Air Pollution in South Carolina

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Air Pollutionin South Carolina
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Bureau of Air Quality Mission Statement

• To conserve and enhance South Carolinas air
  resources in a manner that promotes quality of
  life.

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What is Air Pollution?

• Air pollution - air-borne substances, either not
  found in the normal composition of air or found
  at higher than normal levels, that can harm
  living organisms and other materials or resources.

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Sources of Air Pollution

• Natural
• Agricultural
• Stationary
• Area
• Mobile

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Natural Sources

• Forest Fires Volcanic Activity

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Agricultural Sources

• Chemicals from pesticide sprays
• Particulate matter from harvesting

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Stationary Sources

• Power Plants
• Paper Mills
• Steel Mills
• Oil Refineries
• Chemical Manufacturers
• Large industries in general.

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Area Sources

• Dry Cleaners
• Print Shops
• Gas Stations
• Gas-powered lawn equipment
• Everyday materials - e.g., paint, lighter fluid,
  aerosol sprays, cleaning fluids

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Mobile Sources

• Cars
• Buses
• Trucks
• Trains
• Airplanes
• Construction Equipment

Primary sources of air pollution in South
Carolina
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Criteria Pollutants

• 6 major air pollutants designated by the EPA as
  harmful to human health when they are present
  above certain levels
• Carbon Monoxide
• Sulfur Dioxide
• Nitrogen Oxides
• Ozone
• Lead
• Particulate Matter less than 10 microns in size

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Carbon Monoxide (CO)

• Health Effects
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Sleepiness
• Confusion
• Death

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Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

• SO2 NO2 combine with water and sunlight to form
  acid rain.
• Health Effects
• Lung Damage
• NO2 -aggravate existing heart disease
• SO2 - eye irritation and burning of skin
• Environmental Effects
• Harmful to plants and aquatic life
• Corrodes statues and monuments

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Ozone (O3)

• Health Effects
• Can worsen chronic bronchitis and asthma
• Can cause chest pains, shortness of breath,
  wheezing, coughing, and nausea
• Repeated exposure may cause permanent lung damage

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Lead (Pb)

• Health Effects
• Brain damage, esp. in children
• Digestive problems
• Reproductive system damage
• Kidney damage
• Learning disabilities in children
• severe fatigue
• Environmental Effects
• Harmful to wildlife
• Contaminated soil can damage plants

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Particulate Matter (PM)

• Health Effects
• Lung damage
• Aggravation of respiratory ailments (e.g. asthma)
• Chronic bronchitis
• Irritation of eyes, throat, skin, nose
• Environmental Effects
• Decreased visibility (haze)
• Damage to buildings

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Toxic Air Pollutants

• Health Effects
• Poisoning
• Difficulty breathing
• immune system damage
• Increased risk of serious illnesses, cancer, and
  death
• Environmental Effects
• Destruction of good ozone layer
• Destruction of plant and animal production cycles

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EPA and the Clean Air Act

• Clean Air Act (CAA) passed in 1970
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established
  in 1969
• CAA Amended in 1977 and 1990 - Clean Air Act
  Amendments (CAAA)

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Goals of the CAAA

• Reduce air pollutants by 56 billion pounds/year
  224 lbs/person
• Reduce smog and other pollutants
• Reduce air toxics
• Protect ozone layer

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Role of EPA and the States

• States are responsible for implementing air
  quality regulations to protect public health and
  welfare.
• The EPA is responsible for
• establishing air quality regulations
• providing financial and technical assistance to
  the states to implement those programs
• and, if a state defaults on their
  responsibilities, stepping in and implementing
  the regulations.
• State regulations may be more stringent than EPA
  requirements, but they cannot be less stringent.

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NAAQS

• National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
• these standards have been set for each of the
  criteria pollutants
• NAAQS state how much of a pollutant is allowed to
  exist in the ambient air and for how long
• if a region has too high a concentration of any
  of these pollutants they are determined to be a
  non-attainment area and steps must be taken to
  lower the pollutant levels in that region

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State Implementation Plan (SIP)state-level
strategies implemented in order to maintain
compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards and the Clean Air Act
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Compliance Record for S.C. Stationary Sources
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Air Pollution Monitoring System

• State-wide monitoring system for all criteria
  pollutants and acid rain
• National Air Monitoring Station (NAMS)
• State and Local Air Monitoring Station (SLAMS)

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Pollution Control Equipment

• Bag Houses
• Scrubbers
• Cyclones

• Incinerators
• Condensers
• Electrostatic Precipitator

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Outreach Program

• Community Outreach
• speakers bureau
• telecourses
• public meetings
• Industry Outreach
• workshops concerning new standards
• guidance documents
• Educational Outreach
• K-12 to college level
• presentations/lessons/career fairs

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What drives the Air Quality program?
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(No Transcript)
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Air Quality Information Resources

• Bureau of Air Quality (803)
  898-4123
• http//www.scdhec.net/baq/