Air Quality Monitoring Of Memphis And Surrounding Areas

Pollution continues to pose an enormous threat to residents of urban cities worldwide. In the August 2008 Monthly Update, it is stated that approximately 800,000 deaths each year can be attributed to outdoor air pollution, making pollution the single most harmful environmental hazard to human health in urban areas (Kallman). The fact that pollution kills hundreds of thousands of people each year alone portrays just how dangerous living in these conditions can be. Kallman writes about a study which proves an increase in upper respiratory diseases, cardiovascular mortality, respiratory mortality, and low birth weights when exposed to air pollutants (August 2008: Monthly Update). These can be very serious diseases and complications which, when contracted, can lead to death or very serious illnesses. There

Air pollution situation is created by the release of pollutants into the air .These substances are detrimental to human health and the planet as a whole. When air becomes contaminated or polluted, it becomes hazard to humankind and other living species on the earth. The use of energy and different forms of gaseous emissions is the reason for air pollution. According to John Walke, director of the Clean Air Project, part of the Climate and Clean Air program at NRDC. “Burning fossil fuels releases gases and chemicals into the air.” Air pollutants are identified as an indicator of air quality are nitrogen oxides (NO2), sulphur oxides (SO2), carbon monoxides (CO), ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM10) and lead (Pb). SO2, NO2, CO and PM10. These are well recognized as sources emitted from the combustion of fuels used in power and desalination plants (Brunekreef, B., & Holgate, S. T.,2002).

No matter where you are at today the air quality is poor and increasing in most cities. Dallas-Fort Worth is ranked number seven according to the American Lung Association’s air quality report for having the worst air. Everywhere you look there is pollution and its time to take dramatic measures in order to lower health and en-vironmental problems. Problems that are increasing due to the higher demand for goods, services, and transportation.

In recent years, the oil and natural gas industry has continued to expand to populated areas, thus growing a concern for nearby communities regarding volatile organic compounds (VOCs) air toxics and human exposure.1 Current screening methods to determine exposure of toxic VOCs such as the family of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylene and Xylene (BTEX) requires a traditional gas chromatograph (GC), which requires high energy use and its bulky size is not ideal for long-term field deployment and real-time measurements. Sensor technology advancements have enabled the use of low-cost devices to measure VOCs, but require additional techniques for chemical speciation for BTEX identification (i.e.

Some of the pollutants released include: toluene, benzene, xylene and ethyl benzene, ground level ozone (also known as smog), nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. Exposure to these pollutants are known to cause short-term illness, organ damage, nervous system disorders, cancer, birth defects and even death in some cases. Some of the cancer causing are this; Dioxin is formed when chlorine breaks down, and can be found in both water and air. Dioxins are known human carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. One dioxin has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a known human carcinogen. Organic solvents are a class of chemicals that includes chlorinated and other solvents, including toluene, methylene chloride, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde. Sources of exposure include outdoor and indoor air pollution, waste incineration, cleaning products and some cosmetics. They are also used in the manufacture of computer parts. Many pesticides that are included in the fluid, including herbicides and other pest-killing poisons, have been labeled as human or animal carcinogens. A report demonstrated that lifetime use of residential pesticides may be associated with an increase

These pollutants are characterized as air toxics, which include lead, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and a variety of other chemicals. The impact of air pollution could be very serious to both the heath condition of the population, which could by extension affects the economy of the impacted community. However, this impact is directly related to the amount of pollution in the air. Health consequences from air pollution could range from eye irritation, brain and nerve damage, runny nose, cancer, heart and

For the past few years, the American Lung Association has been releasing its annual reports on the “State of The Air” that lists the most polluted cities in the United States. For instance, in 2014, out of the seven cities ranked to have the worst air quality, six of them are in California. The two major air pollution culprits in California are from the transportation sources such as trucks and cars, or from the stationary sources such as industrial facilities and refineries (Ierodiakonou, et al. 392). However, the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association includes other pollutants in their reports such as Sulphur(IV) oxide, Carbon(II) Oxide gas and Nitrogen(IV) Oxide from chemical industries, which also causes harm to human beings and the environment at large.

