The Summer Interns at Heinz Endowments teamed up with the Saturday Light Brigade recently to create a series of podcasts about environmental and social issues affecting our region. Based on their slide show, they spent a lot of time wearing big, cool headphones and looking at sound waves on laptops. And that’s just fine, as long as they keep producing programs as interesting as they have.  Listen to “Clean Air: A Work in Progress” to hear our executive director and others discuss air quality in our area. Click on other segments to learn about some pluses to high gasoline prices, the state of transit in “America’s Most Livable City,” or how the Marcellus industry has affected the social structure of some rural communities. Good work, yinz!

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times (to exercise!)” Joe Osborne, Legal Director We all know that getting regular exercise is important to stay healthy, and that breathing polluted air is unhealthy. As our oxygen requirements increase during strenuous exercise, our breathing rate increases to meet this increased oxygen demand. As a result, our exposure to air pollution increases as well. You may be thinking that this is exactly the excuse you’ve been looking for to adopt an entirely sedentary lifestyle. While the problem of increased air pollution exposure during physical activity is real, replacing these health risks with the health risks associated with prolonged physical inactivity isn’t a solution. Instead, individuals should seek out convenient ways to minimize their exposure to air pollution during exercise. That doesn’t mean wear a gas mask, but before you go jogging, you might want to check the current air quality in your area by visiting www.airnow.gov. If air quality is poor, consider exercising indoors or waiting a few hours to see if air quality improves. As I’ll discuss in more detail in a future article, you can also significantly reduce your exposure to traffic-related air pollution by selecting jogging or cycling routes that avoid major roads when possible. Air pollution concentrations tend to follow relatively predictable temporal patterns.  Perhaps the simplest way to minimize exposure to air pollution during exercise is to familiarize yourself with these patterns. Once you know when air pollution is most and least likely to be a problem, you can adjust your routine to avoid outdoor during the times when air quality is poor. Many parts of Pennsylvania (along with much of the eastern United States) struggle to meet federal health-based standards for two pollutants: particulate matter and ozone. By looking at air quality monitor data for these pollutants, it’s easy to spot some temporal trends in pollutant concentrations. Below I’ll use hourly average pollution concentrations measured at the air quality monitor site in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood to point some of these patterns out.  While this monitor data is from Pittsburgh, these air pollution trends are not unique to the Steel City. These same air pollution trends and the resulting advice about when to exercise hold true just about everywhere.[1] Ozone The chart below lists the number of times in 2008 the hourly average ozone concentration at the Lawrenceville air quality monitor reached or exceeded .075 parts per million (ppm).[2] Hourly ozone concentrations at or above .075 ppm only occurred between April and September.  This is because ozone is formed from the reaction of other pollutants (most notably nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds) in the presence of sunlight.  Less sun means less ozone—one bright side to those short, gloomy winter days. Rather than focusing only on concentrations of .075 ppm or greater, you can see the same summertime increase by looking at average hourly ozone concentrations by month: Now let’s look at ozone concentrations by hour during the April to September ozone season: As you might expect given the relationship between sunlight and ozone formation, ozone concentrations are highest during and shortly after the sunniest part of the day.  So the lessons for ozone are clear.  From late fall to early spring, ozone is rarely, if ever a concern.  During ozone season, ozone levels are usually at their highest in mid- to late-afternoon. Particulate Matter Like ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations also vary by season, though not as drastically as ozone. Particulate matter can be a problem any time during the year, but unhealthy PM2.5 concentrations are most common between June and September. The following charts are based on 2006-2008 PM2.5 data from Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville air quality monitor. The chart below shows the percentage of hours by month where 1-hour average PM2.5 concentrations were at or above the federal short-term standard.[3] Like ozone, PM2.5 concentrations are most likely to be elevated between late spring and early fall. So what times of day are PM2.5 concentrations most likely to be elevated?  The following chart depicts average hourly PM2.5 concentrations from June to September. Early-morning (~6-8 am) and late-evening (~8-9 pm) bumps are evident.  These hourly patterns can be largely attributed to two causes: increased mobile source emissions during rush hour and temperature inversions. Normally, air temperature decreases as altitude increases. During an inversion, this pattern is reversed, cutting off convection and trapping local air pollution rather than allowing it to rise and disperse.  If you ever step outside during the late night or early morning and notice a pervasive sulfur odor in the air, chances are an inversion is to blame. Elevated PM2.5 concentrations can occur any time of the year, but, like ozone, are most common from the late spring to early fall.  Unlike ozone, PM2.5 concentrations are most likely to be high late at night and in the early morning. Putting it all together While unhealthy air quality can occur at any time of the year, those seeking to reduce their exposure to air pollution during outdoor physical activities should be most mindful of current air quality from late spring through early fall. When it comes to identifying the best time of day to exercise, ozone and PM2.5 concentrations don’t match up so conveniently.  The chart below shows the percentage of hourly averages for PM2.5 and ozone in excess of the short-term standard for each pollutant: Given the divergent hourly patterns of PM2.5 and ozone, there are only a few portions of the day when concentrations of both pollutants are unlikely to be elevated. Best bets are to try to plan outdoor exercise between 9 am and 1 pm or 6 pm and 8 pm. Keep in mind, these are just general trends. Air quality can be good (or bad) at any time of the day or year.  It’s always best to check the current air quality before exercising outdoors. Again, I’m not suggesting you reduce your general level of physical activity. It’s far from clear under what circumstances the numerous positive health effects of exercise are outweighed by the negative health effects of increased exposure to air pollution, but if you reduce your exposure to air pollution by reducing your level of physical activity, there’s a good chance you’re doing yourself more harm than good. Use this information to increase the amount of time you spend exercising when air quality is good, not to decrease the amount of time you spend exercising in general. Back to post [1] Among the few exceptions to this general pattern are areas where air pollution concentrations are dominated by an intermittent local pollution source.  Seasonal variations are, of course, based on seasons, so annual trends would be offset by ~6 months in the southern hemisphere and muted or nonexistent near the equator. Back to post [2] Why .075 ppm?  Because the most recent short-term national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for ozone is set at .075 ppm. averaged over 8 hours.  I use the hourly averages for ozone because an 8-hour average would mask the temporal variation in ozone concentrations, not to second-guess EPA’s decision that 8-hour averages are most relevant to human health effects. Does this mean you’d have to jog for 8-hours straight in air exceeding the NAAQS standard?  No, the same document in which EPA justifies the 8-hour standard also acknowledges that exercise can increase the sensitivity to and adverse health effects of ozone, meaning multi-hour exposures to high ozone levels are more likely to result in adverse health effects if an individual is physically active during a portion of that multi-hour exposure). U.S. EPA, Air Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants (Vol. I) page E-22, available at: http://oaspub.epa.gov/eims/eimscomm.getfile?p_download_id=456384. Back to post [3] The NAAQS standard is 35 microgram per cubic meter (μg/m3) averaged over 24-hours. As I stated above regarding the 8-hour averaging time for the ozone standard, I’m focusing on hourly averages for PM2.5 because it provides a better sense of temporal trends, not to second guess the federal PM2.5 standard’s 24-hour averaging time.

