Fine Particulate Matter - Overview
of Health Effects and Regulation
PRESENTATION TO THE JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
PORT TOWNSEND, WA
FEBRUARY 16, 2012
Gary Palcisko
Toxicologist / Risk Assessor
Washington State Department of Ecology
What is Particulate Matter (PM)?
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/artwork/air/lungs-pm.jpg
Health Effects of Fine PM
 Long-term Exposure
 Increased Mortality
 Cardiovascular Effects
 Respiratory Effects
 Reproductive and Developmental (suggestive)
 Cancer, Mutagenicity, Genotoxic Effects (suggestive)
 Short-term Exposure
 Increased Mortality
 Cardiovascular Effects
 Respiratory Effects
 Central Nervous System Effects (inadequate info)
June 1, 2010, Volume 121, Issue 21
Estimate of Health Effects and Costs of PM2.5 in
WA
 1,100 premature deaths
 1,500 nonfatal heart attacks
 450 incidents of heart disease
 1,900 incidences of acute bronchitis
 100 cases of chronic lung disease
 250 incidents of pneumonia
 400 emergency room visits for asthma, and
 thousands of incidents of worsened asthma
Direct and indirect costs of >$190 million/year to state of Washington
Air Quality Episodes
 Episodes lead to Federal
Legislation




The Air Pollution Control Act of
1955
Clean Air Act of 1963
Air Quality Act of 1967
Clean Air Act 1970
 National
Ambient Air
Quality Standards
Donora, PA October 27 - 31, 1948
•20 deaths, many more people ill
London smog event(s)
•Thousands of deaths attributed to
air pollutants
How is PM Regulated?
 PM is one of 6 EPA “criteria pollutants”

PM, SO2, NO2, CO, O3, Lead
 EPA required to set National
Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) for these criteria pollutants


Intended to protect public health
Reviewed every 5 years

Standards generally continue to become more
stringent and / or change form
 Areas that exceed NAAQS are
designated as non-attainment
TSP
1971
PM10
1987
PM10
PM2.5
1997
PM10
PM2.5
2006
EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standard Review
Expected Nonattainment Areas and Potential Nonattainment Areas
Darrington
Marysville
Meadowdale
Wenatchee
Spokane
Tacoma
Lacey/Olympia/Tumwater
Yakima
Clarkston
Vancouver
Ozone Nonattainment
Potential Ozone Nonattainment
Fine Particle Nonattainment
Potential Fine Particle Nonattainment
Fine Particle – General Sources
Point Sources
On-road vehicle
emissions
Non-road vehicle
emissions
Wildfires
Burning / Clearing
Home Heat
Dust
2005 Statewide Emissions Inventory
Regulatory Tools – Stationary Sources
 Permit Program
 Air Operating Permits


New Source Review


Combines all applicable requirements
New sources that increase emissions must
 Use Best Available Control Technology (BACT)
 Demonstrate compliance with current NAAQS and other air
quality regulations
NESHAPs intended to address emissions of Hazardous Air
Pollutants
Vehicle Emission Standards
 Clean Car Law
 Diesel Engines
 On-road (2007 Highway Rule)
•
•

Ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel
Advanced emission control technology
Non-road
•
Advanced emission control technology
–
•

Phased process starting in 2008 and complete in 2014
Ultra-low sulfur diesel phased in completely by 2014
Diesel Engine Retrofits
Diesel particulate emission
reduction from on-road vehicles
Diesel Particulate Emission Reduction
Year
2007 Highway Rule – (cleaner
engines and fuel)
Diesel particulate reduction
through vehicle turnover
Wood Burning Device Regulations and Burn Bans
 Wood Burning Device Standards
 More stringent than national standards
 Burn Bans
 Stage 1: The use of all uncertified wood
heating devices is banned when pollution
approaches unhealthful levels.
 Stage 2: All wood heating is banned when
pollution reaches an even higher level.

Does not apply to homes with no other
source of heat
A local view of PM
Annual Average Concentration
Annual NAAQS = 15 g/m3
24-hr NAAQS = 35 g/m3 (98th percentile)
Policies continue to reduce emissions of
criteria pollutants (includes PM)…
Fine-Particulate Air Pollution and Life Expectancy in the United
States
C. Arden Pope, III, Ph.D., Majid Ezzati, Ph.D., and Douglas W. Dockery, Sc.D.
N Engl J Med 2009; 360:376-386January 22, 2009
http://epa.gov/airtrends/2010/report/airpollution.pdf
… while improving air quality and health outcomes
Fine-Particulate Air Pollution and Life Expectancy in the United States
C. Arden Pope, III, Ph.D., Majid Ezzati, Ph.D., and Douglas W. Dockery, Sc.D.
N Engl J Med 2009; 360:376-386January 22, 2009
Status of PM NAAQS Review
 Planning
 Integrated Science Assessment
 Risk / Exposure Assessment
 Policy Assessment
Subject to Clean Air
Science Advisory
Committee (CASAC)
Review and Public
Comment
Includes CASAC
recommendations
 Rulemaking / Proposed Decision
 WA and ten other States recently filed lawsuit against EPA
because of delays in proposing new rule
Ultrafines?
 Short-term exposures




Cardiovascular Effects
Respiratory Effects
Central Nervous System
Mortality
Suggestive
Suggestive
Inadequate
Inadequate
 Long-term exposures






Cardiovascular Effects
Inadequate
Respiratory Effects
Inadequate
Mortality
Inadequate
Reproductive and Developmental
Inadequate
Cancer, Mutagenicity, Genotoxicity
Inadequate
“…CASAC also suggests the ongoing collection of more comprehensive PM monitoring data, including
expanding the range of sizes to provide information in the ultrafine particle range, and adding
measurements of numbers, chemistry, species, and related emissions characteristics of particles.”
Thank You
Gary Palcisko
360-407-7338
[email protected]
Diesel Particulate Risk in WA- NATA 2005