Air Pollution History: 1966 New York City Smog

Neal Boenzi / New York Times

During the Thanksgiving weekend of 1966, the city of New York experienced a devastating event that would bring air pollution to the forefront of the nation’s attention. A heat inversion in the area caused a large pocket of smog-filled air to be trap in the greater metropolitan area of New York or nearly 4 days. New York and New Jersey residents were assaulted by high levels of sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other particulates. Industries had to shut downer limit emissions and trash incinerators were also halted. People with respiratory or cardiovascular issues were encouraged to stay inside.

Surveys conducted later over concern for public health revealed that almost 10% of the people in the ehad suffered adverse health effects, such as stinging eyes, coughing, and respiratory distress. 168 people died from the smog. Despite the tragic nature of this event, it rallied America against air pollution. Before this infamous incident, only half of the cities in the US had some kind of air pollution regulation. Congress soon passed the Air Quality Act and Clean Air Act, spurring change nationwide, installing federal regulations. The 1966 New York Smog would become one of the most monumental events in history of environmental protection.

Air Pollution History: Philadelphia (Part 2, 1970’s to present)

Image from UncoveringPA.com

After the conflict with the higher Pennsylvania board, Philadelphia hit a new stride in its campaign towards cleaner air.

Efforts in effective air regulation had seen sulfur dioxide levels in Philadelphia fall by nearly 50%,and particulate levels by 25% from 1956 to 1963. From 1969 to 1971, 931 incinerators shut down in accordance to regulations. Peco was forced to reduce sulfur emissions by 61% and particulate emissions by 86%.

In 1970, Philadelphia’s Air Management Services created a city-wide network of air-monitoring stations, which measured sulfur dioxide and carbon emissions. Surveys were made of companies across the cities for compliance with ordinances. The monitoring system combined with surveys exposed violations, helping air pollution inspectors catch violators. Around this time, Philadelphia’s asbestos regulations were also propose, leading the way for the founding of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and their federal asbestos standards. Implementation and refinement of those standards continued to the early 90’s. In the following decades, more and more items were added to the regulations, including heating oil, vehicular coating, ozone, diesel, other fine particulates, and even dry cleaning. Noise regulations also were added to the Air Pollution Control Program and adopted by the Philadelphia Board of Health.

As legislation reveals, Philadelphia has been a leader in fighting air pollution for over a hundred years. People and organization have long tried to protect the precious air that we breath, and that should not change anytime soon. Despite the Trump Administration’s rollback on federal environmental programs, the city should continue to embrace regulations that seek to tackle this public health issue.

Air Pollution History: Philadelphia (Part 1, Post-WW2 to 1970’s)

Dick Swanson, U.S. National Archive

From prominent former British Colony and the host of the Continental Congress, to the capital of the US and the birthplace of the Constitution, Philadelphia is one of the most historically important cities in the United States. What many may not know is that, Philadelphia, has had a long history of air quality laws. Philly has been really quite a pioneer in terms of air pollution regulation since the early 20th century. For example, in 1904, Philadelphia passed an ordinance to regulate smoke from chimneys, stacks, various kinds of exhaust ducts, and open spaces. Enforced by the Bureau of Boiler Inspectors,a color scale for the measurement of the degree of darkness of such smoke was created. The production of smoke of a certain degree of darkness was banned, and a penalty was established for violations.

Things started to pick up towards the middle of the last century, of course, during the great war/post-war industrialization boom. Philadelphia like many other centers of manufacturing, became plagued with smog and other air particulates. In the late 40’s and early 50’s, the City Council established The Division Of Air Pollution Control and the Air Pollution Control Board in Department Of Public Health. They also created an ordinance prohibiting open burning and limited smoke emissions. Routine inspections began for permits and licenses, as well as hazardous gas and vapor emissions. A new laboratory was dedicated for operation of its air monitoring and sampling activities. Unfortunately, the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Commission ended Philadelphia’s air pollution control program for a time. With much publicity, City Council fought against the state and passed the Air Management Code. The code defined that air pollution emissions in excess of standards promulgated by the Air Pollution Control Board were a public health issue and authorized the Board to establish air quality objectives and enforce them. A nonprofit organization, the Clean Air Council was founded. They helped organized the Tri-state region’s first Cleaner Air Week in 1965.

Following Philadelphia’s example, the federal government created the Environmental Health Services in the 60’s. Congress also passed the Air Pollution Control Act, and eventually the Clean Air Act. The 70’s would become a culmination of the last two decades of political activism for the cause of air quality.

