B. Clean Air and WaterB. Clean Air and Water

Read the textbook for a history of regulationsRead the textbook for a history of regulations Try to remember the main environmental Try to remember the main environmental

laws, even if you don’t remember all the laws, even if you don’t remember all the amendmentsamendments

See also the six “criteria pollutants” targeted See also the six “criteria pollutants” targeted by the EPAby the EPA

Compare the book’s emphasis on problems Compare the book’s emphasis on problems and crises to Assignment 2 – have the and crises to Assignment 2 – have the regulations worked? (More on this in a few regulations worked? (More on this in a few minutes)minutes)

C. Particulate MatterC. Particulate Matter

Textbook has information on Textbook has information on previous regulations – this section previous regulations – this section focuses on more recent focuses on more recent developments developments

1. PM 2.51. PM 2.5

a.a. Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns (about 1/20 the width of a human hair)(about 1/20 the width of a human hair)

b.b. Consensus says 2.5 microns and below is Consensus says 2.5 microns and below is most dangerous to human healthmost dangerous to human health

i.i. One study’s finding: decrease soot by 1 One study’s finding: decrease soot by 1 microgram/cubic meter microgram/cubic meter 3% fewer deaths 3% fewer deaths from respiratory/cardiovascular diseasefrom respiratory/cardiovascular disease

ii.ii. More than 2000 peer-reviewed studies agree More than 2000 peer-reviewed studies agree that PM 2.5 is hazardous to health. EPA that PM 2.5 is hazardous to health. EPA estimate = 20,000 deaths/yearestimate = 20,000 deaths/year

2. Levels of PM 2.52. Levels of PM 2.5

Harvard “Six Cities Study” Data:Harvard “Six Cities Study” Data:

a. Current levels of PM a. Current levels of PM 2.52.5

Fluctuates over time and spaceFluctuates over time and space TexasTexas

b. Regional Differencesb. Regional Differences

b. Regional Differencesb. Regional Differences

c. Trend: Decline?c. Trend: Decline?

3. No single cause of 3. No single cause of PM2.5PM2.5

VI. Trends and PoliciesVI. Trends and Policies

A.A. Is pollution increasing or Is pollution increasing or decreasing in the US? (Assignment decreasing in the US? (Assignment 2 used global, not national, data). 2 used global, not national, data). CO2 already covered. Some more CO2 already covered. Some more examples to consider:examples to consider:

1.1. Major industries – Power plants, Major industries – Power plants, chemical industry, refining, mining, chemical industry, refining, mining, agricultureagriculture

a. a. Power Power PlantsPlants

b. The chemical industryb. The chemical industry

c. Refineries: Criteria c. Refineries: Criteria PollutantsPollutants

c. Refineries: c. Refineries: CarcinogensCarcinogens

· Excluding BP Texas City, the refinery industry reported a 13%decrease in emissions of carcinogens between 1999 and 2004.

2.8

2.9

3

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

Carcinogens

199920032004

d. Mining and d. Mining and AgricultureAgriculture

Little data available on mining – Little data available on mining – reporting not required for most reporting not required for most pollutants (i.e. cyanide)pollutants (i.e. cyanide)

Agriculture: Major pollutants are Agriculture: Major pollutants are methane, fertilizer runoff, and POPs methane, fertilizer runoff, and POPs (pesticides)(pesticides)

Agriculture: Methane Agriculture: Methane EmissionsEmissions

No No data data on on runoff. runoff.

FertilizFertilizer er useuse

2. Cars2. Cars

3. Toxic Chemicals3. Toxic Chemicals

a. a. MercuMercuryry

b. Volatile organicsb. Volatile organics

c. Leadc. Lead

4. Other Criteria 4. Other Criteria Pollutants (Air)Pollutants (Air)

a. Ozonea. Ozone

c. Carbon Monoxide (CO)c. Carbon Monoxide (CO)

b. NOxb. NOx

c. SO2c. SO2

5. PM105. PM10

6. Water Pollution6. Water Pollution Little long-term data like that for air Little long-term data like that for air

pollution. Best estimates are probably pollution. Best estimates are probably water quality measureswater quality measures

Problem: Inadequate Problem: Inadequate MonitoringMonitoring

B. Is Pollution Too High?B. Is Pollution Too High?1. Legal standards: 40% of Americans 1. Legal standards: 40% of Americans

breathe polluted air and 8-10% drink breathe polluted air and 8-10% drink water from violating sourceswater from violating sources

2. US vs. Europe: One 2. US vs. Europe: One ExampleExample

C. Costs of RegulationC. Costs of Regulation1. Growth can coexist with pollution 1. Growth can coexist with pollution

reductionreduction

2. Typical cost curves2. Typical cost curves

Marginal Marginal costs of costs of pollution pollution control control usually usually increase. increase. Why?Why?

0 25% 50% 75% 100%

Pollution Reduction

Costs

Possible Benefits CurvesPossible Benefits Curves

Marginal costs Marginal costs of pollution of pollution control usually control usually increase. increase. Why?Why?

Need to know Need to know size and shape size and shape of benefits of benefits curve curve (generally (generally linear or linear or diminishing diminishing returns)returns) 0 25% 50% 75%

100%

Pollution Reduction

Costs

3. The Apple-Orange 3. The Apple-Orange ProblemProblem

a.a. Costs are largely economic: Costs are largely economic: pollution control / prevention costs pollution control / prevention costs money – and other things one can money – and other things one can buy with money.buy with money.

b.b. Benefits are only partly economic: Benefits are only partly economic: Fewer health problems means Fewer health problems means more hours worked and less spent more hours worked and less spent on medical care – but also keeps on medical care – but also keeps Grandma alive for her grandkids!Grandma alive for her grandkids!

Coal Processing Plant, Coal Processing Plant, Bigler, PABigler, PA

The coal chute crosses a roadThe coal chute crosses a road

Coal Processing Plant, Coal Processing Plant, Bigler, PABigler, PA

Across the road is a houseAcross the road is a house

Wallace and Violet DixonWallace and Violet Dixon

The StoryThe Story Coal plant begins operating in 1981Coal plant begins operating in 1981 Coal chute is uncovered Coal chute is uncovered coal dust coal dust

blankets nearby homes for yearsblankets nearby homes for years Lawsuit in 1980s gains each family about Lawsuit in 1980s gains each family about

$5000 in damages, agreement to cover $5000 in damages, agreement to cover chutechute Violet awarded more than others since she Violet awarded more than others since she

lived next to the chute and experienced lived next to the chute and experienced chronic respiratory distress BUT pretrial chronic respiratory distress BUT pretrial agreement divides all awards evenly agreement divides all awards evenly between all plaintiffsbetween all plaintiffs

Violet’s respiratory symptoms are severe Violet’s respiratory symptoms are severe by the time the lawsuit is concludedby the time the lawsuit is concluded

Wallace outlives Violet by Wallace outlives Violet by 13 years13 years

The Other Side of the The Other Side of the StoryStory

William and Elsie William and Elsie Crandall (my other Crandall (my other grandparents)grandparents)

Affordable coal Affordable coal heated their home heated their home for 50 yearsfor 50 years

D. Details Matter: D. Details Matter: HowHow do do we reduce pollution? we reduce pollution? Example: GWG PolicyExample: GWG Policy

E. Political Concerns: Party E. Political Concerns: Party Correlates with PollutionCorrelates with Pollution