Los Angeles Water and Air Pollution Analysis

I live within the LA county area. According to the Press Enterprise, Los Angeles made the top of the list, American Lung Association bad air list of most populated cities in America. The American Lung Association reported that Los Angeles metropolitan area has the worst air figures. However this is not a surprise to many Los Angeles county residents. I myself am not surprise. My brother's fiancé just moved from South Dakota to accept a job she dreamed of. South Dakota was reported by Scorecard (the pollution information site) as one of the states with the least air pollution. She is having a lot of health problems. She has decided to move back home because the pollution is so bad that it has affected her health. I live in LA County for a long time; it seems my lungs have adjusted to the bad air. I don't have allergies (knock on wood).

We all cause Air Pollution. We cause air pollution when we use the electricity, other home fuels and transportation. Most of the air pollution results from the burning of fossil fuel, oil, natural gas and gasoline. Climate changes will increase emissions of carbon dioxide. Air Pollution intensifies in the cases of humid atmosphere and low/ no wind.

To be precise, I live near Downtown Los Angeles. The high buildings and crowded neighbors increase the air pollution. During the hot summers, the weather is extremely hot and there are physically no winds. The sidewalks are extremely hot and you can probably grill a hot dog on the sidewalk. While growing up I notice more empty lots was being destroyed and new homes/ apartments was being built Due to the limited space, many new buildings did not consider the landscape to be important. Therefore, trees were not planted to help reduce the air pollution.

Air pollution is caused by many different factors. The pollution can contribute to hear disease, lung cancer and asthma attack. Children and senior citizens are especially vulnerable to the polluted air. Most of the pollutants are produced when heat and sunlight comes in contact with pollutants from power plants, refineries, cars and other sources.

Regulatory agencies would categorize pollutions into three groups. The three different categories are Area, Mobile and Point. The specific source may vary depending on if the released chemical is "criteria" or "hazardous" air pollutants. Criteria pollutants refer to six chemicals which occur frequently in the air and can cause damages to a human's health, harm the environment and cause property damage. These six pollutants are: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter and sulfur dioxide. Hazardous air pollutants can cause adverse effect to human health and the environment. There are over 188 of these pollutants. These pollutants include those substances that cause cancer, neurological, respiratory, and reproductive effects.

Area sources include small pollution sources like dry cleaners, gas stations, and auto body paint shop. Any source that emits less than 10 tons per year of criteria or hazardous pollutants will be filed under this category. This category also includes commercial buildings (heating and cooling units; surface coatings), residential buildings (fire places, surface coating), fuel combustion, boats, railroads. It also includes family lawnmower or barbeque grill.

Mobile source include on road vehicle and off road equipment (such as ships, airplanes, agriculture and construction equipment). Mobile source contribute a large percentage to the air pollution. Driving a car is the most polluting activity. Motor vehicles also emit hazardous pollutants such as carcinogens benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, 1,3-butadine and diesel particulate matter.

Point Sources include major industrial facilities, chemical plants, steel mills, oil refineries, power plants, and hazardous waste incinerators. If it emits 10 tons per year of any criteria pollutants or hazardous pollutants will be included in this category.

According to the Score card, Los Angeles County emits the following substances:

Air Quality Rankings: Health Risks, Exposure, and Emissions

Cleanest/Best Counties in USPercentileDirtiest/Worst Counties in US

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Carbon Monoxide emissions:

Nitrogen Oxides emissions:

PM-2.5 emissions:

PM-10 emissions:

Sulfur Dioxide emissions:

Volatile Organic Compound emissions:

Air Quality Index:

Ozone 1-hour average concentration:

Ozone 8-hour average concentration:

PM-2.5 24-hour average concentration:

PM-10 24-hour average concentration:

Person-days in exceedance of national air quality standard for ozone (1-hour):

Person-days in exceedance of national air quality standard for ozone (8-hour):

Figure 1. Air Quality Rankings: Health Risks, Exposure, and Emissions

Retrieved from http://www.scorecard.org/env-releases/cap/county.tcl?fips_county_code=06037#air_rankings

Below is a list of the pollutants name and the health effects and environmental effects caused by each substance. Reports show estimated premature deaths are associated with exposure to air pollution. It also cost humans more money to stay healthy. They spend more money of vitamins, more medical bills, and higher insurance premiums. For example, my son who has asthma needs to see a doctor twice as much as an average child. My co-pay is pretty expensive. Then the inhaler is not covered by insurance 100%. My soon to be sister in law also pay more to get fitted for a different type of contacts and different kind of solution because of her allergies. She could not handle the air pollution out here.

