HEALTH IMPACTS OF ENERGY

CHOICES

IN MARYLANDNovember 21, 2013

Karin Gunther Russ, MS, RNCollaborative on Health and the Environment

Rebecca Ruggles, DirectorMaryland Environmental Health Network

HEALTH IMPACTS OF ENERGY CHOICES

IN MARYLAND

TopicsTopics

– Energy production and use in MarylandEnergy production and use in Maryland

– Air pollution & disease Air pollution & disease

– Impact in MarylandImpact in Maryland

– Climate changeClimate change

MARYLAND ENERGY CONSUMPTION 2007

* Direct use fuels are fuels other than electricity that are used directly in homes and businesses, such as natural gas, propane, and heating oil.

Source: Maryland Energy Outlook 2010http://energy.maryland.gov/documents/MEOFINALREPORTJAN2010.pdf

MARYLAND ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY

END-USE SECTOR, 2011

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=MD#tabs-2

ENERGY USE

SELECTED COMPONENTS OF AIR POLLUTION

http://airqualityeffects.uckac.edu/old_kids_pages_Feb_3_2004/components_of_air_pollution.htmhttp://airqualityeffects.uckac.edu/old_kids_pages_Feb_3_2004/components_of_air_pollution.htm

POLLUTANT DESCRIPTION SOURCES

Carbon Monoxide (CO Colorless, odorless gas Vehicles burning gasoline

Natural gas appliances

Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Several gaseous compounds made up of nitrogen and oxygen

Vehicles

Power plants burning fossil fuels

Ozone (O3) Gaseous pollutant Vehicle exhaust and certain other fumes

Formed from other air pollutants in the presence of sunlight

Particulate Matter (PM) Very small particles of soot, dust, or other matter, including tiny droplets of liquids

Diesel engines

Power plants

Industries

Wind-blown dust

Wood stoves

AIR POLLUTION IN MARYLAND Levels of Fine Particulate Matter

(MDE, 2008)

Red= Exceeds National Standards

AIR POLLUTION & DISEASE IN MARYLAND

Asthma & respiratory diseaseAsthma & respiratory disease

Reproductive healthReproductive health

Cardiovascular diseaseCardiovascular disease

CancerCancer

Premature deathPremature death

Asthma and Air PollutionAsthma and Air Pollution

• “Air pollution is one of the most under-appreciated contributors to asthma exacerbation.”

(American Academy of Pediatrics, 2004)

124,500 Maryland children, or 9.1%, had asthma in 2009

(Maryland Asthma Control Plan)

159,000 Maryland children, or 11.9%, had asthma in 2011

(DHMH report “Asthma in Maryland”)

Adult asthma rates in Maryland are the 5th highest in the nation

Birth outcomes in MarylandBirth outcomes in Maryland

Air Quality and Poor Birth OutcomesAir Quality and Poor Birth Outcomes

Air pollution has the largest evidence base of Air pollution has the largest evidence base of any environmental contributor to preterm birth any environmental contributor to preterm birth and poor birth outcomes.and poor birth outcomes.

Epidemiological and animal studies link Epidemiological and animal studies link particulate matter (PMparticulate matter (PM2.52.5 and PM and PM1010) and sulfur ) and sulfur

dioxide (SOdioxide (SO22), as well as carbon monoxide ), as well as carbon monoxide

(CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO(CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO22) and other nitrogen ) and other nitrogen

oxides (NOoxides (NOxx) in ambient air to shorter ) in ambient air to shorter

gestation.gestation.(Nieuwenhuijsen et al, 2013)

Heart Disease In MarylandHeart Disease In Maryland

(DHMH, 2011)

Air Pollution & Cardiovascular DiseaseAir Pollution & Cardiovascular Disease

AHA Scientific Statement, 2004:AHA Scientific Statement, 2004:

– Of special interest are several environmental air pollutants that include carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, ozone, lead, and particulate matter (“thoracic particles” [PM10] <10 μm in aerodynamic diameter, “fine particles” [PM2.5] <2.5 μm, and “coarse particles” [PM10 to 2.5]).

