Energy & Environmental Research Center
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
(701) 777-5000
(701) 777-5181
OCTOBER 19, 1998 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Air Quality Experts to Meet for International Conference
MCLEAN, VA. -- Experts from industry, government, environmental groups and the research community will meet here in December for a four-day international conference on air quality.
Entitled "Air Quality: Mercury, Trace Elements, and Particulate Matter," the conference is organized and sponsored by the University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the EERC's Center for Air Toxic Metals, and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Federal Energy Technology Center (FETC). The event will take place Dec. 1 4 at the McLean Hilton at Tysons Corner in McLean, Va., northwest of Washington, D.C.
This conference will provide up-to-date information on how human health and ecosystems can be impacted by hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and fine airborne particles. Key issues covered will include potential health risks, air pollution control technologies, research needs and regulatory policies. The topics will be presented and discussed in forums with representatives from state and federal agencies, industry, environmental groups and the research community.
"There are important scientific questions related to the sources of these pollutants, their form and how they behave in the environment, our ability to accurately measure them and the development of technologies to prevent and control them," says Steve Benson, director of the EERC's Center for Air Toxic Metals. "The answers to these questions will directly affect state and national regulatory policies."
EPA has identified 188 chemicals, chemical compounds, fibers and types of emission as HAPs that either cause or are suspected of causing cancer, birth defects and other health problems, as well as adverse environmental impacts. HAPs include forms of mercury, arsenic, lead, selenium, cyanide, nickel and chromium. While some HAPs occur naturally in the environment, most come from vehicle exhaust and emissions from factories, refineries, waste incinerators and power plants.
Mercury, which is toxic to humans, other mammals and birds, has been singled out for special study by EPA. Mercury can remain in the atmosphere up to a year, be transported thousands of miles from its source and does not degrade in the environment. It is widely accepted that exposure to mercury is harmful to the nervous system, although questions remain about the amount of mercury and duration of time required to cause negative health effects.
When elemental mercury naturally transforms to methylmercury, it can accumulate in fish populations, leading to high mercury concentrations that make eating the fish hazardous. High levels of mercury affect the human nervous system, kidneys and developing fetuses. It is estimated that 75 percent of mercury in the atmosphere is the result of air pollution, with 90 percent of that coming from combustion sources, such as the burning of waste and fossil fuels.
Another pollutant affecting air quality is known as particulate matter, a mixture of solid and liquid particles suspended in the air. These particles degrade visibility and cause respiratory problems in humans. Much of the particulate matter in the atmosphere is produced by human activities, such as energy use, agriculture, wood stoves and industrial processes. However, it also comes from natural sources, including sea spray, wind-blown dust, volcanic eruptions and forest fires.
Although individual particles are often invisible to the human eye, when present in high concentrations, they become visible as haze or smog and are a major source of visibility reduction in many regions of the United States. Smog produced by vehicles in cities can be carried hundreds of miles and reduce visibility in national parks.
EPA is especially concerned about fine particles known as PM2.5. These microscopic particles are 2.5 microns or smaller (thousands could fit on the head of a pin). Because they can be inhaled deeply into the lungs, PM2.5 can cause respiratory illnesses that lead to premature death. Children, the elderly, asthmatics and people with heart and lung disease are especially susceptible to illnesses caused by fine particle pollution.
Currently, EPA and numerous state regulatory agencies are either considering, have proposed or have implemented regulations intended to reduce HAPs that include mercury, trace elements and particulate matter. Businesses and industries affected by new and proposed regulations are concerned about their potential economic impact.
Last year, EPA issued new air quality standards for ozone and particulate matter, which it said would reduce regional haze and provide increased public health protection from these pollutants. In August, the Air Resources Board of the California Environmental Protection Agency identified particulate emissions from diesel engines as a toxic air contaminant, citing them as a significant contributor to photochemical smog and fine particle pollution.
EPA's proposed revisions to national air quality standards for PM2.5 could cost industry and agriculture billions of dollars, cause job loss and put many heavily populated areas out of compliance. Environmental and health organizations say that without more stringent standards, thousands will continue to die prematurely each year and visibility will be affected in once-pristine areas.
Under the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, Congress authorized EPA to study hazardous air pollutants and mercury emissions from electric utility power plants. Based on these recently completed studies, EPA is assessing the impact on the environment and public health in an effort to determine whether the pollutants should be regulated.
For conference registration materials, contact Anne Fiala, EERC administrative manager, at (701) 777-3119 or [email protected]. Online registration materials can also be obtained from the EERC's Web site at http://www.eerc.und.nodak.edu/regist.html. Requests for information and completed registration forms can be faxed to (701) 777-5181.
Through the EERC's Jointly Sponsored Research Program with DOE, the federal agency is providing $108,000 in funding to support the Air Quality Conference (40 percent of the activity undertaken in the project).
For More Information Contact:
Steve Benson, EERC associate director, at (701) 777-5177 or [email protected]
John Pavlish, EERC senior research manager, at (701) 777-5268 or [email protected]
Patrick Miller, EERC communications coordinator, at (701) 777-5113 or [email protected]
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