Mental Health vs. Toxic Air

The article features a study published in the journal of Psychiatry Research concerning the correlation between high levels of air pollution and depression. Apparently, the study hypothesizes that exposure to high amounts of air pollution at age 12 or lower increases the likelihood the child will have depression by age 18. The likely explanation for this is the fact that since the brain develops rapidly and changes a lot during a person’s childhood and adolescence, toxic air pollution can interfere with the development. One effect toxic air pollutants have on the human brain is inflammation. Particulate matter, a prevalent form of air pollution, is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, which can lead to inflammation. Studying the psychiatric harm that air pollution may have on children and adults will illuminate the steps to protect or help people who might suffer from air pollution.

The study is not yet conclusive about the details of how air pollution definitively affects the brain. However, the researchers hope further research will delve in depth the true danger of prolonged exposure to air pollution for children and teenagers. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the crisis the UK is having with air pollution and the lack of protection the youth in UK have against air pollution, ezpecially in the urban areas.

The physical effects of air pollution has been studied more heavily than the psychiatric effects of air pollution. That’s why further research should be done to further demonstrate the dire situations many cities are facing with air pollution. Cognitive impairment is surely another nail in the coffin humanity wants to avoid. So, air pollution should definitely be a top priority for legislators around the globe.

The United States Can Learn from China

China has declared a ‘war’ on pollution in 2013 and as of now particulate matter (PM 2.5) levels have decreased dramatically in many of China’s megacities. Cities in eastern China have cut particulate matter down by 40%. Despite the decrease in particulate matter, other pollutants have not seen the same amount of decrease. One of those pollutants is ozone gas. China is now facing the danger of reaching harmful levels of ozone. The reason for the ozone hazard, from what the article states, is surprisingly the decrease in particulate matter. Previously, the high concentrations in particulate matter in China served as a sponge to absorb ozone gas components. But now, particulate matter levels have decreased therefore the components have nothing to absorb them, allowing ozone to be generated and wreak havoc on Chinese residents.

The authors of the study that has predicted this increase in ozone gas production in the near future partly made this study to reinforce the need to cut all forms of pollution in order to minimize the detrimental health risks to people across the world. In addition, the United States can use China as an example of how detrimental all forms of pollution can be for people and the environment and how being proactive in preserving the environment can pay off. Leaving the problem of pollution until the situation becomes dire is not a good idea. But China demonstrated that a concerted effort to seriously reduce pollutants can happen effectively and quickly, even within a decade.

Plans for Greener Cities for All

This op-ed piece in the New York Times discusses the needed changes in urban planning to reduce air pollution and promote the health of residents. Apparently, major cities across the world are returning roads to pedestrians and bike riders, instead of continuing centuries of prioritizing automobiles. Since the popularization of cars, urban planners have treated pedestrians as impediments to reducing vehicle traffic. However, new thinking and designing strategies are reenvisioning cities with walking and biking as the center of urban life. Cities in Europe have long made drastic city planning changes to allow for wider sidewalks and bike lanes, as well as, transforming the city with less car roads. Oslo in Norway plans to eliminate all cars within city limits by 2020. Madrid in Spain already has plans in place to ban nonresident cars and zoning plans to restrict car transportation in certain block areas.

In America, Denver, Colorado has invested in $1.2 billion in providing more sidewalks for pedestrians and bike lanes for cyclists. However, although many cities suffer from dangerous amounts of air pollution that risks the health of city residents, the urban planning of many cities does not reflect the necessary changes to promote a healthy city by encouraging walking and alternative transportation methods, like biking and skateboarding. About 53,000 early deaths in America are linked to air pollution and it seems a higher percentage of children with disabilities live in places with high amounts of air pollution.

Initiatives, like “Walk Your City” and the “Better Block Foundation,” are advocates for getting streets to have less cars and more people walking and biking. The government needs to create an environment that is conducive for pedestrians, such as adding more trees and wider sidewalks. A future with less cars can be increase the quality of life in many residential areas in cities.

