Rodriguez Presentation 111206

The Health Effects of Ozone and Particle Pollution: 

The Health Effects of Ozone and Particle Pollution Rosalina Rodriguez, Associate Director Health and Environmental Impacts Division rodriguez.rosalina@epa.gov 11-06

Human Lung: 

Air conducting Trachea Bronchi Bronchioles Gas exchange Respiratory bronchioles Alveoli Human Lung

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Larger particles (> PM10) deposit in the upper respiratory tract Smaller, inhalable particles (≤ PM10) penetrate deep into the lungs Both coarse particles and fine particles can penetrate to lower regions of the lung Deposited particles may accumulate, react, be cleared or absorbed Particulate Matter

Particle Pollution Affects the Heart: 

Particle pollution has been linked to changes in the cardiovascular system. These include: Arrhythmias and changes in heart rate. Changes in the variability of your heart rate. Blood component changes C-reactive protein Fibrinogen Plasma viscosity Studies indicate that particle exposure can cause heart attacks. And particles are linked with death from heart disease. Particle exposure has been linked to heart attacks. Particle Pollution Affects the Heart

Health Effects of Particle Pollution: 

Health Effects of Particle Pollution Many scientific studies have linked breathing particle pollution to a series of significant health problems, including: Aggravated asthma Increases in respiratory symptoms like coughing and difficult or painful breathing Chronic bronchitis Decreased lung function Premature death in people with heart and lung disease

EPA’s PM Standards: Old and New: 

EPA’s PM Standards: Old and New

PM2.5 – Primary 24-hour Standard: 

PM2.5 – Primary 24-hour Standard EPA has strengthened the level of the 24-hour PM2.5 standard from the 1997 level of 65 µg/m3 to 35 µg/m3, as proposed. EPA’s assessment concluded that the standard should be strengthened to better protect the public from short-term fine particle exposures. Significantly expanded body of scientific information. Epidemiologic studies show health effects at and below the level of the 1997 24-hour standard including premature death, increased emergency room visits and increased hospitalizations. Consensus among CASAC PM panelists to place more emphasis on lowering the 24-hour PM2.5 standard. EPA has retained the form of the 24-hour standard - the average of the 98th percentile of 24-hour PM2.5 concentrations averaged over three years.

PM2.5 – Primary Annual Standard: 

PM2.5 – Primary Annual Standard EPA has retained the level of the annual PM2.5 standard at 15 µg/m3, as proposed. EPA retained this level, set in 1997, based on its assessment of several expanded, re-analyzed and new epidemiologic studies. The study results have increased the Agency’s confidence in associations between long-term PM2.5 exposure and serious health effects, including heart and lung-related death. The Administrator carefully considered the advice received from CASAC to lower the level of the standard to 13 – 14 µg/m3. In the Administrator’s judgment, an annual standard of 15 µg/m3 provides the appropriate level of protection with an adequate margin of safety. An area will meet the annual PM2.5 standard when the three-year average of the annual average PM2.5 concentration is less than or equal to 15 µg/m3. EPA made a small revision to the form of this standard, tightening the conditions under which more than one monitor could be used to determine the annual average PM2.5 levels in an area. This is known as spatial averaging.

Expected Timeline for PM2.5 NAAQS Implementation: 

Expected Timeline for PM2.5 NAAQS Implementation

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Currently Designated PM2.5 Nonattainment Areas - 1997 Standards Violated annual and/or 24-hour PM2.5 standards with designated data (2001-2003*) Legend Nonattainment areas violating: Number of Areas both annual (15 µg/m3) and 24-hour (65 µg/m3) standards 2 ONLY the 24-hour standard (65 µg/m3) 0 ONLY the annual standard (15 µg/m3) 37 Total PM2.5 Nonattainment Areas 39 * 2002-2004 data were considered in the designation process but all nonattainment designations were based on 2001-2003 data

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Counties Exceeding Revised PM2.5 Standards Based on 2003-2005 Monitoring Data Data from AQS 7/10/2006 Data completeness computed per CFR 7/10/2006 EPA will not base designations for the new fine particle standards on these data. Legend County with monitor exceeding: Number of Counties both annual (15 µg/m3) and 24-hour (35 µg/m3) PM2.5 standards 56 ONLY the 24-hour PM2.5 standard (35 µg/m3) 70 ONLY the annual PM2.5 standard (15 µg/m3) 17 Total Counties Exceeding 143

AQI Sub-Index for Particle Pollution: 

AQI Sub-Index for Particle Pollution The AQI sub-index for PM2.5 will be revised to reflect the new daily standard as expeditiously as possible In January, EPA will start to solicit feedback on potential revisions Prior to moving forward with a rulemaking, EPA will solicit feedback in many venues National Air Quality Conference – February 2007; http://www.airnow.gov NACAA No change to AQI sub-index for PM10

Significant Harm Level (SHL) for Particle Pollution: 

