climate health action teams (chat) 2015 webinar series may 20, 2015
TRANSCRIPT
How Coal Kills: The Link Between Air Pollution, Climate
Change and Respiratory Disease
Climate Health Action Teams (CHAT)2015 Webinar Series
May 20, 2015
CLIMATE HEALTH ACTION TEAM (CHAT) ACTIONS REPORT
CHAT and PSR members sent over 1,900 letters to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, urging EPA to draft a strong, health-protective rule that will set limits on methane leaks in gas and oil production.
How Coal Kills: The Link Between Air Pollution, Climate Change and Respiratory Disease
Presenter: Alan H. Lockwood M.D. FAAN• Emeritus Professor of Neurology at the University at Buffalo• Co-Chair, of the Environment and Health Committee, Physicians for
Social Responsibility
Clean Power PlanBurning Coal
Respiratory DiseasesAlan H. Lockwood, MD,
FAAN, FANAEmeritus Professor of Neurology
University at BuffaloPast President and Chair
Environment and Health CommitteePhysicians for Social Responsibility
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being
and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
World Health Organization1948
Sources of Energy forGenerating Electricity
Source: NY Times, 9/14/14, US Energy Information Administration
Coal UsebyState
Source: New York Times, April 22, 2015
http://www.globalcarbonatlas.org/?q=en/emissions
Line graph from global carbon atlas. When the linkLoads, click on “OK I Get IT. Then click on time series under tools to see graphic. This is slow to load, so best to already have it running in Your Browser.
Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPS) from Coal Combustion
Oxides of sulfur Oxides of
nitrogen Particulates Arsenic Beryllium Cadmium Chromium
Mercury Nickel HCl HF Acreolin Dioxins Formaldehyde Uranium and
ThoriumSource: EPA Report to Congress, publication 453/R-98-004a
Air Pollution and Leading Causes of Death in Americans Heart Disease –
leading cause in US - 617,527 in 2008 Myocardial Infarct Congestive Heart
Failure Fatal Arrhythmia
Malignant neoplasms – Second leading cause in US, 566,137 deaths in 2008
Respiratory disease – third leading cause in US – 141,075 in 2008 Asthma (esp. kids) Emphysema Bronchitis Cancer
Stroke – Fourth leading cause in US, 133,750 deaths in 2008
Source: CDC, 2011
Source:US EPA
Tropospheric Ozone Formation, 102
CO From Forest Fires, 2004 vs 2005
Source: NASA Terra Satellite, www.eos.ucar.edu/mopitt/ NCAR MOPITT Team
Fires released about 30 terragrams (66 billionPounds), of ozone, and increased Ground Level Ozone. 25% In Northern Hemisphere, and 10% in Europe
Increases in Ozone, Daily One Hour Maximum:1990 vs 2050
On average, daily 1-hour maximum increased by 4.8 ppb
Largest increase was 9.6 ppb
Number of days exceeding current US 8-hr standard (75 ppb) increased 68%
Daily mortality projected to increase by 0.11% - 0.27%
Did not explore changes in anthropogenic emissions
Source: Bell et al., Climatic Change 2007;82:61-76
Costs versus Benefits, Clean Air Act
Source:US EPA
Benefits Clean Air ActBy 2020, Acid Rain230,000 fewer adult
deaths PM2.5
Ozone deaths 7,0002,400,000 asthma
exacerbations PM2.5
5,400,000 ozone lost school days
17,000,000 lost work days PM2.5
2025 New Ozone Standard320,000-960,000 fewer
asthma attacks330,000-1,000,000 lost
school days65,000-180,000 missed
work days1,400-4,300 fewer ER
asthma visitsSource: US EPA
State of Health at Present Ambient Temperatures
Effects of 4 Cº Increase2080 – 2100“Era of Climate Options”
Major effects on nutrition, heat, food and water-borne infections
Greater opportunities to mitigate extreme weather, mental health and violence
Thanks!
We are replacingCFLs with LEDs
Lockwood home, Buffalo, NY, 4,400 Watt PV Array
We replace CFLs With LEDs
How Coal Kills: The Link Between Air Pollution, Climate Change and Respiratory Disease
Questions/Comments
Time to defend the Clean Power Plan!
Biggest tool available for protection from climate change
• First-ever limits on existing power plants.
• Nationwide.
• States design their own programs.
• Opportunity to greatly increase renewable energy and energy efficiency.
• Not all we need, but necessary.
Clean Power Plan health co-benefits
• 3,500 premature deaths avoided each year (9 per day)
• 1,000 hospital admissions avoided each year
• 220 heart attacks prevented each year
Other benefits:
• Creates tens of thousands of RE/EE-related jobs
• Reduces electricity bills for Americans
• Minimizes mining/extractive activity, pipeline construction, shipment by rail, generation of toxic coal ash, etc.
Sweeping attacks -- before it is even released!
• Efforts would severely weaken the entire Clean Air Act.
• Multiple attacks, both House and Senate.
• Example: Senate bill introduced by Sen. Capito (R-WV)
1. Weakens the Clean Air Act
Now: CAA sets standards based on best demonstrated pollution controls.• EPA has used this for 45 years to set technology standards.
Sen. Capito’s bill would: Block EPA from finalizing proposed standards.• Limit standards for new coal plants to pollution levels of
today’s dirty plants. • Curtail future standards for existing plants.
2. Blocks standards until all lawsuits are resolved.
Now: courts can postpone a rule if challengers show “irreparable harm” and likelihood of winning the lawsuit.
Sen. Capito’s bill would: automatically stop carbon pollution standards until lawsuits were resolved. • Unprecedented.• Indefinitely delay Clean Power Plan implementation.
3. Destroys the federal guarantee that makes the Clean Power Plan work. Now (proposed): States create implementation plans, federal government steps in only if states refuse. Sen. Capito’s bill would: allow governors to “opt out.” • Shields polluters from any pollution controls.• No way to protect communities.
Protect the Clean Power Plan now!Ask your senators to reject all legislation that would:
• undercut or weaken the Clean Power Plan;• allow power plants to dump unlimited CO2 into the air,• put our health at risk with devastating heat/extreme weather
events.
Join Us For the Next Climate Health
Action Team (CHAT) Webinar!
Wednesday, June 17, 20158:00-9:00 pm eastern
Wind Power: Clean, Efficient and Healthy
For more information contact: Paz Artaza-Regan, Climate Organizer: [email protected] or 202-587-5251Barb Gottlieb, Environment & Health Director: [email protected]
www.PSR.org 202-667-4260