Throughout his career he has maintained an active interest in one specific source of pollution–tobacco combustion–an interest now expanded to include other sources of pollution that affect all of us, even when outside our homes and businesses. Thalia Gray received her BA in Archaeology from Cornell and her PhD from NYU, concentrating on early Eastern European history and land use and environmental changes over time.  She established an international field school and archaeology nonprofit with Polish colleagues in 1998 (Slavia.org), which is still ongoing.  She currently works as a freelance science writer, focused mainly on health and medicine, and volunteers her time with the afterschool program at the Kingsley Association in East Liberty.  Thalia is profoundly interested in improving air quality and community interaction in Pittsburgh. Janis Johnson has been serving as the GASP Treasurer since 2007.  Her duties have included overseeing the preparation of financial statements, handling the independent audit, planning and monitoring the budget, and preparing the tax returns.  In addition, she has been active in fundraising.  She is a retired CPA with a BA degree from the College of Wooster and an MS in taxation from Robert Morris University.  As an avid participant in outdoor activities, she is committed to improving the air quality in the Pittsburgh region. Jonathan Nadle is currently the President of GASP.  He served previously as 1st Vice President for three years and as Board Secretary for five years.  He has a BA in Political Science from Penn State University, and now works as an energy efficiency expert.  Jonathan is an active member of Pittsburgh’s environmental community. Ted Popovich has served on the GASP Pollution Patrol Team and as an Emissions Evaluator.  He has a BS in Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and an MS in Human Resource Development from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).  Ted has had over thirty years of commercial operations experience prior to his retirement from Corning Incorporated. Subsequently, he has been an instructor at RIT and its partner schools in Europe, and currently is a YMCA Health and Fitness Staff member. Peri Unligil is a physician with University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, specializing in internal medicine, and is also a clinical assistant professor there.  She studied biochemistry and then medicine at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.  She is very interested in the influence of environmental exposures on human health, and in the health of our local and global environment.  She has been a resident of Pittsburgh and member of the Allegheny Group of the Sierra Club for over ten years. [contact-form-7 404 "Not Found"] 2013/14 Proposed GASP Board Julie Bamonte Burgo Maren Cooke – Secretary Zelda Curtiss Greg DiMedio David Eibling Marla Ferrency Edward Gerjuoy Walter Goldburg – Second Vice President Thalia Gray Karen Grzywinski Frances Harkins Janis Johnson – Treasurer Jonathan Nadle – President Ted Popovich Kate St. John – First Vice President Peri Unligil #ballots #gaspboard #vote

The third and final lecture of the 2012-2013 Distinguished Lecture Series in Environmental Science, Technology, and Policy: Environment and Health at Carnegie Mellon University was held March 21, 2013. The topic was the “Current State-of-the-Science on Environmental Factors in Autism” presented by Dr. Irva Hertz-Picciotto, an environmental epidemiologist from the University of California Davis MIND Institute. Dr. Hertz-Picciotto is Director for the California programs CHARGE (Childhood Autism Risk from Genes and Environment), the first large, comprehensive, population-based study of environmental factors in autism, and MARBLES (Markers of Autism Risk in Babies – Learning Early Signs), which searches for early markers, starting during pregnancy, that will predict autism.  She has served on various advisory panels including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Toxicology Program, the California Air Resources Board and Proposition 65 committee, and the National Institutes of Health’s Interagency Coordinating Committee on Autism Research. Upon entering the field of research for autism about 10 years ago, Dr. Hertz-Picciotto discovered that there are two main causes of this Pervasive Developmental Disorder, these being genetic factors and environmental exposures.  Dr. Hertz-Picciotto’s primary focus is on the autism spectrum disorder genes (ASD) genes linked to potential common mechanisms responsible for interrupted brain development.  Dr. Hertz-Picciotto believes environmental factors are responsible for recent increases in children born with autism. “We do not have the ability to change the patterns of our genes.  However, we can intervene when it comes to our environmental influences,” Dr. Hertz-Picciotto said.  She presented a review of contributing factors that influence spikes in autism such as pesticides, metals, air pollution, medical treatments (fertility treatments and maternal medications), metabolic conditions, and acute illnesses. Concerning air quality and its explicit influence on the increasing number of children born with autism, Dr. Hertz-Picciotto discussed the importance of limiting exposure to any unhealthy levels of air pollution, as early as three months prior to conception.  The lecture specifically stressed how important it is for pregnant women or those considering having children to avoid long-term exposure to high levels of air pollution, if possible. This is vital during the prenatal period of the potential child because this is where the development is in its most fragile state.  