Relevant for all of Utah’s Air Quality situation
References for this analysis were taken from research done and released through the Utah Physicians for Healthy Environment. This document was compiled for an air quality public hearing in Richfield, UT and includes the expected adverse health effects from predicted emissions from a proposed 580 MW, combined-cycle, natural gas-fired power plant located near Sigurd, Utah.
Using the below cited published, peer reviewed scientific/academic study findings, and the UDAQ model predictions of emissions (available here on page 3), I compared the health effect per X pollution factor with the UDAQ predicted emissions and came up with these statistics.
A legal challenge to the UDAQ notice of intent to approve the relevant permit is this plant’s emissions are not consistent with the “adequate margin of safety … requisite to protect the public health” (as required by the Clean Air Act,42 U.S.C. §7401 et seq. (1970) due to the projected adverse health effects outlined in the below summary.
Expected health effects which could be directly attributable to the proposed 580 MW, combined-cycle, natural gas-fired power plant located near Sigurd, Utah:
Deep Vein Thrombosis. Increase risk: 560%
14. Baccarelli A, Martinelli A, Zanobetti A, et al. Exposure to particulate air pollution and risk of deep vein thrombosis. Arch Intern Med. 2008; 168:920-927
Increase of 10 ug/m3 PM 10 increases risk of DVT 70%. The current standard of 150 ug/m3 PM 10 leaves a person at an increased risk of 1050%
UDAQ model predicts 79ug/m3 PM 10 per 24 hour,
All causes mortality rate: 10.6 % annually
73. Lepeule J, Laden F, Dockery D, Schwartz J. Chronic Exposure to Fine Particles and Mortality: An Extended Follow-Up of the Harvard Six Cities Study from 1974 to 2009. Environ Health Perspect. 2012 Mar 28. [Epub ahead of print]
All cause mortality rate increase of 1.4% for every 1 ug/m3 PM 2.5.
UDAQ model predicts PM2.5 Annual 14.8 ug/m3, PM2.5 24-hour 23 ug/m3
Lung Cancer increase of 30%
19. Raaschou-Nielsen O, Andersen Z, Hvidberg M, Jensen SS, Ketzel M, Sørensen M, et al. 2011. Lung Cancer Incidence and Long-Term Exposure to Air Pollution from Traffic. Environ Health Perspect :-. doi:10.1289/ehp.1002353
Lung cancer rates increase 30% for NOx greater than 29 ug/m3. Wasatch Front averages 38-57 ug/m3.
UDAQ model predicts NOx emissions at 31 ug/m3 annually and 168.3 tons per year.
Lung Cancer Mortality increase of 48%
35. Turner MC, Krewski D, Pope Iii CA, Chen Y, Gapstur SM, Thun MJ. Long-Term Ambient Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Lung Cancer in a Large Cohort of Never Smokers. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011 Oct 6. [Epub ahead of print]
Each 10 ?g/m(3) increase in PM(2.5) concentrations was associated with a 15-27% increase in lung cancer mortality.
UDAQ model predicts PM 2.5 at 23 ug/m3
Breast cancer increase of 140%
4. Krämer U, Herder C, Sugiri D, Strassburger K, Schikowski T, Ranft U, et al. 2010. Traffic-related Air Pollution and Incident Type 2 Diabetes: Results from the SALIA Cohort Study. Environ Health Perspect :-. doi:10.1289/ehp.0901689
7. Crouse DL, Goldberg MS, Ross NA, Chen H, Labrèche F 2010. Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Is Associated with Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution in Montreal, Canada: A Case–Control Study. Environ Health Perspect 118:1578-1583. doi:10.1289/ehp.1002221
25% increase in the incidence of breast cancer per 5 ppb NOx. Wasatch Front averages 20-30 ppb.
UDAQ model predicts NOx emissions at 31 ug/m3 annually and 168.3 tons per year.
Childhood Leukemia increases 20%
22. Amigou A, Sermage-Faure C, Orsi L, Leverger G, Baruchel A, Bertrand Y, et al. 2011. Road Traffic and Childhood Leukemia: The ESCALE Study (SFCE). Environ Health Perspect 119:566-572. doi:10.1289/ehp.1002429
Rates of childhood leukemia increase 20% for chronic exposure to NOx > 27.7 ug/m3.
UDAQ model predicts NOx emissions at 31 ug/m3 annually and 168.3 tons per year.
Sudden Infant Death increase of 80%
20. Scheers H, Mwalili SM, Faes C, Fierens F, Nemery B, Nawrot TS 2011. Does Air Pollution Trigger Infant Mortality in Western Europe? A Case-Crossover Study. Environ Health Perspect :-. doi:10.1289/ehp.1002913
Even in an affluent region in Western Europe, where infant mortality is low, days with higher PM air pollution are associated with an increased risk of infant mortality–for late neonates (2–4 weeks of age, the risk of death increased by 11% per 10-?g/m3 increase in PM10.
