AIR QUALITY IN CENTRAL VALLEY

This presentation is brought to you by Garrett John Anderson, Mehnaz Hassan, Fue Robert Her, Symone Monique Lowery-Hughes, and Jenney Choua Moua

GOOD VERSUS POOR AIR QUALITY

Earth’s atmosphere is composed of : 78% Nitrogen (N2) 21% Oxygen (O2) 1% other gas

Ozone is present in the stratosphere.

Ozone (O3) at ground level

Microscopic dust particles

Ashes at lower atmospheric level

Good Air Quality Poor Air Quality

WHAT IS POOR AIR QUALITY?

Poor air quality can affect the health of those with lung or heart diseases.

Poor air quality can be defined as the air quality at the level of the unhealthy colors shown at the bottom of the following picture.

Refer to: http://www.epa.gov/aging/solutions/01paq.htm

AIR QUALITY INDEX (AQI)

Refer to the following website to find the current AQI for a certain city: http://airnow.gov/

RELATING TO SOCIAL JUSTICE

Breathing clean air is vital for the health of every human being. Every human being deserves and desires clean air to breath.

Being affected by poor air quality kills tens of thousands.

Tens of billions of dollars are spent each year to reduce the amount of air pollution.

Cities in the Central Valley ranked in the top 5 for poor air quality.

Refer to http://www.oar.noaa.gov/weather/t_understanding.html

WHAT IS AN AIR POLLUTANT? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to

assert the National Ambient Air Quality Standards to address the six common air pollutants by the Clean Air Act.

The six common air pollutants include: Ozone (Ground-level) Particulate Matter (Particle Pollution) Carbon Monoxide Nitrogen Oxides Sulfur Dioxide Lead

Refer to http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/

HEALTH CONCERNS

According to the WHO(World Health Organization) 2.4million people die each year from causes directly related to air pollution.

Health effects of air pollution can include wheezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, and aggravation of already existing respiratory and cardiac conditions.

One economic study showed that more than 3,800 people die prematurely each year in the Los Angeles Basin and the San Joaquin Valley due to high air pollution levels.

HEALTH CONCERNS

Minor Lung Illness Lung Infections Asthma Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary

Disease(COPD) Lung Cancer Heart Failure

HEALTH CONCERNS

HEALTH CONCERNS

Children living in areas with high levels of air pollution are more susceptible to developing asthma, pneumonia, and other lower reparatory infections.

The health effects cause by air pollution mostly effect the reparatory system and cardiovascular system.

Individual reactions to air pollution vary depending on type of pollution, the duration to which you are exposed to it, and the individual’s genetics and health status

WHY DOES THE AIR GET TRAPPED?

SOME CAUSES…

Los Angeles Sludge Dumping into Kern County

Commercial trucks, passenger vehicles, tractors and construction equipment account for about 80% of NO2 emission in the San Joaquin Valley.

Emissions of the Agriculture Industry

IN RELATION TO THE REST OF THE WORLD

World Health Organization 1 in every 5 people live in urban areas where air

is unhealthy to breathe 375 cities listed from the United States, 36

exceed the standard 20 μm of particles per cubic meter

Of the top 10 worst cities, 5 are of the Central Valley

THE CAUSES

Geography Motor Vehicle Emissions Agriculture Others

GEOGRAPHY

What can we do? Spread awareness Trees Artificial Rain (Dubai)

SOLUTIONS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE

Carpool Fuel efficient cars Electric/solar cars Drive less Maintain vehicle Avoid having the car idling

SOLUTIONS FOR AGRICULTURE

Strict laws and regulation (CARB) Water Trucks

OTHERS

Driving on paved roads Conserve energy Use less and prevent open fires Insulate homes

CAUSES Chemical emissions

from vechicles and fires resulting in compounds we refer to as SMOG (Smoke + Fog)

Agriculture Burning crops

Ashes

Geographic location Valley

ISSUES RELATED TO POLLUTED AIR

Health problems Asthma # of patients

Health Care Costs $125 million

CONCLUSION

Ill work on it once I receive everything