– These pollutants are associated with increased hospitalization and mortality due to cardiovascular disease, especially in persons with congestive heart failure, frequent arrhythmias, or both.

Cancer in MarylandCancer in Maryland

(DHMH, 2011)

Air Pollution is a CarcinogenAir Pollution is a Carcinogen

IARC report, October 2013:IARC report, October 2013:– Classified outdoor air pollution as Classified outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans carcinogenic to humans

– After thoroughly reviewing the latest available scientific literature, After thoroughly reviewing the latest available scientific literature, leading experts convened by the IARC concluded:leading experts convened by the IARC concluded:

ssufficient evidence ufficient evidence that exposure to outdoor air pollution causes that exposure to outdoor air pollution causes lung cancerlung cancer

a positive association with an increased risk of bladder cancera positive association with an increased risk of bladder cancer

– Particulate matter, a major component of outdoor air pollution - Particulate matter, a major component of outdoor air pollution - evaluated separately - also classified as evaluated separately - also classified as carcinogenic to humans carcinogenic to humans

Premature Death in MarylandPremature Death in Maryland

DHMH, 2011: “For the first time, children are DHMH, 2011: “For the first time, children are projected to have shorter lives than their parents.”projected to have shorter lives than their parents.”

Premature DeathPremature Death

““Air pollution causes 200,000 early deaths Air pollution causes 200,000 early deaths each year in the U.S.” each year in the U.S.” (MIT, 2013)(MIT, 2013)

– Emissions from road transportation are the Emissions from road transportation are the most significant contributor, causing 53,000 most significant contributor, causing 53,000 premature deathspremature deaths

– Power generation followed closely behind, with Power generation followed closely behind, with 52,000 premature deaths52,000 premature deaths

IPCC Report 5, September 2013:IPCC Report 5, September 2013:

– “Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, sea level has risen, and the concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased.”

– ““The atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous The atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased to levels unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 oxide have increased to levels unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years. Carbon dioxide concentrations have increased by 40% since pre-years. Carbon dioxide concentrations have increased by 40% since pre-industrial times, primarily from fossil fuel emissions and secondarily from industrial times, primarily from fossil fuel emissions and secondarily from net land use change emissions. The ocean has absorbed about 30% of the net land use change emissions. The ocean has absorbed about 30% of the emitted anthropogenic carbon dioxide, causing ocean acidification.”emitted anthropogenic carbon dioxide, causing ocean acidification.”

Maryland's Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Maryland's Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions- MDE 12/31/11Gas Emissions- MDE 12/31/11

"With the fourth longest tidal "With the fourth longest tidal coastline..., Maryland is the third coastline..., Maryland is the third state most vulnerable to sea level state most vulnerable to sea level rise... increased storm intensity rise... increased storm intensity could have devastating ... could have devastating ... impacts on the Chesapeake Bay impacts on the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and quality of life of ecosystem and quality of life of Marylanders." Marylanders."

Maryland's Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Maryland's Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions- MDE 12/31/11Gas Emissions- MDE 12/31/11

"Health risks to Maryland's "Health risks to Maryland's citizens, including heat-related citizens, including heat-related stress and cardiovascular stress and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, respiratory mortality and morbidity, respiratory illness, altered infectious disease illness, altered infectious disease patterns, impacts to water supply, patterns, impacts to water supply, and direct or mental harm from and direct or mental harm from extreme storm events and extreme storm events and flooding, are all possible."flooding, are all possible."

SOLUTIONS

Halt Cove Point LNG export facilityHalt Cove Point LNG export facility Resist the Shale Gas BoomResist the Shale Gas Boom Increase our use of RenewablesIncrease our use of Renewables Define Renewables strictlyDefine Renewables strictly Close Coal-fired Power PlantsClose Coal-fired Power Plants Invest in Mass Transit and TODInvest in Mass Transit and TOD Transition to Cleaner Vehicle FuelsTransition to Cleaner Vehicle Fuels