Health Health Consequences of Consequences of

Energy ChoicesEnergy Choices: The : The Energy ExerciseEnergy Exercise

Crispin Pierce, Ph.D.Crispin Pierce, Ph.D.

OutlineOutline How do we use energy?How do we use energy? How do we classify health consequences from energy use?How do we classify health consequences from energy use? What sources of energy do we have?What sources of energy do we have?

CoalCoal Natural gasNatural gas Diesel and biodieselDiesel and biodiesel SolarSolar WindWind BiomassBiomass NuclearNuclear HydroelectricHydroelectric

The Energy ExerciseThe Energy Exercise Questions?Questions?

Uses of EnergyUses of Energy

Non-renewable: coal, gas, oil, and nuclear.Non-renewable: coal, gas, oil, and nuclear.Renewable: solar, wind, biomass, Renewable: solar, wind, biomass,

biodiesel.biodiesel.TransportationTransportationHeatingHeatingManufacturingManufacturing

Health ConsequencesHealth ConsequencesTIMETIME

Immediate/short-term (e.g., refinery explosion)Immediate/short-term (e.g., refinery explosion)Long-term (e.g., cancer)Long-term (e.g., cancer)

REVERSABILITYREVERSABILITYTemporary injury (e.g., skin burn from gasoline Temporary injury (e.g., skin burn from gasoline

spill)spill)Permanent disability (e.g., lung disease from coal Permanent disability (e.g., lung disease from coal

plant emissions)plant emissions)CONTROLABILITYCONTROLABILITY

““Voluntary” (e.g., driving a car)Voluntary” (e.g., driving a car)““Involuntary” (e.g., nuclear plant risk)Involuntary” (e.g., nuclear plant risk)

CoalCoal

AdvantagesAdvantages Large US reservesLarge US reserves Known technologyKnown technology Potential for lowering Potential for lowering

mercury emissions.mercury emissions.

Health RisksHealth Risks Acid rainAcid rain Mercury in fishMercury in fish Particulate matterParticulate matter Global warmingGlobal warming Degraded water Degraded water

qualityquality

Natural Gas and OilNatural Gas and Oil

Advantages:Advantages: Known technologyKnown technology Infrastructure existsInfrastructure exists

Health RisksHealth Risks Air pollution (NOAir pollution (NOxx, ,

particulates, CO)particulates, CO) Drilling, piping, and Drilling, piping, and

refining effectsrefining effects Global warmingGlobal warming Natural protection Natural protection

losseslosses Wars over oil suppliesWars over oil supplies

Photo: EcotechDaily

Diesel and BiodieselDiesel and Biodiesel

AdvantagesAdvantages Can be less expensiveCan be less expensive Biodiesel is renewableBiodiesel is renewable

Health EffectsHealth Effects Particulate emissions Particulate emissions

cause lung disease cause lung disease and cancerand cancer

Refining and Refining and production job risksproduction job risks

Photo: Thoroughbred Diesel

NuclearNuclear

AdvantagesAdvantages Very low emissionsVery low emissions Relatively safeRelatively safe

Health EffectsHealth Effects Major water needs for Major water needs for

coolingcooling Extremely toxic spent Extremely toxic spent

fuel materials cause fuel materials cause cancercancer

Extremely long half-Extremely long half-lives of these wasteslives of these wastes

Terrorism and war (?)Terrorism and war (?)

WindWind AdvantagesAdvantages

RenewableRenewable Very low impactVery low impact Local generationLocal generation

Health RisksHealth Risks Bird losses:Bird losses:

Vehicles: 60 - 80 million Vehicles: 60 - 80 million Buildings and Windows: Buildings and Windows:

98 - 980 million 98 - 980 million Powerlines: tens of Powerlines: tens of

thousands - 174 million thousands - 174 million Communication Towers: 4 Communication Towers: 4

- 50 million - 50 million Wind Generation Wind Generation

Facilities: 10,000 - 40,000 Facilities: 10,000 - 40,000 Installation and operation Installation and operation

accidentsaccidents Marine mammal disruption Marine mammal disruption

from offshore installation from offshore installation and operationand operation

Solar HeatingSolar Heating

AdvantagesAdvantages RenewableRenewable Local generationLocal generation Low impactLow impact