The Environmental Protection Agency reports that most of the counties with air quality monitors in the region covered by the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) are projected to meet the 1997 and 2006 ozone and fine particle standards in 2014. The one county projected to NOT meet the 2006 fine particle standard is Allegheny County. U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works has a huge influence on local PM2.5 concentrations there. However, long-range transport also plays a significant role in the air quality problem. Liberty-Clairton’s PM2.5 problem is caused by a combination of local and distant air pollution sources, and it can only be addressed by achieving reductions from both local and distant sources. The Clairton Coke Works must do its part; upwind air pollution sources must do theirs. More information on CSAPR: On July 6, 2011, the EPA finalized a rule that protects the health of millions of Americans by helping states reduce air pollution and attain the 1997 ozone and fine particle and 2006 fine particle National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).  This rule, known as the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, requires 27 states to significantly improve air quality by reducing power plant emissions that cross state lines and contribute to ozone and fine particle air pollution in other states. The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule will help avoid tens of thousands of premature deaths and illnesses, achieving billions of dollars in public health benefits. By 2014, the required emissions reductions will annually avoid: • 13,000 to 34,000 premature deaths • 15,000 nonfatal heart attacks • 19,000 hospital and emergency room visits • 1.8 million lost workdays or school absences • 400,000 aggravated asthma attacks Air pollution reductions will also lead to improvements in visibility in national and state parks, and increased protection for sensitive ecosystems including Adirondack lakes and Appalachian streams, coastal waters and estuaries, and forests. For more information about the CSAPR visit http://www.epa.gov/crossstaterule/

McConway and Torley, LLC (M&T) and the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) have finalized an agreement regarding air emission reductions at M&T’s Lawrenceville steel foundry. M&T has operated its Lawrenceville foundry since the 1860s.  The foundry manufactures steel castings and employs 273 individuals. GASP is a Pittsburgh-based environmental nonprofit that has worked on air quality issues in southwestern Pennsylvania for more than 40 years. In January 2011 the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) issued an air permit for the reactivation of an electric arc furnace at the Lawrenceville foundry. GASP appealed the permit based on concerns about potential emissions of heavy metals from the facility. M&T approached GASP to collaborate on a potential solution to the potential air quality issue. M&T and GASP agreed to supplemental emission controls over and above those required by the Environmental Protection Agency or ACHD, including a more effective collection hood on the existing furnace and membrane fabric filters on the furnace baghouses. The improvements further reduce emissions of particulate matter and heavy metals from the facility. The agreement allows M&T to proceed with its planned plant modernization, simultaneously providing more manufacturing jobs and improved air quality. “This agreement once again disproves the notion that a healthy environment and a healthy economy are incompatible,” said Rachel Filippini, GASP’s executive director. M&T and GASP are pleased with the working relationship they have established and the additional air pollution reductions that will result from this agreement. CONTACT: Group Against Smog & Pollution Joe Osborne GASP Legal Director 412-325-7382 joe@gasp-pgh.org McConway & Torley David Margulies 214-368-0909 davidm@prexperts.net #Lawrenceville #airpollution #airemissions #McConwayandTorley #settlementagreement #airquality

