Acid Rain and Transported Air Pollutants: Implications for Public Policy
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Trans-Boundary Haze Pollution in Southeast Asia: Sustainability Through Plural Environmental Governance
sustainability Article Trans-Boundary Haze Pollution in Southeast Asia: Sustainability through Plural Environmental Governance Md Saidul Islam 1,*, Yap Hui Pei 2 and Shrutika Mangharam 1 1 Division of Sociology, Nanyang Technological University, 14 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637332; [email protected] 2 Division of Psychology, Nanyang Technological University, 14 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637332; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +65-6592-1519 Academic Editor: Marc A. Rosen Received: 29 February 2016; Accepted: 13 May 2016; Published: 21 May 2016 Abstract: Recurrent haze in Southeast Asian countries including Singapore is largely attributable to rampant forest fires in Indonesia due to, for example, extensive slash-and-burn (S & B) culture. Drawing on the “treadmill of production” and environmental governance approach, we examine causes and consequences of this culture. We found that, despite some perceived benefits, its environmental consequences include deforestation, soil erosion and degradation, global warming, threats to biodiversity, and trans-boundary haze pollution, while the societal consequences comprise regional tension, health risks, economic and productivity losses, as well as food insecurity. We propose sustainability through a plural coexistence framework of governance for targeting S & B that incorporates strategies of incentives, education and community resource management. Keywords: slash-and-burn; environmental governance; haze; Indonesia; plural coexistence; global warming; Singapore 1. Introduction The world’s rapidly growing population has been a long-standing cause of concern amongst both economists and environmentalists alike. There is an increasing demand for agricultural and urban spaces to sustain the ever-multiplying demographics. However, due to limited availability of space, the trend of clearing forests to make way for cultivable land has been gaining popularity [1]. -
What's in the Air Gets Around Poster
Air pollution comes AIR AWARENESS: from many sources, Our air contains What's both natural & manmade. a combination of different gasses: OZONE (GOOD) 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, in the is a gas that occurs forest fires, vehicle exhaust, naturally in the upper plus 1% from carbon dioxide, volcanic emissions smokestack emissions atmosphere. It filters water vapor, and other gasses. the sun's ultraviolet rays and protects AIRgets life on the planet from the Air moves around burning Around! when the wind blows. rays. Forests can be harmed when nutrients are drained out of the soil by acid rain, and trees can't Air grow properly. pollution ACID RAIN Water The from one place can forms when sulfur cause problems oxides and nitrogen oxides falls from 1 air is in mix with water vapor in the air. constant motion many miles from clouds that form where it Because wind moves the air, acid in the air. Pollutants around the earth (wind). started. rain can fall hundreds of miles from its AIR MONITORING: and tiny bits of soil are As it moves, it absorbs source. Acid rain can make lakes so acidic Scientists check the quality of carried with it to the water from lakes, rivers that plants and animals can't live in the water. our air every day and grade it using the Air Quality Index (AQI). ground below. and oceans, picks up soil We can check the daily AQI on the from the land, and moves Internet or from local 2 pollutants in the air. news sources. Greenhouse gases, sulfur oxides and Earth's nitrogen oxides are added to the air when coal, oil and natural gas are CARS, TRUCKS burned to provide Air energy. -
Air Quality Comic Book
Hi, I'm Dr. Knox Our Narrator, Dr. Knox, is on his way to Today we hope to view a pollution visit a site where air pollution is likely to source and visit with environmental occur and to visit with environmental specialists from the Oklahoma personnel in action. Department of Environmental Here we are in Quality. Oklahoma trying to understand air pollution. Its a complex problem with many factors. Come join us as we learn about air Dr. Knox stops at a pollution and how to possible pollution source. control it. A Pollution Critter Questions are often asked about air pollution. Sources of air pollution come in many forms. We see many sources Just then a truck starts. in our daily lives. Some are colorless or odorless. Cough . others are more apparent, cough . If you breathe these fumes inside a building, like your garage, they could be very harmful. Dr. Knox goes to a monitoring site and waits for the Join us as specialists to arrive. we explore how pollution sources are monitored and visit At this site and with some of the others air is people involved in collected and tested the monitoring for pollutants. Lets process. find out more. Looks like no one is home. Ust then a van pulls up and two environmental specialists step out. Hi, Im Monica Hi, Im Excuse me! Aaron I want to Hi, Im Dr. Knox. ask you about how air pollution is monitored. The specialists invite us in to Youve come to show us some pollution charts. the right place. We You see, we would be glad monitor several to discuss it. -
