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Georgia 2008
Air Quality & Climate Summit
Communicating Risk:
How Should We Monitor Air Quality and Respond Appropriately?
Gerry Teague
We all agree that bad air is bad…..
BUT,
Are health risks the same for everyone?
Is there a minimum “safe” exposure level?
Aren’t you safe if you don’t live downtown?
Why the Health Message is Lost:Flaws in Current Air Pollution Policy
• Not consistent among agencies
• Shaped by political and commercial agendas
• Emphasis on public vs. personal exposure
Communicating Exposure
• When you can see bad air you hear about it!
• Vehicular emissions – personal aspects- micro-effects of busy thoroughfares - school buses
• Effects of age (children)
• Effects of activity (athletes)
The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionMarch 2, 2007
Controlled Fire Leaves Atlanta AreaWheezing….
400 m
EC: 9 times higher at roadOC: 1.4 times higher at road
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
EC OC WSOC
Expressway vs GIT
ExpresswayGIT
Co
ncen
trati
on
, µ
gC
/m3
Two Filters10 am -10 pm
4.5
0.5
11
7.8
4.74.3
(Soot) (Water-Soluble)
Personal Exposure – How near a freeway issafe?
Courtesy of Rodney Weber, PhD, Ga Inst. Tech
The Dilemma of School Buses:What is Good for the Air Ain’t Good for You
Children who ride in school buses are exposedto levels of diesel soot high enough to result in anan additional 23-46 cancer cases per millionchildren exposed.
National Resources Defense Council,Coalition for Clean Air, UC Berkeley
Zone Concept: Children InhaleMore Indoor Irritants
2 ft.
Adult6 ft.
ChildBreathingZones
Toddlers
Disturbed Irritants,
Particles, andAllergens
Disturbed Irritants,
Particles, andAllergens
Athletes Hyperventilate Bad Air
• The lung is more exposed to airborne pollutants:
Rest Exercise Minute ventilation 5 40 - 80 (L/min)
• Athletes tend to mouth breath, and bypass the nasal filter.
Adverse Health Effects of Air Pollution
Excellent evidence: - exacerbations of asthma - increased heart attack and stroke
Fair to good evidence: - exacerbations of other chronic lung diseases (COPD, cystic fibrosis) - lung cancer - reduced lung growth in children
Growing evidence: - environmental genomics - effects of micro-climates - risks in athletes
The Challenge: Bad Air is A Soup
• Ozone (O3)
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
• Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
• Carbon monoxide (CO)
• Lead (Pb)
• Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10)
Old and Young
Young children whose lungs are developing, and seniors and people with chronic disorders of the lungs
and heart are more sensitive.
SensitiveIndividuals
Individuals with asthma, chronic bronchitis,
emphysema, cystic fibrosis, and known cardiac conditions
should take extra precautions during air pollution episodes.
Healthy People
Everyone who works outside or engages in vigorous outdoor exercise for prolonged periods during smog episodes is at increased risk of
experiencing adverse health effects caused by smog.
Dose = (Pollutant Concentration) X (Breathing Rate) X (Time Engaged in Activity)
Another challenge:humans are complicated!
Levelof Risk:
Courtesy of MichaelChang
0 50 150Air Quality Index
Risk of symptoms
Symptom Risk and the AQI:Does Not Account for Human Variation
Does not take into account:- genetic susceptibility- antioxidant status- nutrition
Bad Air Myths
• A person is protected from air pollution if they live in the suburbs or on a farm.
• A healthy person is not threatened by bad air.
• Indoor air is safer than outdoor air during a pollution event.
• A “safe” level of air pollution has been identified.
What I Tell My Patient’s Parents
• Pay attention to the air quality report.
• If your child takes the school bus, insist on a “retro-fitted” one.
• On a bad air day avoid outdoors exercise between 4:00 and 6:00 pm.
• Live and go to school away from busy traffic corridors if you can.
• Don’t get ripped off by the indoor air purification industry.
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