Dr. Hertz-Picciotto provided support for her theory by discussing tests she and her team did while on large rodent populations where traffic-related pollutants, such as benzo(a)pyrene and diesel exhaust, from busy freeways proved to induce neurodevelopmental deficits. Dr. Hertz-Picciotto urged women to be wary of their environmental surroundings, pointing out the multi factorial nature of autism causality and critical time windows.  She concluded, “There is no known cure for autism.  This means we must work harder to limit our negative influences and find ways to help those whom are faced with the consequences of our [polluting] actions.” Guest post by Brianna Britos-Swain, Chatham College for Women at Chatham University student #airpollution #DrHertzPicciotto #autism #CarnegieMellonUniversity #airquality

Here is one thing you may not have considered: is the air quality inside your home safe or even worse, could it be making your family sick?  According to the Pittsburgh Green House, your home could be harboring many products that “off-gas” harmful pollutants that you inhale. Off-gassing refers to the evaporation of synthetic compounds which are harmful to health.  Even more alarming is the fact that on average we spend 80-90% of our lives indoors.  The EPA estimates that indoor levels of air pollution can be anywhere from 5 to 100 times worse than outdoor levels. The Pittsburgh Green House, a 110-year old home that has been renovated and serves as educational facility for residential energy, water savings, and healthy living has begun its workshop series labeled “Healthy Homes Series.”  The first workshop focused on indoor air quality.  It addressed the origins of poor indoor air quality, the problems that causes, and the solutions to fix it. Sources Pressed wood furniture, radon gas, mold, carpeting, household cleaning products, pesticides, carbon monoxide, dust, and new furniture are the most common sources of indoor air pollution. Health Risks Rashes, asthma, cardiovascular illness, allergies, ear infections, burning eyes, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, itching, and even cancer. Solutions Strategies to remove sources can be easy and inexpensive.  Improved ventilation can help abate mold growth, along with sealing leaking windows, pipes, or other sources of moisture.  Installing affordable carbon monoxide (CO) and radon detectors can drastically lower your high exposure risk.  Relocating pressed wood furniture away from direct sunlight can reduce formaldehyde off-gassing, and letting new furniture and building materials air out for a few days before bringing them inside your home will help protect you from the strongest levels of off-gassing of all kinds.  Cleaning your homes with less toxic products will reduce chemical fumes.  Finally, greening up your home with indoor plants such as Philodendrons can naturally purify your home by filtering a variety of pollutants. If you are unsure about air quality your home, check out the great resources that Pittsburgh Green House has to offer by clicking here. Guest post by GASP Intern and GSPIA student Matt Ferrer #airpollution #airquality #indoorairquality #PittsburghGreenHouse

On March 13, GASP and 10 other organizations representing regional environmental, labor, community, and faith-based organizations commented at the City Council meeting about the lack of implementation and enforcement of the City’s “Clean Air Act of 2010,” informally known as clean construction legislation. In addition to the comments we presented each city council member with this letter. In July of 2011, City Council proudly passed the clean construction legislation, which requires projects receiving at least $250,000 in public subsidies to spend a prorated percentage on cleaner construction equipment, ensuring that construction in Pittsburgh will get progressively cleaner. The clean construction legislation has been languishing in the City’s Law Department for 18 months, even though it is was required that regulations implementing the provisions of the legislation be written within six months of passage. #diesel #CleanAirActof2010 #CleanConstruction #dieselemissions

A great look at an issue that’s frustrated us for months and months.  Thanks to Emily DeMarco and Public Source for covering this.  Full story below. Old diesel equipment still spewing soot into Pittsburgh’s air Pittsburgh’s Clean Air Act not implemented By Emily DeMarco | PublicSource | March 7, 2013 Morry Feldman takes a cocktail of medications each day that allow him to live and work in a region with poor air quality. (Photo by Emily DeMarco/PublicSource) March 8, 2013: A correction has been made to this article (see bottom for details). Morry Feldman downs two horse pills with breakfast. Then, he uses four different sprays. Two puffs into the mouth.  