Bryophytes: Indicators and Monitoring Agents of Pollution
NeBIO (2010) Vol. 1(1) Govindapyari et al . 35-41 GENERAL ARTICLE Bryophytes: indicators and monitoring agents of pollution H. Govindapyari, M. Leleeka, M. Nivedita and P. L. Uniyal Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi – 110 007 Author for correspondence: [email protected], [email protected] Received: 17 September 2009; Revised and Accepted: 2 January 2010 ABSTRACT Bryophyte proves to be a potential bio-indicator of air pollution. The habitat diversity, structural simplicity, totipotency, rapid rate of multiplication and high metal accumulation capacity make bryophytes an ideal organism for pollution studies. The decline and absence of bryophyte populations especially epiphytes is a phenomenon primarily induced by air pollution caused by gaseous and particulate pollutants. Bryophytes are reliable indicators and monitors of air pollution as they are easy to handle and show a vast range of specific sensitivity and visible symptoms to pollutants greatly exceeding that of higher plants. KEY WORDS: Bryophyte, bio-indicator, air pollution, pollutants. Bryophytes are green land plants which lack a • which have the capacity to absorb and retain vascular system and are simple both morpho- pollutants in quantities much higher than those logically and anatomically. The growth potential in absorbed by other plant groups growing in the bryophytes is not as highly polarized as vascular same habitat. These plants trap and prevent plants. Bryophytes grow in a variety of habitats recycling of such pollutants in the ecosystem especially in moist places on soil, rocks, trunks and for different periods of time. Analysis of such branches of trees and fallen log. They obtain plants gives a fair idea about the degree of nutrients directly from substances dissolved in metal pollution. -
Global Environmental Issues and Its Remedies
International Journal of Sustainable Energy and Environment Vol. 1, No. 8, September 2013, PP: 120 - 126, ISSN: 2327- 0330 (Online) Available online at www.ijsee.com Research article Global Environmental Issues and its Remedies Dr. MD. Zulfequar Ahmad Khan* Address Present. Permanent Address for Correspondence *Dr. Md Zulfequar Ahmad Khan 21-B, Lane No 3, Associate Professor Jamia Nagar, Zakir Nagar, Department of Geography & Environmental Studies New Delhi-110025 Arba Minch University INDIA Arba Minch, Ethiopia. Mobile No.: +919718502867 Mobile No: +251 923934234 E-mail: [email protected] _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract To the surprise of many out-spoken environmentalists, it, in fact, turns out mankind and technology actually aren’t the only significant causes of global environmental problems. However, before we start to get too comfortable and confidently assume that we as human beings are officially “off the hook,” the fact remains that several “man-made” causes play a significant role in our current, global problems trend. Many human actions affect what people value. One way in which the actions that cause global change are different from most of these is that the effects take decades to centuries to be realized. This fact causes many concerned people to consider taking action now to protect the values of those who might be affected by global environmental change in years to come. But because of uncertainty about how global environmental systems work, and because the people affected will probably live in circumstances very much different from those of today and may have different values, it is hard to know how present-day actions will affect them. -
Acute Health Impacts of the Southeast Asian Transboundary Haze Problem—A Review
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Review Acute Health Impacts of the Southeast Asian Transboundary Haze Problem—A Review Kang Hao Cheong 1,* , Nicholas Jinghao Ngiam 2 , Geoffrey G. Morgan 3, Pin Pin Pek 4,5, Benjamin Yong-Qiang Tan 2, Joel Weijia Lai 1, Jin Ming Koh 1, Marcus Eng Hock Ong 4,5 and Andrew Fu Wah Ho 6,7,8 1 Science and Math Cluster, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore 487372, Singapore 2 Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore 119074, Singapore 3 School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia 4 Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169608, Singapore 5 Health Services & Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore 6 SingHealth Duke-NUS Emergency Medicine Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore 169857, Singapore 7 National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre, Singapore 169609, Singapore 8 Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disorders Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 20 August 2019; Accepted: 29 August 2019; Published: 6 September 2019 Abstract: Air pollution has emerged as one of the world’s largest environmental health threats, with various studies demonstrating associations between exposure to air pollution and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Regional air quality in Southeast Asia has been seasonally affected by the transboundary haze problem, which has often been the result of forest fires from “slash-and-burn” farming methods. In light of growing public health concerns, recent studies have begun to examine the health effects of this seasonal haze problem in Southeast Asia. -