Honey bees are an integral insect for our society, pollinating over 40 percent of our food system. But recent research is proving that honeybees are on the decline and need our help. Honeybee colony collapse has wiped out nearly 5 million colonies in the U.S.  While not fully understood, it has been linked to many causes. Air pollution can destroy the scents that flowers emit, making it hard for bees to find their food. Pesticide and insecticide use and the importation of foreign bees with novel viruses are other causes. "Queen of the Sun" is a newly released documentary describing this phenomenon, with screening release dates in different cities across the country beginning this month. The film will be featured in Pittsburgh from May 21-25 at the Melwood Screening Room of the Pittsburgh Filmmakers. Visit queenofthesun.com for more information about this issue, screening details, and how you can take action.

Particulate matter (PM) is making a strong showing in their latest links. While GASP doesn’t work directly on climate change issues, many of the pollutants we work to reduce have global warming effects.  Black carbon is at the core of PM and is recognized as a short-lived climate forcer (SLCF). It has about a million times the heat-trapping power of carbon dioxide, and though short-lived, SLCFs currently have almost as much global warming impact as carbon dioxide. Click here to read how reducing PM can reduce the effects of climate change and why those concerned with global warming should work to cut diesel emissions. Want more? Read here how PM affects different segments of the population differently.  The study reaffirms what most of us concerned about PM know already–children, older adults, those with preexisting diseases, the obese, and others. Want even more? A report (yet to be published) that links PM from urban traffic to negative mental effects is summarized here. If you’re concerned as much as we are about particulate matter, please join GASP today and help us reduce this destructive pollutant.

Do you want to help prevent pollution from Marcellus Shale development in your community? An upcoming visual assessment training provides information on permit tracking, air pollution, and water pollution, using Fractracker, safety, and filing a complaint with DEP. The Marcellus Citizen Stewardship Project: Visual Assessment Training is an initiative of Mountain Watershed Association, and GASP is glad to be part of the partnership. The training is being held at the Bridgeside Point Building, 100 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 19. For more information, visit www.mtwatershed.com.

Ready for a 10-day weekend? With warm weather finally here, jump right into the season with all that Great Outdoors Week offers. From May 13 through May 22, Pittsburgh will be popping with outdoor activities.  You can start by running the marathon, or at least cheering the runners on. Then jump in a dragon boat or try fly fishing or rock climbing. Finish out the week by joining over 2,000 others in cycling all over the city for Pedal Pittsburgh. Great Outdoors Week promotes outdoor recreation as part of a healthy and sustainable community, and we’re happy to be part of it. The more you love the outdoors, the more you’ll realize you need clean air to enjoy it in.  You can find GASP at the Venture Outdoors Festival on Saturday, May 21. Learn more about all of the activities by clicking wallsarebad.com.

Smoking diesel trucks like this should be prohibited from operating. Not only do they represent a hazard to human and environmental health, but they obviously create a visibility problem for the vehicles traveling behind and beside them. Diesel particulate matter (PM), in part due to its ability to adsorb toxic gases and metals, is listed by EPA as a motor vehicle air toxic. Diesel PM, especially particles of 2.5 microns or smaller, has been linked to such health problems as asthma attacks and possible asthma onset, coughing and breathing difficulty, chronic bronchitis, decreased lung function, cancer, heart attack, and stroke. Children, the elderly, and people with existing respiratory ailments are especially sensitive to particulate matter. Since diesel vehicles aren’t required to undergo regular emissions testing in Pennsylvania , this smoker can continue to drive through our neighborhoods belching all the while. Our advice? See if you can find a company name, phone number, license plate, or vehicle number and call the company to tell them this vehicle should be taken off the road until it can be cleaned up. If you can safely take a photo, even better. The good news is that diesel vehicles can be cleaned up by employing emission reduction technology like diesel particulate filters. The City of Pittsburgh and W.L. Roenigk Transportation are just two examples of local fleet owners/operators who have taken steps to reduce their fleets’ emissions. Soon, Pittsburgh City Council will vote on clean construction legislation that will require contractors to clean up some portion of their construction equipment before beginning work on a large publicly subsidized development project in Pittsburgh. You should also know that on-road diesel vehicles are not permitted to idle for more than five minutes (some exemptions apply). If you see someone violating Pennsylvania’s diesel idling law contact your local police or the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Learn more here. In addition, Allegheny County has its own off-road construction idling regulation. You can contact the Allegheny County Health Department at 412-687-2243 if you see construction vehicles idling in the county or otherwise have an air quality complaint. Learn more about our diesel campaign and what you can do to help.

While our region showed slight improvement in particulate pollution, the ALA’s 2011 State of the Air Report gave us an F grade for both particulate and ozone pollution. Read GASP’s reaction to the report here as well as ways you can join GASP in improving our air quality.