MVCAC June 2014

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Study may explain how pollution causes heart disease, KPCC News
by Duane 23 Jun '14

23 Jun '14

http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/06/20/44852/study-may-explain-how-pollution-c… Study may explain how pollution causes heart disease By Jed Kim, KPCC News, June 20, 2014 LOS ANGELES, CA - Morning traffic fills the SR2 freeway in Los Angeles, California. The nation's second largest city, Los Angeles, has again been ranked the worst in the nation for ozone pollution and fourth for particulates by the American Lung Association in it's annual air quality report card. Ozone is a component of smog that forms when sunlight reacts with hydrocarbon and nitrous oxide emissions. Particulates pollution includes substances like dust and soot. Scientists and clean air advocates are well aware that fine particles in the air, known as PM2.5, are correlated with deaths from cardiovascular disease. “You can see days where we have higher pollution, and they’ve already tracked that to more hospital admissions for heart disease, heart attacks," said Angela Johnson Meszaros, general counsel for Physicians for Social Responsibility - Los Angeles. "That kind of thing, we already knew.” A study out this month in the journal "Environmental Research" may shed light on something that wasn't as well known — the mechanism by which particulate matter causes the disease. Fine particles are released by vehicles, wood burning, power plants and other industrial sources and are capable of embedding deep within lungs. Scientists with the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment studied data from 3,000 women over a five-year period and found that long-term exposure to PM2.5 was strongly linked with increased levels of C-reactive proteins (CRP). The proteins are indicators of inflammation, which is tied to heart disease and stroke. The study also identified that smokers and people with diabetes, lower incomes, high blood pressure and those undergoing hormone therapy are more vulnerable to PM2.5. At the same time, the impacts seem to be lessened by certain medications and moderate alcohol consumption. “These are significant findings that might help us develop better approaches to reducing risks associated with PM2.5 exposure,” said Dr. John Balmes, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and member of the California Air Resources Board. Where is the PM2.5? Meszaros said that in general the Southern California's Inland Empire is most inundated with PM2.5, a result of winds pushing the pollution inland from the ocean. “If you look generally at the particulate maps, what you’ll see is the San Bernardino/Riverside areas are going to be red, red, red; and the coastal areas are going to be green, green, green,” Meszaros said. Tina Cox, a spokeswoman with the South Coast Air Quality Management District, said that within Los Angeles County last year, the City of Compton had the highest levels of PM2.5, followed by Burbank. Note: Diesel engine exhaust gases are high in PM 2.5 particles. Also, sulfur oxides from coal and oil combustion react with other constituents to generate more PM 2.5 particulate matter. Duane Nichols, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Fwd: Tell FERC: No fracked gas exports at Cove Point!
by Duane Nichols 14 Jun '14

14 Jun '14

Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: > From: Clean Air Council <action(a)cleanair.org> > Date: June 12, 2014 at 9:01:03 AM EDT > To: duane330(a)aol.com > Subject: Tell FERC: No fracked gas exports at Cove Point! > > > > Hello MonValley Clean Air Coalition, > > This is the last week to respond to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Environmental Assessment of Dominion Resources’ proposed Liquefied Natural Gas Export Facility in Cove Point, Maryland. FERC’s Environmental Assessment (EA) fell short in analyzing the health and environmental impacts to the surrounding community and region. > > Ask FERC to reject Dominion Resources’ application, or at the very least to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). > > Despite the requirements of the National Environmental Protection Act, the EA neglected to assess the impacts of the Atlantic Sunrise project, which would carry fracked gas from the Marcellus Shale region in Pennsylvania to the Cove Point facility. > > This absence silences the voices of communities that are facing eminent domain and pollution at the points of extraction and transportation of gas that is destined for the Cove Point export facility. > > Take action now to urge FERC to reject Dominion Resources’ application for a Liquefied Natural Gas Export Facility at Cove Point! > > Sincerely, > > Sam Koplinka-Loehr, skl(a)cleanair.org, 215.567.4004 x115 > > Advocacy Coordinator > > > Unsubscribe | Universal unsubscribe

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Tell WV legislators to support climate action! - Sierra Club
by Duane 13 Jun '14

13 Jun '14

Tell WV legislators to support climate action! - Sierra Club http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?dlv_id=330400&em_id=366427.0 Dear Friend, The EPA recently took a historic step by issuing new protections to reduce carbon pollution from power plants by 30 percent by 2030! This is the beginning of what could be the biggest climate fight in history and fossil fuel billionaires are mobilizing like never before. It's more important than ever that West Virginia's Congressional representatives hear from you. You can be sure they are hearing from the coal industry! Tell West Virginia's congressional leaders that it's time to address climate change head-on by supporting the EPA's new guidelines for limiting carbon pollution from existing power plants. There is currently no limit to the amount of carbon pollution that power plants are allowed to emit into the air we breathe. Carbon dioxide emissions are the chief cause of climate change; coal-fired power plants account for 40 percent of America's total emissions. Citizens are not permitted to throw garbage into the streets or treat our roadways like open sewers. Power plants shouldn't get a free pass on carbon pollution. The health and environmental hazards from coal—from when it's mined to when it's burned—are estimated to cost the U.S. public about one-third of a trillion dollars annually1. You can help clean the air, transition our coal workforce to sustainable jobs, and make sure we leave our children and grandchildren with a safe, healthy, and livable planet. Tell West Virginia's congressional delegation to support the EPA and that you want limits on carbon pollution. The resulting climate impacts make wildfires and extreme weather events like abnormally high temperatures, flooding, and drought more severe. What's worse is that carbon pollution is linked to life-threatening air pollution that contributes to health problems like heart and lung disease and asthma. Climate change threatens the reliability of our food supply, puts water supplies at risk, contributes to sea level rise, and may impact the spread of infectious diseases. It's time for climate action today! Thanks for all you do to protect the environment, Jim Kotcon WV Sierra Club Climate Action Team P.S. After you take action, be sure to forward this alert to your friends and colleagues!' 1.) Epstein, Paul R. Full Cost Assounting for the Life Cycle of Coal, Harvard School of Public Health, February 2011 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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MVCAC June 2014