AN ANALYSIS of WILDFIRE IMPACTS on CLIMATE CHANGE By
AN ANALYSIS OF WILDFIRE IMPACTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE By: Taylor Gilson Mentor: Dr. Elaine Fagner 1 Abstract Abstract: The western United States (U.S.). has recently seen an increase in wildfires that destroyed communities and lives. This researcher seeks to examine the impact of wildfires on climate change by examining recent studies on air quality and air emissions produced by wildfires, and their impact on climate change. Wildfires cause temporary large increases in outdoor airborne particles, such as particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) and particulate matter 10(PM 10). Large wildfires can increase air pollution over thousands of square kilometers (Berkley University, 2021). The researcher will be conducting this research by analyzing PM found in the atmosphere, as well as analyzing air quality reports in the Southwestern portion of the U.S. The focus of this study is to examine the air emissions after wildfires have occurred in Yosemite National Park; and the research analysis will help provide the scientific community with additional data to understand the severity of wildfires and their impacts on climate change. Project Overview and Hypothesis This study examines the air quality from prior wildfires in Yosemite National Park. This research effort will help provide additional data for the scientific community and local, state, and federal agencies to better mitigate harmful levels of PM in the atmosphere caused by forest fires. The researcher hypothesizes that elevated PM levels in the Yosemite National Park region correlate with wildfires that are caused by natural sources such as lightning strikes and droughts. Introduction The researcher will seek to prove the linkage between wildfires and PM. -
The Criteria Pollutants & a Closer Look at Ozone
Module 1: Activity 4 The Criteria Pollutants & a Closer Look at Ozone SUMMARY Students will be introduced to the criteria pollutants and will work in groups to make cartoon booklets demonstrating the formation of ground-level ozone and the destruction of stratospheric ozone. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS • What are criteria pollutants and why are they of concern? • What’s the difference between stratospheric ozone and ground-level ozone? • Why do we sometimes have too much ozone in the troposphere and not enough in the stratosphere? • How do these problems affect human health? TIME NEEDED Highly variable. It’s possible to complete this activity in one block period if you just use the background information provided and have students create a comic strip individually. However if you want to give students more time to produce creative products, allow two full days to work on the project in groups, and 30 minutes to present projects in class. 2012 North Carolina ESSENTIAL STANDARDS FOR EARTH/ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE • EEn.2.5.1 Summarize the structure and composition of our atmosphere. • EEn.2.5.5 Explain how human activities affect air quality. • EEn.2.7.3 Explain how human activities impact the biosphere. A product of the NC Air Awareness Program 2014. Available for re-distribution with permission. [email protected] www.itsourair.org The Criteria Pollutants & Module 1: a Closer Look at Ozone Activity 4 (usually over 75° F). NOX comes from burning fuels. VOCs are MAKING chemicals containing carbon that evaporate easily – which usually means they are smelly. Sources of VOCs include CONNECTIONS cleaning chemicals, solvents, paints, unburned gasoline, hog In this activity, students will be learning about ozone waste lagoons, and natural sources such as trees. -
The Cloud Cycle and Acid Rain
gX^\[`i\Zk\em`ifed\ekXc`dgXZkjf]d`e`e^Xkc`_`i_`^_jZ_ffcYffbc\k(+ ( K_\Zcfl[ZpZc\Xe[XZ`[iX`e m the mine ke fro smo uld rain on Lihir? Co e acid caus /P 5IJTCPPLMFUXJMM FYQMBJOXIZ K_\i\Xjfe]fik_`jYffbc\k K_\i\`jefXZ`[iX`efeC`_`i% `jk_Xkk_\i\_XjY\\ejfd\ K_`jYffbc\k\ogcX`ejk_\jZ`\eZ\ d`jle[\ijkXe[`e^XYflkk_\ Xe[Z_\d`jkipY\_`e[XZ`[iX`e% \o`jk\eZ\f]XZ`[iX`efeC`_`i% I\X[fekfÔe[flkn_pk_\i\`jef XZ`[iX`efeC`_`i55 page Normal rain cycle and acid rain To understand why there is no acid rain on Lihir we will look at: 1 How normal rain is formed 2 2 How humidity effects rain formation 3 3 What causes acid rain? 4 4 How much smoke pollution makes acid rain? 5 5 Comparing pollution on Lihir with Sydney and China 6 6 Where acid rain does occur 8–9 7 Could acid rain fall on Lihir? 10–11 8 The effect of acid rain on the environment 12 9 Time to check what you’ve learnt 13 Glossary back page Read the smaller text in the blue bar at the bottom of each page if you want to understand the detailed scientific explanations. > > gX^\) ( ?fnefidXciX`e`j]fid\[ K_\eXkliXcnXk\iZpZc\ :cfl[jXi\]fid\[n_\e_\Xk]ifdk_\jleZXlj\jk_\nXk\i`e k_\fZ\Xekf\mXgfiXk\Xe[Y\Zfd\Xe`em`j`Yc\^Xj% K_`j^Xji`j\j_`^_`ekfk_\X`in_\i\Zffc\ik\dg\iXkli\jZXlj\ `kkfZfe[\ej\Xe[Y\Zfd\k`epnXk\i[ifgc\kj%N_\edXepf] k_\j\nXk\i[ifgc\kjZfcc`[\kf^\k_\ik_\pdXb\Y`^^\inXk\i [ifgj#n_`Z_Xi\kff_\XmpkfÕfXkXifle[`ek_\X`iXe[jfk_\p ]Xcc[fneXjiX`e%K_`jgifZ\jj`jZXcc\[gi\Z`g`kXk`fe% K_\eXkliXcnXk\iZpZc\ _\Xk]ifd k_\jle nXk\imXgflijZfe[\ej\ kfZi\Xk\Zcfl[j gi\Z`g`kXk`fe \mXgfiXk`fe K_\jZ`\eZ\Y\_`e[iX`e K_\_\Xk]ifdk_\jleZXlj\jnXk\i`ek_\ -
