air pollutants and the chesapeake bay. cbp 1/6/00 chesapeake bay program today’s message the air...

Air Pollutants and the Chesapeake Bay

CBP 1/6/00

CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM

TODAY’S MESSAGE

The air pollution we create also pollutes our land and water.

Therefore

In order to clean up our water, we must also clean up our air!

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Why are we concerned about air pollution?

Air quality effects- air pollution can contribute to human health problems and degrade visibility.

Land effects- nitrogen deposition saturates systems and overloads vegetation

Water quality effects- eutrophication caused by the over-fertilization of coastal/fresh waters and acidification of streams and lakes.

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Organization of the presentation (in case all of this air talk goes to your head)

• Vocabulary for Airheads

• Air Pollutants of “Water Quality” Concern• Where air pollutants come from and their impacts

• What Still Needs to be Done

• What Has Been Done to Date

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Vocabulary for Airheads

Volatilization: to pass off in vapor.

Emissions: pollution being released into the air from sources.

Particulate matter: includes dust, soot and bits of solid materials released into and move around in the air.

Atmospheric Transport: air pollutants traveling short or long distances.

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Vocabulary for AirheadsAtmospheric Deposition: the process whereby

airborne particles and gases settle to the Earth's surface. - Wet Deposition: pollutants deposited in rain, fog, and snow).

- Dry Deposition: pollutants deposited with out rain, fog or snow but in the form of airborne particles.

Atmospheric load: total amount of an air pollutant that a water body receives.

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Air Pollutants of “Water Quality” Concern

Nitrogen Compounds

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

Ammonia/Ammonium (NH3/NH4)

Organic Nitrogen (Org-N)

Nitrogen is a nutrient which all things need to grow. However, human activities contribute more nitrogen than an ecosystem needs.

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Air Pollutants of “Water Quality” Concern continued...

Chemical contaminantsMetals (lead, cadmium, copper)

Mercury

Organic Contaminants(pesticides, PCBs, PAHs)

Chemical contaminants are natural or manmade compounds that have the potential to become toxic:

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Where Air Pollutants Come From

What goes up

must come down

Stationary and area sources

Mobile sources

Agricultural sources

Natural sources

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Stationary Sources

Stationary Sources: • do not move • are thought of as large

point sources • release relatively

consistent quantities of pollutants.

Stationary Source

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Area Sources

Area sources:

• smaller clustered stationary sources

• individual emissions may be low

• collective emissions can be significant.

Area Source

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Mobile Sources

Mobile sources: • are capable of moving.• can be an “on-road” category.• can be “non-road” or “off-road” category.

On Road Mobile Sources

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Agricultural Sources

Agricultural operations can generate emissions of gases, particulate matter, and chemical compounds.

These emissions come from: • animal housing• storage of animal waste • land-applied animal waste• crop production

Crops

Livestock

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Natural Sources

Natural sources of air pollutants include: • lightning• erupting volcano• weather-caused forest & prairie fires•unconfined wild animals

Nature

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Atmospheric Deposition

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IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTANTS

• Acid rain• Smog (ozone and visibility)• Eutrophication• Accumulation in terrestrial

ecosystems and in drinking water

Nitrogen

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IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTANTS

• Bioaccumulate

• Persist

• Bind to sediments

• Affect biological processes

Chemical Contaminants

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What Has Been Done to Date to Reduce Air Pollution

A Historical Perspective:

Clean Air Act (1970) and Amendments– To ensure that all Americans have air that

is safe to breathe.

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Clean Water Act (1972) and Amendments

- To restore & maintain the chemical, physical, & biological integrity of the

nation’s waters.


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1990 Clean Air Act Amendments

Great Waters ProgramCalls for a program to identify and assess

the extent of atmospheric deposition of hazardous air pollutants to water bodies

such as the Chesapeake Bay.


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OVER 20FEDERAL

GOVERNMENTAGENCIES

STATE/DISTRICTGOVERNMENT:MD, PA, VA, DC

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

PRIVATE INDUSTRY

ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

CHESAPEAKE BAY CLEANUP

UNIVERSITIES & RESEARCHERS

CONCERNED CITIZENS

The Bay Cleanup Involves Partners at All Levels


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So What Have We Learned About the Bay and

Atmospheric Deposition?

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Area of NOx Emissions that contribute Nitrogen Deposition to the Bay and its Watershed

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Types of NOx Emission Sources from States* that Contribute the Most Nitrogen Deposition to the Bay and its Watershed

Other21%

Utilities38%

Industries6%

Cars and Trucks35%

*Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Ohio

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Status of Chemical Contaminant Effects on Living Resources

in the Chesapeake Bay’s Tidal Rivers

3 HOT SPOTS10 WARM SPOTS

8 HEALTHY SPOTS20 UNKNOWN

21 areas with fish consumption advisories

due to chemical contaminants

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SO

WHAT?

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What can you do to reduce air pollution? As an individual, as a group or as a community

Help YOUR community put

the pieces of the puzzle together...

Communicate concerns to your community

& representatives.

Attend town meetings

Educate others to make good decisions.

Raise awareness.