Sources and Effects of Common Air PollutantsPollutantAnthropogenic SourcesHealth EffectsEnvironmental EffectsOzone
(O₃)Secondary pollutant formed by chemical reaction of VOCs and NOx in the presence of sunlight.Breathing problems, reduced lung function, asthma, irritates eyes, stuffy nose, reduces resistance to colds and infections, premature aging of lung tissue.Damages crops, forests, and other vegetation; damages rubber, fabric, and other materials; smog reduces visibility.Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)Burning of gasoline, natural gas, coal, oil. (Cars are a major source of NOx.)Lung damage, respiratory illnesses, ozone (smog) effects.Ozone (smog) effects; precursor of acid rain which damages trees, lakes, and soil; aerosols can reduce visibility. Acid rain also causes buildings, statues, and monuments to deteriorate.Carbon Monoxide (CO)Burning of gasoline, natural gas, coal, oil.Reduces ability of blood to bring oxygen to body cells and tissues. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)Fuel combustion, solvents, paint. (Cars are a major source of VOCs.)Ozone (smog) effects, cancer, and other serious health problems.Ozone (smog) effects, vegetation damage.Particulate MatterEmitted as particles or formed through chemical reactions; burning of wood, diesel, and other fuels; industrial processes; agriculture (plowing, field burning); unpaved roads.Eye, nose, and throat irritation; lung damage; bronchitis; cancer; early death.Source of haze which reduces visibility. Ashes, smoke, soot, and dust can dirty and discolor structures and property, including clothes and furniture.Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂)Burning of coal and oil, especially high-sulfur coal; industrial processes (paper manufacturing, metal smelting).Respiratory illness, breathing problems, may cause permanent damage to lungs.Precursor of acid rain, which can damage trees, lakes, and soil; aerosols can reduce visibility. Acid rain also causes buildings, statues, and monuments to deteriorate.LeadCombustion of fossil fuels and leaded gasoline; paint; smelters (metal refineries); battery manufacturing.Brain and nervous system damage (esp. children), digestive and other problems. Some lead-containing chemicals cause cancer in animals.Harm to wildlife and livestock.MercuryFossil fuel combustion, waste disposal, industrial processes (incineration, smelting, chlor-alkali plants), mining.Liver, kidney, and brain damage; neurological and developmental damage.Accumulates in food chain

Figure 2. Sources and Effects of Common Air Pollutants

Retieved from http://www.cleanerandgreener.org/programs/schools/pollution.htm

Water Pollution in LA COUNTY

Water pollution in the LA County also has very low ratings for poor quality. The leading pollutants of surface water (which includes Rivers, Streams, and Creeks) are: Ammonia 56%, Pathogens 56%, Nutrients 44%, Impaired Biological Community 33%, and Metals 33%. Leading pollutants affecting water bodies (such as Lakes, Reservoirs and Ponds) are: Low Dissolved Oxygen/Organic enrichments 67%, mercury 33%, Metals 33%, PCBS 33%, and Pesticides 33%. The leading source of water quality problems is Nonpoint sources. This problem is for both surface water and water bodies. The water pollution will affect our drinking waters. (See Glossary of Non point sources).

Glossary:

Ammonia: Inorganic form of nitrogen. Under specific conditions of temperature and pH, the un-ionized component of ammonia can be toxic to aquatic life.

Impaired Biological Community: Natural, undisturbed aquatic ecosystems provide habitat for a broad variety of biota, exhibiting taxonomic richness and complex trophic structure.

Mercury:Mercury is a naturally occurring element that can be toxic when consumed by animals and humans. Sources of mercury include weathering of the earth's crust, the burning of garbage and fuels, and industrial emissions.

Nutrients: All plants require nutrients for growth. In aquatic environments, nutrient availability usually limits plant growth. When these nutrients are introduced into a stream, lake, or estuary at higher rates, aquatic plant productivity may increase dramatically. This process, referred to as cultural eutrophication, may adversely affect the suitability of the water for other uses.

Non point sources pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and underground sources of drinking water. These pollutants include: excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas; oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production; sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding stream banks; salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines; and bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septic systems.

Pathogens: Some waterborne bacteria, viruses, and protozoa can cause human illnesses, ranging from typhoid and dysentery to minor skin diseases. These pathogens may enter waters through a number of routes, including inadequately treated sewage, storm water drains, septic systems, runoff from livestock pens, and sewage dumped overboard from recreational boats.

PCBs:Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a family of man-made chemicals that contain 209 individual compounds with varying levels of toxicity. Some are recognized carcinogens. Eating contaminated fish is a major source of PCB exposure for humans because PCBs bioaccumulation in some species of fish found in contaminated waters. PCBs were widely used as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors, and other electrical equipment until they were banned in 1977. Although PCBs are no longer manufactured, exposure still occurs as a result of historical contamination and the decommissioning of older transformers and capacitors, which have lifetimes of 30 years or more.

Pesticides: Pesticides are synthetic chemicals developed to control insect and plant pests. Pesticides disperse into the environment after application, and can cause contamination of surface water and ground water.

References

(2007). Inland news. Los angeles again tops air pollution list. Retrieved October 10, 2007 from http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_websmog.10c3ea9.html

Clean water act status: San Gabriel watershed. (2005). Retrieved October 10, 2007, from http:///www.scorecard.org/env-releases/water/cwa-watershed.tcl

Criteria air pollutant report: Los angeles county ca. (2005). Retrieved October 09, 2007, from http://www.scorecard.org/env-releases/cap/county.tcl?fips_county_code=06037

Hazardous air pollutant report: Los angeles county ca. (2005). Retrieved October 09, 2007, from http://www.scorecard.org/env-releases/hap/county.tcl?fips_county_code=06037

We all cause air pollution. (2005). Retrieved October 09, 2007, from http://www.cleanerandgreener.org