Particulate Matter Sources Health Effects and Control Strategies

Particulate Matter Sources, Health Effects, and Control Strategies NAFA Annual Meeting and Convention Indianapolis, Indiana September 21, 2007 Wayne R. Thomann, Dr. P. H. Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC

INDOOR AIR QUALITY What Makes You So Special? n 30, 000 Employees at Duke n n Fair percentage have primary outdoor assignments Many transition from building to building >50% of dorms are naturally ventilated Smokers have to go outdoors

SHOULD THE INDOOR AIR BE BETTER? n People Spend 80 -90% of Their Time Indoors n n Except as noted Indoor Environments Vary Dramatically n Quality of HVAC systems n n n Amount of outdoor air Filtration/air cleaning Should they all be “equal” n Commercial vs. residential vs. schools, etc.

WHAT ARE THE KEY TARGETS FOR IAQ IMPROVEMENT? n Particulate s n n Microbials n n n Mold Hysteria New Health Concerns Regarding Ozone Energy Conservation n n Changes in EPA’s Ambient Air Standard Cleaning air for “ventilation” “Greening”

CHANGES IN EPA PARTICULATE STANDARDS n n n Moving from PM 10 to PM 2. 5 Will Require More Efficient Filtration to Reduce Indoor Concentrations How Low will They Go? n n n Concentration Particle size Targeted areas for control?

HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS OF PM WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION n PM is a Complex Mixture of Solid and Liquid Constituents n n n Inorganic salts like nitrates, sulfates, and ammonium Large number of carbonaceous species PM Implicitly Covers a Number of Different Chemical Pollutants Emitted by Various Types of Sources

HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS OF PM WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION n Several Studies Suggest that Combustion Sources are Particularly Important n n Transition metals Organic compounds Relatively high surface area Laboratory studies have shown that other single components like ammonium salts, chlorides, sulfates, nitrates and silicate clays have lower toxicity

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE HEALTH EFFECTS n n Composition of the material (particle specific) Concentration Particle size Duration of exposure

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS n “Lodging” in the lung capillaries and alveoli n Slowing exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide to cause shortness of breath n n n Straining the heart because of oxygen loss Natural Inflammatory Response and Release of Cytokines Absorption into the Blood Chemical Toxicity Allergic Response

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS n n Bacterial or Fungal Infections Fibrosis (asbestos, quartz) Cancer (asbestos, chromates) Irritation of Mucous Membranes (acids and alkalis)

HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION n Effects Related to Short-term Exposure n n n Lung inflammatory reactions Respiratory symptoms Adverse effects on the cardiovascular system Increase in medication usage Increase in hospital admissions Increase in mortality

HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION n Effects Related to Long-Term Exposure n n n Increase in lower respiratory symptoms Reduction in lung function in children Increase in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Reduction in lung function in adults Reduction in life expectancy n cardiopulmonary mortality and possibly lung cancer

HUMAN HEALTH PROBLEMS US EPA n n Premature Death Respiratory Related Hospitalization and Emergency Room Visits Aggravated Asthma Acute Respiratory Symptoms n n Aggravated coughing Difficult or painful breathing

HUMAN HEALTH PROBLEMS US EPA n Decreased Lung Function n n Shortness of breath Work and School Absences

RISK GROUPS n The Elderly n n n 10, 00 premature deaths Thousands of hospital admissions People with Pre-existing Heart or Lung Disease n Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) n n Emphysema and chronic bronchitis Increased admissions, ER visits, and death

RISK GROUPS n Children n Breathe 50% more air per pound of body weight More susceptible because of developing respiratory system Increased frequency of childhood illnesses n n Affects future development of their lungs Increased respiratory symptoms and reduced lung function

RISK GROUPS n Asthmatics and Asthmatic Children n 14 Americans die every day from asthma Children are 25% of the population but account for 40% of asthma cases Breathing fine particulate alone or in combination with other pollutants can aggravate asthma

ACUTE VERSUS CHRONIC EFFECTS n n n WHO – The public health significance of long-term effects of exposure to PM clearly outweighs that of short-term effects Nonetheless, the effects of short-term exposure to PM are also significant Both short-term and long-term guidelines for control are indicated

IMPACT OF SHORT-TERM EXPOSURES TO PM 2. 5 n n n Dominici, et. al, JAMA, March 8, 2006, Vol 295, No. 10 Found an Association Between Recently Measured PM 2. 5 Concentrations and Daily Hospitalization Strong Evidence of Heterogeneity in the Effects n Related to differences in the composition of the particles

HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS Nanoparticles Gurumurthy Ramachandran at University of Minnesota n Special Physical/Chemical Properties n More reactive then larges particles of same material n n Higher surface area per unit mass Chemical properties n n n Transition metals on surface Morphology May cause greater degree of translocation within the body n n Faster Olfactory nerve migration directly to brain

CONCLUSIONS n n Both Long-Term (Chronic) and Short. Term (Acute) Exposures to Particulate Matter Produce Significant Adverse Health Effect Limiting or Controlling Exposure will Result in Reduced Morbidity and Mortality

CONSIDERIZATIONS REGARDING CONTROL STRATEGIES n WHO – Both epidemiological and toxicological evidence show consistent associations between daily variations in air pollution and certain health outcomes n n n Are these associations “causal”? If so, which agents play a crucial role in the effects? It is reasonable to assume that reduction in particulate matter pollution will lead to health benefits

CONSIDERIZATIONS REGARDING CONTROL STRATEGIES n WHO – In targeting control measures, it would be important to know if PM from certain sources or of a certain composition gave rise to special concern from the point of view of health, for example owing from toxicity. n More research needed

CONSIDERIZATIONS REGARDING CONTROL STRATEGIES n Use Proven Strategies n Source control n n Pressurization/containment n n Isolation or protective environment Increased air exchanges for dilution n n Local exhaust of filtration/cleaning Must be high quality air Air filtration and cleaning

CONSIDERIZATIONS REGARDING CONTROL STRATEGIES n ASHRAE 62. 1 – In areas where PM 2. 5 exceeds national standard, particle filters or air cleaning devices shall be provided to clean the outdoor air n MERV of 11 or higher

ENERGY CONSERVATION AND IAQ n Viewed as Source of Current Problems n n Reduce Ventilation to Conserve Energy? n n n Tight Building Syndrome Less heating and cooling Leads to IAQ complaints Increase Ventilation to Improve IAQ n n Wasted energy? More efficient filtration/cleaning

“GREENING” n Ronald Mc. Donald House n One LEED point for 30% outdoor air n More filtration (maintenance costs)? n n Air Cleaning for ozone? n n Using more energy (pressure drop)? n Coincident pollution Reaction products Aldehydes from Alkenes

Ventilation Rates and Human Health: Report of an Interdisciplinary Review of the Scientific Literature n Some Support for Having Higher Ventilation Rates n n Health benefits of higher rates may be more likely in places where outdoor air quality is very good Any recommendations to increase ventilation must address the issue of poor ambient air quality and not just assume that more outdoor air will always improve the indoor environment

IMPACT OF DOOR OPENING ON INDOOR PARTICLE COUNTS

CONCLUSIONS n n Particulates Do Impact Human Health We Should Improve IAQ Where We Can n Targeted to special populations? n n New Emphasis on Smaller Particles n n We do this in healthcare Research still needed in this area Both Internal and External Sources Must be Controlled

CONCLUSIONS n Filtration and Air Cleaning will Play an Increasingly Important Role n n Improved technology and efficiencies “Fit” existing HVAC systems to enhance the built environment

QUESTIONS?