Two into the nose. Repeat at dinner. Feldman, 59, has severe asthma and allergies. And Pittsburgh is among the worst places he could live or work because of the region’s poor air quality. “If I miss a dose, I start to get sick,” said Feldman, a senior account executive at WQED Multimedia. Feldman is one of nearly 97,000 adults in Allegheny County with asthma. The county received F’s in the American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2012 study. Among the reasons cited by experts for the region’s poor air quality: diesel fumes. Morry Feldman, who has severe asthma and allergies, and people like him are among the most vulnerable to ‘dirty diesel’ emissions. (Photo by Emily DeMarco/PublicSource) The Pittsburgh City Council passed a local law in 2011 requiring construction companies to retrofit equipment that runs on diesel fuel in order to reduce emissions. But, to date, no dozers, diggers or dump trucks have had to comply. Called the Clean Air Act of 2010, the local law focused on construction sites that received public dollars. If the development’s budget was larger than $2.5 million and it received at least $250,000 in public subsidies, it  would have to retrofit a percentage of its diesel equipment. Regulations for the ordinance haven’t been finalized, making it unenforceable. Supporters of the ordinance have cried foul. “If we truly want to be the most livable city, we have to contend with our air pollution,” said Rachel Filippini, the executive director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution, known as GASP.  “And one way to do that is to clean up construction vehicles.” GASP was part of a coalition of health, environmental, faith, industry, and labor organizations that helped to draft the legislation. Small, but deadly The Environmental Protection Agency has set standards for new diesel engines, but it’s the old engines that produce what’s known as ‘dirty diesel’ fumes. A typical diesel engine has a life span of 20 to 30 years. It is widely accepted that dirty diesel exhaust contains tiny particles of soot, also known as black carbon. And that the smallest of these particles can go straight into the bloodstream and are linked to cancer, asthma and stroke. In addition, the diesel exhaust contains nitrogen oxides, which, when released into the atmosphere on hot days, create ozone, a powerful irritant that can cause chemical burns in the lungs. Children, the elderly, and people with chronic lung and heart conditions are among the most vulnerable to dirty diesel’s impact. And the workers who operate diesel equipment are the first to breathe the harmful emissions. The city council passed the local legislation requiring developers to curb diesel emissions, in part, because Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods are densely packed, with schools and playgrounds often near construction sites. If the legislation had been in effect, one construction site that would need to comply would be Bakery Square 2.0, a development on Penn Ave. that broke ground in January 2013. The $100-million project is the sister site to Bakery Square 1.0, home to Google’s Pittsburgh offices, high-end shops and a hotel. With the help of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and the Urban Redevelopment Authority, according to a press release from the mayor’s office, the development was awarded about $2 million in federal funds. The development was recently awarded $4 million from the administration of Gov. Tom Corbett. Bakery Square 2.0 borders The Ellis School, a private, all-girls academy, and Mellon Park. The girls at the Ellis School who have asthma could be directly affected by the diesel emissions while Bakery Square 2.0 construction is underway, said Dr. Fernando Holguin, the assistant director at the University of Pittsburgh’s Asthma Institute. “Maybe some children will wheeze a little more…and some kids may end up in hospital,” Dr. Holguin said. Representatives from the project’s development company, Walnut Capital, did not return phone calls or emails requesting comment. A representative from The Ellis School said she didn’t know enough about the ordinance to comment. Just a piece of paper ‘Clean construction’ laws have sprouted across the country. Pittsburgh’s was modeled after New York City’s version, called Local Law 77. New York’s version passed in 2003 and took about a year to implement. It also required convincing industry officials that the retrofits wouldn’t cause warranties to be voided or engines to explode, said Gerry Kelpin of that city’s Department of Environmental Protection. Kelpin’s team is in charge of enforcing the law. City leadership, including The New York City Council and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, strongly supported the law, Kelpin said. Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto, who was the main sponsor of the ordinance, gave a copy of New York City’s regulations to Pittsburgh’s Law Department. Meetings concerning the regulations to implement the ordinance have been going on for more than a year, according to Peduto’s office. Big projects, no retrofitting requirements These are some of the projects with public financing that have been announced since the Clean Air Act was passed by the Pittsburgh City Council and signed by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. All of these projects would have been required to retrofit a percentage of their diesel equipment used at the construction site if the regulations were in place. However, the regulations have not been finalized, said Daniel Regan, Pittsburgh’s solicitor. Regan said they are waiting to hear from Peduto’s office. Peduto is running for mayor. “We weren’t involved, nor were we asked to be involved, in drafting the legislation,” Regan said, adding they they thought it was important for the sponsors to review it. When PublicSource asked about the implementation of the ordinance at a public event, Ravenstahl declined to comment. Doug Anderson, the deputy city controller whose inspectors will be in charge of enforcing the retrofitting requirements, said his inspectors haven’t been trained. Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak, co-sponsor of the ordinance, said she hopes the regulations are written as soon as possible. “Until it’s implemented, it’s just words on a page,” said Rudiak, who is running for re-election. Rudiak said she has a list of ordinances that council passed that haven’t been implemented by this administration. “At the end of the day, I want to make sure the public is aware of what’s really going on out there, and they can be the judge of how they feel about it,” she said. According to Pittsburgh’s City Code, any ordinance that isn’t vetoed by the mayor, automatically becomes law; the Clean Air Act of 2010 was signed by Ravenstahl. But in order for the law to be enforceable, rules need to be drafted. The dirty diesel regulations have been in the works for more than a year. “That’s a long time,” said Denise Rousseau, a professor of public policy at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College. Rousseau, who was speaking about the role of elected leaders in implementing laws and not about any specific instance, suggested that the reasons for the delay might include an administrative backlog, logistical problems coming up with enforceable rules or pressure from an external source. An undue burden? Construction industry representatives, who were at the table during the drafting of the law, warned that retrofitting requirements might block small construction companies from doing business in Pittsburgh. The Heinz Endowments, whose Breathe Project works with government and industry for cleaner air, contributed to an existing Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) fund to help small contractors retrofit their equipment. (The Heinz Endowments also supports PublicSource.) “It was a way to help small contractors to still be competitive under a new requirement,” said Caren Glotfelty, senior director of The Heinz Endowments’ Environment Program. A new piece of diesel equipment is a huge investment for companies, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Besides buying new equipment, companies can replace the engine, swap parts in the engine, or attach a filter to retrofit. Each option must be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. “Not all machines have solutions,” said Jason Koss. Koss is the director of industry relations for the Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania. About 15 members of the trade association have already retrofitted their equipment using money from the ACHD, he said. Koss said there are always costs associated with new regulations. Supporters of the law said opportunities to make the air cleaner are being lost. And for people like Feldman, the costs of the region’s poor air quality are tangible. Feldman, one of Dr. Holguin’s patients, developed asthma and allergies during his early 50s. But he hasn’t has an asthma attack for about four years because he regularly takes his medication. The meds cost about $150 a month, even with health insurance through WQED. (The public broadcasting network is a news partner of PublicSource.) Filippini, of GASP, said that doing nothing about the diesel air pollution may seem like the cheaper and easier thing to do, but the health and environmental costs are great. Children miss school because of asthma attacks; parents miss work to stay home with sick children. There are also more emergency room visits, and higher insurance premiums. Pittsburgh has come a long way from it’s ‘smoky city’ image, Filippini said, adding that this law is a tangible step the city can take to clean up regional air pollution. “It is a way that they can be a leader,” she said. Correction: This story originally said that Councilman Bill Peduto is running for mayor against Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. Ravenstahl is not running for another term. Reach Emily DeMarco at 412-315-0262 or edemarco@publicsource.org. #airpollution #diesel #CleanConstruction #CleanAirAct #airquality

Air Pollution Speed Dating, Air Quality Jeopardy, and the AQI Playoffs are just a few of the many games and activities included in the Athletes United for Healthy Air Toolkit that can help students, their teachers, and their coaches learn about air quality in a fun and interactive way.  The toolkit was developed with funding provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and is distributed at no cost in order to make its information and activities available to anyone who can effectively use it. In addition to hands-on activities and lesson plans, the toolkit includes additional resources such as Tips to Reduce Exposure to Air Pollution, a wealth of on-line resources, and a teacher tutorial.  To request your free toolkit (provided on a flash drive), and/or a presentation for your class, contact Sam Thomas at sam@gasp-pgh.org. Athletes United for Healthy Air is a new campaign launched by the Group Against Smog and Pollution to educate athletes of all kinds, from the casual runner to the elite cyclist, about our regional air pollution, ways to minimize personal exposure and champion air quality improvement efforts. We’ve known for a long time that air pollution poses a greater risk to the health of children, asthmatics, and the elderly, but what about our most active, presumably healthiest citizens? Athletes of all kinds experience increased exposure to air pollution because they are processing air at a more rapid rate during outdoor physical activity than an individual at rest. To learn more about GASP’s Athletes United for Healthy Air campaign click here. #AQI #AthletesUnitedforHealthyAir #airpollution #DEP #airquality