Toxics in the Air We Breathe

Air is essential to life, but polluted air can shorten lifespans. Exposure to air pollution can have permanent health effects ranging from loss of lung capacity and decreased lung function to development of such diseases as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and even cancer.

While Oregon’s and the nation’s air is generally cleaner than it has been in the past, air pollution continues to impact people’s health and the environment. In Oregon, air pollutants of particular concern include air toxics (aka hazardous air pollutants), fine particulate matter (aka soot), and ground-level ozone (aka smog).

The Oregon Environmental Council is working to reduce emissions of the following air toxics, in particular, because they are chemicals that are of key concern to Oregon children’s health:

• diesel
  
• benzene
  
• formaldehyde
  
• dioxins
• benzo(a)pyrene
  
• acrolein
  

Every county in Oregon is estimated to have “hotspots” where anywhere from six to sixteen different air toxics exceed the Environmental Protection Agency’s human health standards. That’s because many of these chemicals are released by ubiquitous sources of pollution, such as backyard burning, woodstoves, and vehicle emissions.

When mixed together, this toxic “soup” may be even more dangerous than lone pollutants, but unfortunately, our current federal clean air standards do not protect against the cumulative effects of these chemicals. Therefore, in 2003, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission adopted new rules that put Oregon at the forefront of state efforts to identify and address hazardous air pollutants. The Oregon Environmental Council participated in this rulemaking process.

Oregon’s air toxics rules attempt to deal with the cumulative impact of multiple chemicals in local hotspots. Utilizing monitoring and modeling data, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) defines an area (e.g., a city or two neighboring towns) that is affected by several pollutants of concern, and then convenes a group of local business, health, and citizen leaders to develop and recommend a plan for lowering emissions and reducing exposures. DEQ may control emissions from groups of specific sources (e.g., woodstoves or backyard burning) and may also address dangerous emissions from single polluters. The state rules do not require immediate reductions and are being implemented very slowly, but they do create a framework for addressing toxic air pollution that threatens the health of our communities. To learn more, visit DEQ’s Air Toxics page.

• You can take simple actions to help reduce emissions of these dangerous toxics into the environment:
• Drive less.
• Don’t unnecessarily idle your vehicle.
• Do not “top off” your tank at the gas station.
• Use only clean, dry wood in your fireplace or woodstove, and if possible, limit fires.
• Never burn garbage, especially plastic.
• Choose paints and other products that emit few or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs are usually air toxics, as well).
• Choose the cleanest models of lawnmowers, outboard engines and other small engines.

Most Oregon communities consistently meet the current federal standards for ozone and particulate matter set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. This means that levels of these pollutants in Oregon’s air are considered low enough to not pose a risk to human health. However, there is still reason to be concerned:

Klamath Falls and Oakridge occasionally experience dangerous levels of fine particulate matter and are unlikely to meet the federal standards that were revised in 2006.

• Scientific evidence indicates that exposure to smog at levels below the current standards is causing adverse public health effects, particularly in those with respiratory illness. The Oregon Environmental Council supports stricter federal standards for ozone.

• It is estimated that there are 16 air toxics in Oregon’s air at levels more than 10 times the federally determined safe level. The Oregon Environmental Council is concerned about a variety of air toxics, and considers the following the greatest threat to children’s health: diesel, benzene, formaldehyde, dioxins, benzo(a)pyrene, and acrolein.

• For more information on air quality in Oregon and what you can do, check out the links above and visit the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s air quality webpage.