Health RisksHealth Risks Allergenic molds and Allergenic molds and

fungifungi Environmental costs of Environmental costs of

materials to produce materials to produce solar systemssolar systems

Solar PhotovoltaicSolar Photovoltaic

AdvantagesAdvantages RenewableRenewable Local generationLocal generation Creates electricityCreates electricity Low impactLow impact

Health EffectsHealth Effects Battery production and Battery production and

operationoperation Semiconductor Semiconductor

materials production materials production (production of silicon)(production of silicon)

Land space for panels Land space for panels less useful as natural less useful as natural resourceresource

BiomassBiomass

AdvantagesAdvantages RenewableRenewable Local generationLocal generation SimpleSimple

Health RisksHealth Risks Particulates and lung Particulates and lung

diseasedisease Local deforestationLocal deforestation Agricultural effects: Agricultural effects:

water consumption, water consumption, runoff, herbicides, runoff, herbicides, pesticidespesticides

HydroelectricHydroelectric

AdvantagesAdvantages RenewableRenewable Regulated supplyRegulated supply

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Potential exposure to Potential exposure to

pathogenspathogens Disruption of natural Disruption of natural

water filtrationwater filtration

Global Warming EffectsGlobal Warming Effects

Heat deaths (70,000 people died in the Heat deaths (70,000 people died in the summer of 2003).summer of 2003).

Spread of mosquito, tick and other insect-Spread of mosquito, tick and other insect-borne diseases.borne diseases.

Increased air pollution death and Increased air pollution death and diseases.diseases.

Disruption of food production.Disruption of food production.

CO2 Causes Global WarmingCO2 Causes Global Warming

Generate CO2Generate CO2 CoalCoal OilOil GasGas Waste combustionWaste combustion DieselDiesel

CO2 NeutralCO2 Neutral BiomassBiomass EthanolEthanol Solar Solar WindWind TidalTidal GeothermalGeothermal NuclearNuclear BiodieselBiodiesel

Renewable Energy is Not Renewable Energy is Not Risk-FreeRisk-Free

Health risks from renewable energy Health risks from renewable energy sources come from the large amounts of sources come from the large amounts of material and labor needed, as well as material and labor needed, as well as energy backup and storage requirements.energy backup and storage requirements.

The diagram on the next page represents The diagram on the next page represents short- and long-term health risks from short- and long-term health risks from different sources of energy. Which different sources of energy. Which sources are most dangerous? Which are sources are most dangerous? Which are safest?safest?

Haddad and Dones, IAEA

Gohlke et al. (2008)Gohlke et al. (2008)

Energy conservation avoids all Energy conservation avoids all these risks.these risks.

http://www.homesalameda.org/graphics/urban.jpg

The Energy ExerciseThe Energy ExerciseGoal:Goal: To understand how energy use To understand how energy use

choices affect our health, finances, and choices affect our health, finances, and comfort.comfort.Setup: Setup: Each participant receives ten Each participant receives ten credits of health, money, and comfort credits of health, money, and comfort credits.credits.Play:Play: Ten year-round energy “choices” are Ten year-round energy “choices” are made.made.

Result:Result: Participants learn about how their Participants learn about how their choices affect their quality of life.choices affect their quality of life.

Get your pencil ready! Create three columns with the labels below, Get your pencil ready! Create three columns with the labels below, starting with ten in each column. As you answer each question on the starting with ten in each column. As you answer each question on the

following pages, add or subtract to each column.following pages, add or subtract to each column.