Acid Rain and Transported Air Pollutants: Implications for Public Policy
Acid Rain and Transported Air Pollutants: Implications for Public Policy May 1984 NTIS order #PB84-222967 Recommended Citation: Acid Rain and Transported Air Pollutants: Implications for Public Policy (Washington, D. C.: U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, OTA-O-204, June 1984). Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 84-601073 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 Foreword Transported air pollutants have been the topic of much debate during the Clean Air Act delibera- tions of the 97th and 98th Congresses. The current controversy over acid rain—the most publicized example of transported pollutants—focuses on the risks to our environment and ourselves versus the costs of cleanup. Since 1980, the committees responsible for reauthorizing the Clean Air Act—the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works—have called on OTA many times for information about the movements, fate, and effects of airborne pollutants, the risks that these transported air pollutants pose to sensitive resources, and the likely costs of various proposals to control them. Over the course of the debate, OTA has provided extensive testimony and staff memoranda to the requesting committees, and published a two-volume technical analysis, The Regional Implications of Transported Air Pollutants, in July 1982. This report synthesizes OTA’s technical analyses of acid rain and other transported pollut- ants, and presents policy alternatives for congressional consideration. OTA’s work over the last several years has enabled us to forecast with reasonable accuracy the cost of controlling pollutant emissions, and, for each of the many pending legislative proposals, who will pay those costs. -
Particulate Pollution and the Productivity of Pear Packers
NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES PARTICULATE POLLUTION AND THE PRODUCTIVITY OF PEAR PACKERS Tom Chang Joshua Graff Zivin Tal Gross Matthew Neidell Working Paper 19944 http://www.nber.org/papers/w19944 NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH 1050 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 February 2014 We thank numerous individuals and seminar participants at MIT, UC Santa Barbara, Northwestern University, the University of Connecticut, University of Ottawa, UC San Diego, Georgia State University, Environmental Protection Agency, and the IZA Workshop on Labor Market Effects of Environmental Policies for valuable feedback. Graff Zivin and Neidell gratefully acknowledge financial support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (1R21ES019670-01). Chang and Gross are grateful for financial support from the George and Obie Shultz Fund. Hyunsoo Chang, Janice Crew, and Jamie Mullins provided superb research assistance. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research. At least one co-author has disclosed a financial relationship of potential relevance for this research. Further information is available online at http://www.nber.org/papers/w19944.ack NBER working papers are circulated for discussion and comment purposes. They have not been peer- reviewed or been subject to the review by the NBER Board of Directors that accompanies official NBER publications. © 2014 by Tom Chang, Joshua Graff Zivin, Tal Gross, and Matthew Neidell. All rights reserved. Short sections of text, not to exceed two paragraphs, may be quoted without explicit permission provided that full credit, including © notice, is given to the source. Particulate Pollution and the Productivity of Pear Packers Tom Chang, Joshua Graff Zivin, Tal Gross, and Matthew Neidell NBER Working Paper No. -
Climate Change, Indoor Air Quality and Health
CLIMATE CHANGE, INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH Prepared for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Radiation and Indoor Air August 24, 2010 By Paula Schenck, MPH A. Karim Ahmed, PhD Anne Bracker, MPH, CIH Robert DeBernardo, MD, MBA, MPH Section of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Center for Indoor Environments and Health Climate Change, Indoor Air Quality and Health By Paula Schenck, MPH A. Karim Ahmed, PhD Anne Bracker, MPH CIH Robert DeBernardo MD MBA MPH University of Connecticut Health Center Section of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Center for Indoor Environments and Health 1. Introduction and problem statement ......................................................................................1 Background .........................................................................................................................1 2. Climate change and health as relates to indoor environment ...............................................3 National Institute of Environmental Health Science 2010 report........................................3 3. Environment and agents of concern in the indoor environment ..........................................4 Temperature ........................................................................................................................4 Outdoor air contaminants and indoor air quality .................................................................4 Components of indoor air, links with adaptation measures and climate change.................4 4. “Green buildings”, indoor