Air pollution has been recognized as a major threat to environmental health, and the effects that it can have on the population are extremely varied. In the environmental aspects, air

Rockingham County was ranked in the top ten percent of dirtiest Counties in the U.S. in 1999. (Scorecard, n.d.). With such a high measurements the air quality for citizens living in Rockingham County is extremely poor. This is important issue for this area because it affects the health and wellbeing of the county’s citizens. Children, teens, adults over 65 years of age, and people who work outdoors, and people with diabetes or heart disease are especially affected by air pollution (Environmental Health, n.d.).

The Clean Air Act enforces several programs that protect public health by regulating emission of hazardous air pollutants. These programs focus on many factors designed to improve public health and the environment. One focus includes the reduction of outdoor air pollutants that are responsible for causing acid rain, haze, smog, and other issues. Another requires the progressive elimination of production and use of chemicals proven responsible for depletion of the stratospheric ozone. The CAA also aims to reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants that are suspected or known to cause detrimental health effects, including asthma and cancer. The most serious health risks are associated with two of the six common pollutants: particles and ozone. The efforts of the CAA have led to drastic improvements in the levels of these two pollutants. Between 1980 and 2012, the EPA found that national concentrations of ozone improved by 25%. Particle concentrations began being measured in 2000, and it was found that between 2000 and 2012, fine particle concentrations improved 37% and coarse particle concentrations improved 27% (2015). Due to these improvements, Americans inhale lower amounts of dangerous pollutants, which led to the prevention of 205,000 premature deaths solely in the year 1990 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

Moreover, acute health effects were observed at levels common in many us cites such as Los Angeles, as well as, below current U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Overall these studies shown respiratory effect increase parallel with pollution levels, with a near linear dose-response

Starting in the year 2004, the air pollution has reached an alarming level in the city o Toronto. Dr Barbara Yaffe, the acting medical officer of health of Toronto Public health, has released a report in July 2004 saying that the “air pollution [in the city] has contributed to over 1700 premature deaths and 6000 hospitalization admission in Toronto each year” (Yaffe, 2004, p.i). According to this report, pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and carbon monoxide have increased within the air of the city; these pollutants are tiny particles that are 2.5 micron in diameter or less and can affect people’s respiratory system and cause cardiovascular and respiratory problems such as “asthma, bronchitis in children, adult chronic bronchitis, and heart problem” (TPH, 2007, figure 1). Although it

Regional air quality is considerably impacted by flow of air pollutants from long distances; originating from Asia can impact air quality in North America. Pollutants originating from United States are believed to be responsible for high ozone levels in southwestern Ontario. During smog episodes in Ontario, these trans-boundary pollutants can be responsible for almost 90 percent of the ozone in areas like Port Huron and Simcoe (North Lake Erie), Parry Sound (East Lake Huron and Georgian Bay) and Windsor (extreme southwest). To a small extent pollutants originating from Ontario impact air quality in Quebec, Maritime provinces and U.S New England states.

The World Health Organization estimated that more than 800,000 deaths worldwide were due to outdoor air pollution. Air pollution is a growing issue in industrialized areas due to exposure from industrial and traffic sources. Harm to the human body occurs from exposure to and inhalation of particulate matter (PM) (Barnes et al., 2012). PM is liquid or solid particles in the air, that when small enough in size, can be harmful to the human body when inhaled. Two common sizes of particulate matter are PM_10 and PM_2.5. PM_10 are particles that are 2.5 to 10 micrometers in size, and includes dust, mold and pollen just to name a few. PM_2.5 are particles that are 2.5 micrometers or smaller in size, and consists of particles from vehicles, industries, and burning. Smaller particles are able to get into the lungs and potentially cause serious health problems (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2015). These health problems include acute cardiovascular events, changes to blood pressure, coagulation, myocardial perfusion, and chronic respiratory diseases (Barnes et al., 2012).

I am pursing my research in an environmental toxicology lab because I would like to understand the effect of air pollution have on human and animal cardiovascular health. Growing as a child in Taiwan, I remember vividly that I always had to wear masks to prevent allergies such as watery eyes, nasal congestion, and running nose that were caused by the dusty and air pollution in the city whenever I went into the city. I was not the only one who was affected by the quality of air in the city. My younger brother also has trouble with the dusty city air. He had an environmental triggered asthma and had to use rescue bronchodilator inhalers to relieve his symptoms. Due to lack of government regulation in air quality and urban greenery establishment