Significant Harm Level (SHL) for Particle Pollution SHL for PM10 is set at 600 ug/m3, 24-hr average 500 level of AQI for PM2.5 is set at 500 ug/m3, 24-hr average – currently there is no SHL If SHL is different, AQI will be revised to be consistent EPA considering possible alternatives for SHL for PM2.5

Ozone Irritates the Airways: 

Symptoms Cough Sore or scratchy throat Pain with deep breath Fatigue Rapid onset Similar symptoms - people with and without asthma Ozone Irritates the Airways

Ozone Reduces Lung Function: 

BASELINE 2HR 4HR FEV1, % CHANGE -60 -40 -20 0 M-10 Ozone Reduces Lung Function Exposure to 0.22 ppm O3 (Frampton et al., 1997)

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M-1c

Ozone Causes Inflammation: 

Ozone reacts completely in surface layer - forms reactive oxygen molecules Influx of white blood cells Damages cells that line the airways Effect is greater 24 hours after exposure Increases airway reactivity Inflammation and increased airway reactivity responses greater in people with asthma Concern about repeated exposures Ozone Causes Inflammation

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Respiratory Hospital Admissions by Daily Maximum Ozone Level, Lagged One Day 114 112 110 108 106 104 102 Ozone concentration (ppm) Respiratory Admissions .01 .02 .03 .04 .05 .06 .07 .08 .09 .1 D-8a (Burnett et al, 1994)

What’s New?: 

Controlled human exposure studies to lower levels - 0.04 ppm Some individuals show moderate lung function responses down to 0.04 ppm, 6.6-hr average Change in group mean averages not statistically significant at lower levels Many new studies show asthmatics much more susceptible Larger lung function and symptomatic responses; increased inflammation and airway responsiveness; more ED visits and hospital admissions Epidemiological studies show effects well below 0.08 ppm Epidemiological evidence links O3 with total (non-accidental) and cardiorespiratory mortality What’s New?

Findings of Second Draft Staff Paper: 

Options for Administrator’s consideration: Retention of current standard, 0.08 ppm O3, based on: Consideration of the uncertainties in lung function responses at levels below 0.08 ppm O3 Places more limited weight on evidence of more uncertain, but serious, morbidity (e.g., hospital admissions, ED visits) and mortality effects Revise standard to more protective level, in the range analyzed, 0.06 to 0.07 ppm O3, with focus on the level of 0.07 ppm, based on: Consideration that some highly responsive individuals experience lung function decrements at exposures as low as 0.06 and 0.04 ppm Consideration of new evidence that people with asthma have bigger responses to O3 exposure (e.g., bronchoconstriction , inflammation, increased airway responsiveness) than non-asthmatics - risk assessment has not fully addressed the range of health effects likely (e.g., increased medication usage, missed school and work days, physician visits) Places more weight on evidence of serious, but more uncertain, morbidity and mortality effects; some in urban areas with O3 levels below the current standard Findings of Second Draft Staff Paper

CASAC Panel Conclusions: 

There is no scientific justification for retaining the current primary 8-hr NAAQS of 0.08 parts per million (ppm) “New evidence supports and builds upon key, health-related conclusions” drawn in 1997 review Several new single-city studies and large multi-city studies provide more evidence for adverse health effects at concentrations lower than the current standard Epidemiological evidence is backed-up by controlled human exposure studies (cited Adams 2002, 2006 studies as showing adverse lung function effects in some individuals at 0.06 ppm) Lung function studies done in healthy adults; expectation that asthmatics and children would experience larger effects Other adverse effects found in studies (e.g., increased school absenteeism, increased respiratory hospital emergency department visits, increased respiratory symptoms in asthmatics, increased medication usage, increased non-accidental and cardiorespiratory deaths) that reported exposure levels “well below the current standard” CASAC Panel Conclusions

CASAC Panel Conclusions (continued): 

The primary 8-hr NAAQS needs to be substantially reduced to protect human health, particularly in sensitive populations CASAC in “complete agreement” that staff conclusion arguing for consideration of retaining the current standard as an option “is not supported by the relevant scientific data” “No longer significant scientific uncertainty regarding the CASAC’s conclusion that the current 8-hr primary NAAQS must be lowered” Unanimously recommended a range of 0.060 to 0.070 ppm for the primary ozone NAAQS, with a range of concentration-based forms from third- to fifth-highest daily maximum 8-hr average Recommend that EPA conduct a broader evaluation of implications of alternative forms of standards on public health protection and stability Monitoring technology supports stating standard in terms of ppb or 3 decimal places for ppm CASAC Panel Conclusions (continued)

Status of Ozone NAAQS Review: 

Final CD released March 21, 2006 Second draft Staff Paper and exposure, health risk, and environmental effects assessments Released to CASAC and the public in July CASAC meeting held August 24-25 CASAC letter – October 24 Final Staff Paper targeted for release in January 2007 CASAC plans to hold teleconference after release to provide any additional comments to EPA Consent decree schedule changed: Proposed rule – May 2007 Final rule – February 2008 Status of Ozone NAAQS Review