HealthHealth CostCost ComfortComfort

1010

1212

1111

1010

77

99

1010

88

HousingHousing

ActivityActivity HealthHealth MoneyMoney ComfortComfort

I Choose a House I Choose a House and Lawn in the and Lawn in the CountryCountry

-3-3 -2-2 +2+2

House in the CityHouse in the City +1+1 -2-2 +1+1

Condo DowntownCondo Downtown +2+2 +1+1

CostCost

Your YardYour Yard

ActivityActivity HealthHealth MoneyMoney ComfortComfort

Tidy LawnTidy Lawn -2-2 -1-1

Native LandscapeNative Landscape +1+1 -1-1

Anything GoesAnything Goes +1+1 +2+2 -1-1

Summer HeatSummer Heat

ActivityActivity HealthHealth MoneyMoney ComfortComfort

Air Conditioning for a Air Conditioning for a Hot SummerHot Summer

-2-2 -1-1 +2+2

Open Windows and a Open Windows and a FanFan

+1+1 +1+1

Sweating it OutSweating it Out +1+1 +2+2 -1-1

Trips to the CabinTrips to the Cabin

ActivityActivity HealthHealth MoneyMoney ComfortComfort

Weekend Trips to the Weekend Trips to the CabinCabin

-1-1 -2-2

One Trip with FriendsOne Trip with Friends +1+1

Backyard/Local Backyard/Local CampingCamping

+2+2 -1-1

TravelTravel

ActivityActivity HealthHealth MoneyMoney ComfortComfort

Flying to a Good Flying to a Good Friend’s WeddingFriend’s Wedding

-2-2 -2-2 +2+2

Taking a BusTaking a Bus +1+1 +1+1

Stay Home and Send Stay Home and Send a Gifta Gift

+2+2 +1+1

FoodFood

ActivityActivity HealthHealth MoneyMoney ComfortComfort

A Month of SteaksA Month of Steaks -3-3 -2-2 +1+1

Meat 3x Per WeekMeat 3x Per Week -2-2 -1-1 +1+1

Going VeggieGoing Veggie +3+3 +2+2 -1-1

TransportationTransportation

ActivityActivity HealthHealth MoneyMoney ComfortComfort

New SUVNew SUV -2-2 -3-3 +2+2

Used PriusUsed Prius -1-1 +1+1

Nice BikeNice Bike +3+3 +3+3 -2-2

HeatHeat

ActivityActivity HealthHealth MoneyMoney ComfortComfort

Winter Warmth from Winter Warmth from Oil/GasOil/Gas

-2-2 -1-1 +1+1

Insulation and Solar Insulation and Solar HeatingHeating

+2+2

Blankets and Hot Blankets and Hot ChocolateChocolate

+2+2 +2+2 -2-2

Food ChoicesFood Choices

ActivityActivity HealthHealth MoneyMoney ComfortComfort

Summer Fruit in Summer Fruit in WinterWinter

-1-1 +1+1

Local Restaurants Local Restaurants and Foodand Food

+2+2 +1+1

Organically-Grown Organically-Grown Food and Food and PreservesPreserves

+3+3 +1+1 -2-2

Winter SportsWinter Sports

ActivityActivity HealthHealth MoneyMoney ComfortComfort

SnowmobilingSnowmobiling -3-3 -2-2 +2+2

Downhill SkiingDownhill Skiing -2-2 +2+2

X-Country SkiingX-Country Skiing +3+3 +2+2 -1-1

Which category has the highest Which category has the highest score?score?

Comfort?Comfort?Finances?Finances?Health?Health?

Did you learn about how your choices Did you learn about how your choices affect your health (and the health of all of affect your health (and the health of all of us)?us)?

SummarySummary

All energy sources have health All energy sources have health consequences.consequences.

Coal, oil and gas cause the most death Coal, oil and gas cause the most death and disability of all energy sources.and disability of all energy sources.

Renewable energy causes death and Renewable energy causes death and disability from the large amounts of disability from the large amounts of material and labor needed, as well as material and labor needed, as well as energy backup and storage requirements.energy backup and storage requirements.

Energy conservation greatly reduces these Energy conservation greatly reduces these health risks.health risks.

Individual lifestyle choices directly and Individual lifestyle choices directly and indirectly impact our health.indirectly impact our health.

Thanks for your Attention!Thanks for your Attention!

ReferencesReferences

Haddad and Dones, IAEA: Haddad and Dones, IAEA: http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Magazines/Bulletin/Bull333/33302041419.pdf

Gohlke et al. (2008):Environ Health Gohlke et al. (2008):Environ Health Perspect. 2008 June; 116(6): A236–A23, Perspect. 2008 June; 116(6): A236–A23, Economy, and Environment: Sustainable Economy, and Environment: Sustainable Energy Choices for a Nation; Julia M. Energy Choices for a Nation; Julia M. Gohlke, Sharon H. Hrynkow, and Gohlke, Sharon H. Hrynkow, and Christopher J. PortierChristopher J. Portier

Contact InformationContact Information

Crispin Pierce, PhDCrispin Pierce, PhDpiercech@uwec.edu (715) 836-5589(715) 836-5589