State Action in Face of the Trump Administration

In this New York Time article, a recount of the numerous state-level policy actions illustrates the efforts of states to reduce emissions, despite federal inaction. The United States Climate Alliance, a group of 19 states and Puerto Rico, affirms their support for the Paris climate agreement by taking steps in policy changes. Many states are tackling the issues of global warming and climate change themselves, serving as innovators in clean energy and climate policies. States, such as California and Hawaii, have ambitious plans to obtain electricity totally from carbon-free sources. Other states, such as New Jersey, New York, and Colorado, have also pledges to implement similar plans. Enthusiasm for progressive climate policies shines a light for a cleaner future, however the challenges await in this uncharted territory. In addition to clean energy, states must also consider the next biggest source of air pollution: transportation. Nine states have already decided to price transportation fuel emissions, directing the money into investments in low-carbon fuel alternatives. Many transportation systems and networks may need major overhauls to achieve drastic changes in reducing transportation emissions. Another substantial legislative proposal is carbon taxation. The idea is promising, in terms of reducing emissions; however, it is politically challenged.

News of state action plans and interstate efforts demonstrates a united front for the federal government to step up to the plate in climate policies. Though concerted state efforts will garner a considerable impact in achieving partially the goals set forth by the Paris climate agreement. However, federal action must happen to commit fully to reducing emissions throughout the United States in an effective and uniform manner. States can continue to make intermittent steps in climate policies, but federal action can expedite things drastically. We can only hope the current administration can the leader in implementing crucial environmental policies.

States Are Taking Actions Against Climate Change

While the “Green New Deal”, proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is far from being a reality, states with the newly inducted governors are aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions and promote energy efficiency with their ambitious plans, according to New York Times’s article, “A ‘Green New Deal is Far from Reality, but Climate Action is Picking up in the States”.

Democratic governors who are newly elected in Michigan, Illinois, and New Mexico have joined the United States Climate Alliance. The alliance consists of 19 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and they vow to uphold the Paris climate agreement and cover 1/3 of the U.S’s greenhouse gas emission.

Their work seems small, yet is admirable. States can be testing grounds of climate policies to see which ones work and which ones don’t. By supporting renewable energy and environmental protection, they are paving way for the federal government to enact federal laws to address the issue of climate change.

One of the policies that the governors support is to require people to use more renewable electricity. In Maine, newly elected Democrat Gov. Janet Mills, vows to provide incentives for rooftop solar energy usage and to boost wind power in Maine. Similarly, in New Mexico, Democrat Gov. Michelle Grisham backs a bill that requires electric utilities to use renewable sources as 50 % of their power by 2030. States like California and Hawaii have already set a deadline for utilities to meet the target of getting 100% of the electricity from renewable energy sources. Governors of Colorado, New Jersey, New York, and Illinois are pursuing similar goals.

Besides renewable energy usage, states aim to reduce pollution from cars. Nine Eastern states and the District of Columbia announced a plan to put a price on emissions from fuels and invest in lower-carbon solutions in transportation.

I think it is very admirable and hopeful for so many states to decide to take actions against climate change. Despite numerous incidents where President Trump neglects pollution and climate change, the states provide hope for the next generations. I am hoping to see more states coming out and deciding to take actions on a statewide level, and a massive federal action that could potentially change the way we consume energy in the future after Trump’s term.

An Effort to Pedestrianize Cities

In numerous major cities globally, sidewalks become a bigger investment as people start to realize the important benefits of walking to our physical health and to our environment, according to this article on the New York Times.

In Denver, people are proposing to invest $1.2 billion in sidewalks; in Madrid, people are banning cars owned by nonresidents and are designating 24 major avenues for pedestrians; in Paris, people have banned vehicles and have planned to rebuild the road for pedestrians and bicycles.

I think that the United States should catch up with these cities in Europe with returning roads for pedestrians. Cars and other vehicles are known major contributors of air pollution. And people who live close to busy roads, especially elderly and infants, are most susceptible to cardiovascular and other problems due to the pollution from these vehicles. On the other hand, walking and biking have many physical and mental benefits. Not only does it help the body exercises, it also helps with relaxing the residents’ minds.

The United States Needs to Take Actions

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. are going to be held steady in 2019-20 after a spike last year, according to this article published by the U.S. News. It signals a really unsettling fact- our efforts to address the issue of climate change are at risk of stalling.

Last year, greenhouse gas emissions rose by the greatest amount since 2010 as there was an increase in the demand for electricity, robust economic growth, and generally a less caring administration. The statistics upset many environmentalists and politicians who devote their time to reduce our greenhouse gas emission. A report warns that we only have about a decade to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.

I think that it is alarming to know that our nation is doing so little to slow climate change and protect our environment. Our progress is too slow and insignificant unless every one of us contributes to protecting the Earth. We can all start from small things like recycling and walking more, to bigger things like planting trees and rescuing animals. We all can make a difference if we combine our efforts together.