UDAQ model predicts PM10 24-hour at 79 ug/m3
126% increase in diabetes/ 98% increase in hypertension
38. Coogan PF, White LF, Jerrett M, Brook RD, Su JG, Seto E, Burnett R, Palmer JR, Rosenberg L.
Air Pollution and Incidence of Hypertension and Diabetes in African American Women Living in Los Angeles. Circulation. 2012 Jan 4. [Epub ahead of print]
48% increase in hypertension for a 10ug/m3 increase in PM2.5. 63% increase in diabetes for a 10ug/m3.
UDAQ model predicts pm 2.5 at 23 ug/m3 24-hour and 14.5 ug/m3 annually
Increase risk of mental retardation in babies.
Increase risk of intrauterine growth retardation:
4. Hansen C, Barnett A, Prichard G. The Effect of Ambient Air Pollution during Early Pregancy on Fetal Ultrasound Measurements during Mid-Pregnancy. Environ Health Persp Vol. 116, Number 3, March 2008.
Studying 15,000 pregnant women researchers were able to demonstrate intrauterine growth retardation from as little as 8 ug/m3 of PM10. Your prediction model anticipates 79 ug/m3 of PM10 every 24 hours. Nearly 10 times the level this study concluded was needed to have significant negative effects on unborn children’s health
2. van den Hooven EH, de Kluizenaar Y, Pierik FH, Hofman A, van Ratingen SW, Zandveld PY, Mackenbach JP, Steegers EA, Miedema HM, Jaddoe VW. Air Pollution, Blood Pressure, and the Risk of Hypertensive Complications During Pregnancy: The Generation R Study. Hypertension. 2011 Jan 10. [Epub ahead of print]
measurable decrease in head circumference per 1ug/m3 of PM10 and NOx in the third trimester
UDAQ model predicts NOx emissions at 31 ug/m3 annually and 168.3 tons per year.
21. Estarlich M, Ballester F, Aguilera I, Fernández-Somoano A, Lertxundi A, Llop S, et al. 2011. Residential Exposure to Outdoor Air Pollution during Pregnancy and Anthropometric Measures at Birth in a Multicenter Cohort in Spain. Environ Health Perspect 119:1333-1338. http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1002918
A reduction of 22 g in birth weight was associated with each 10-µg/m3 increase in NO2 exposure in the second trimester
UDAQ model predicts NOx emissions at 31 ug/m3 annually and 168.3 tons per year.
25. van den Hooven EH, Pierik FH, de Kluizenaar Y, Willemsen SP, Hofman A, van Ratingen SW, et al. 2011. Air Pollution Exposure During Pregnancy, Ultrasound Measures of Fetal Growth, and Adverse Birth Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study. Environ Health Perspect :-. http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1003316
Decrease in femur length ( –0.18 mm, and –0.12 mm, per 1-?g/m3 increase in PM10 and NO2, respectively)
UDAQ model predicts NOx emissions at 31 ug/m3 annually and 168.3 tons per year. PM 10 24-hour 79ug/m3
28. Le HQ, Batterman SA, Wirth JJ, Wahl RL, Hoggatt KJ, Sadeghnejad A, Hultin ML, Depa M. Air pollutant exposure and preterm and term small-for-gestational-age births in Detroit, Michigan: Long-term trends and associations. Environ Int. 2012 Feb 6. [Epub ahead of print]
In 165,000 births, small for gestational age associated with–NO2 > than 6.8 ppb, PM10>35ug/m3
UDAQ model predicts NOx emissions at 31 ug/m3 annually and 168.3 tons per year. PM 10 24-hour 79ug/m3
Autism have been shown to double:
8. Volk H, Hertz-Picciotto I, Delwiche L , Lurmann F, McConnell R. Residential Proximity to Freeways and Autism in the CHARGE study. Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Dec 13. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 21156395.
Autsim rates double for people living close to a freeway (within 309 meters). Autism now present in one in every 32 Utah boys, the highest in the nation.
Children and IQ effect
6. Suglia SF, et al. Association of Black Carbon with Cognition among Children in a Prospective Birth Cohort Study Am J Epidemiology 2008 167:280-286.
The difference in IQ between the lowest exposed and the highest exposed group was 9 IQ points. Of the four PM2.5 monitoring stations in Boston, the highest three year average was 10.4.
Cognative decline in older women about 8 years early
39. Weuve J, Puett R, Schwartz J, Yanosky J, Laden F, Grodstein F. Exposure to Particulate Air Pollution and Cognitive Decline in Older Women Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(3):219-227. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2011.683
Cognitive decline in older women of two years for every 10ug/m3 of either PM 2.5 or PM2.5-10
UDAQ model predicts PM 10 24-hour 79ug/m3, PM 2.5 23 ug/m3 24-hour, 14.8 ug/m3 annually.
Based on the above statistics, validated by relevant published scientific, peer reviewed studies, the pollution permit being considered should be denied on the basis the expected emissions are not within the “adequate margin of safety … requisite to protect the public health.” as required by the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §7401 et seq. (1970).
The Utah Department of Air Quality failed to respond to this properly submitted oral and written presentation.
click here for SCCAW’s history and appeal to UDAQ