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• Conserve electricity.• Recycle AND purchase recycled products.• Use electric lawn mowers and tools instead of gas- powered ones.• Reduce amounts and types of chemicals you use.• Instead of charcoal lighter fluid use a charcoal chimney, electric starter, or propane grill.• Reduce the amount of miles you drive. • Carpool, telecommute, or use public transportation.• Purchase fuel efficient automobiles. • Follow state guidelines on emissions testing & maintain any pollution-control devices.

What you do daily makes a difference

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What you do daily makes a difference continued...

• Plan car trips carefully.• Turn off your engine when waiting. • Take alternate routes to eliminate idling.• Accelerate gently and evenly, and use your cruise

control.• Use vehicle’s flow-through vents instead of air

conditioning or open a window.• Check a car’s cooling system thermostat. • Keep car tuned and properly inflate & align tires

to save gas & to reduce wear on tires over time.

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In conclusion...

THANK YOU

The Air pollution we create also pollutes our land and water.

Therefore in order to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, we must also clean up the air.

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OPTIONAL SLIDES

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Chesapeake Bay ProgramOrganizational Chart

Chesapeake Executive Council

Principals' StaffCommitteeCitizens Advisory Committee

Local Government AdvisoryCommittee

Scientific & Technical AdvisoryCommittee

Implementation Committee

Federal Agencies Committee

Budget Steering Committee

Air

Nutrient ToxicsMonitoring

&Assessment

ModelingLiving

Resources

Land Growth&

Stewardship

Communications&

Education

InformationManagement

Subcommittees

Water Quality SteeringCommittee

Water Quality TechnicalWorkgroup

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Air’s Role in Bay Program Commitments1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement- a commitment to reduce annual nutrient loads. Water Quality Goal: “Quantify the impacts and identify the sources of atmospheric inputs on the Bay system."

1992 Amendments: "... incorporate into the Nutrient Reduction Strategies an air deposition component which builds upon the federal Clean Air Act and explores additional implementation opportunities to further reduce airborne sources of nitrogen entering Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.”

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Air’s Role in Bay Program Commitments continued...

1994 Basinwide Toxics Reduction & Prevention Strategy

“... establish more complete loadings baselines and source identification for... atmospheric deposition... and set reduction targets from those baselines to be achieved over the next decade.”

1997 Chesapeake Executive Council Directive: “Work toward additional reductions of airborne nitrogen delivered to the Bay and its watershed from all sources including states outside the watershed, and seek improved understanding of how airborne nitrogen affects the Bay and its watershed.”

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Chesapeake 2000 Agreement “By 2003, assess the effects of airborne nitrogen compounds and chemical contaminants on the Bay ecosystem and help establish reduction goals for these contaminants.” AND

“By Fall of 2000, reevaluate and revise, as necessary, the “Chesapeake Bay Basinwide Toxics Reduction and Prevention Strategy” focusing on: Complementing state and federal regulatory programs to go beyond traditional point source controls, including nonpoint sources such as groundwater discharge and atmospheric deposition, by using a watershed-based approach...”.

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Toxics 2000 Strategy

“By 2002 develop and begin implementing strategies to prevent or reduce chemical contaminants responsible for fish consumption advisories.”

“By 2005, in impacted areas and areas at risk, reduce by 15% chemicals of concern from 1998 levels by working with publicly and privately owned treatment works and industries (including air sources).

“By 2006,in impacted areas and areas at risk, reduce by 50% chemicals of concern from 2001 levels from priority federal facilities.

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“By 2006, in impacted areas and areas at risk, reduce by 50% chemicals of concern from 2001 levels from priority federal facilities.

“By 2010, reduce nonpoint sources of chemicals of concern to the Regions of Concern by at least 30%, through implementation of pollution prevention means and other voluntary nonpoint source programs and through accounting of reductions achieved through regulatory”

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Air Subcommittee Supports• Research

– economic studies, environmental effects studies, nitrogen and chemical contaminant studies

• Monitoring– Smith Island Wet deposition monitoring site (began

in 1995- current)

• Outreach– Informative publications, workshops, literature

syntheses, web site http://www.chesapeakebay.net/stressor1.htm

• Modeling– Atmospheric deposition and loadings

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Other Nonpoint Sources (48%)

Point Source (25%)

Atmospheric (27%)atmosphericfrom land(21%)

atmosphericto water (6%)

-Wastewater

Treatment

Plants

-Industry

-Fertilizer and manure

-Septic tanks

-Natural Sources

-Vehicles

-Electric Utilities

-Industry

Source: Chesapeake Bay Program

Phase 4.3 Watershed Model,

1985 Reference Scenario and

2000 progress scenario

In 1985

Other Nonpoint Sources (48%)

Point Source (20%)

Atmospheric (32%)atmosphericfrom land(25%)

atmosphericto water (7%)

-Wastewater

Treatment

Plants

-Industry

-Fertilizer and manure

-Septic tanks

-Natural Sources

-Vehicles

-Electric Utilities

-Industry

,

In 2000

Sources of Nitrogen Loads to the Bay

air pollutants and the chesapeake bay. cbp 1/6/00 chesapeake bay program today’s message the air...

Documents

chesapeake bay slide

air talk

road mobile sources

date slide

stationary source slide

area source slide

large point sources

water body