What is the cause of air pollution

Colorado health officials on Monday proposed a ratcheting of controls on the oil and gas industry to reduce air pollution — aiming to comply with federal ozone limits, obey lawmakers who ordered a cleanup and sync the state with efforts to contain climate change. The measures that officials with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment unveiled would broaden and strengthen existing regulations. They include: Requiring oil and gas companies to inspect their facilities statewide twice a year to detect leaks and fix them Eliminating a 90-day exemption that lets oil and gas companies drill and frack before they obtain required permits that limit air pollution Measuring and regulating air pollution along the industry’s expanding array of pipelines using infrared, aerial and other devices Requiring companies to produce comprehensive annual reports detailing levels of pollutants they emit, including nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds, methane and … [Read more...] about Colorado proposes new controls on oil and gas industry in effort to combat air pollution

Hours before a community meeting to mull the best use of money from Suncor Energy’s $9 million legal settlement for air pollution problems at its oil refinery north of Denver, a boiler inside the refinery failed Thursday, leading to flaring and elevated emissions that prompted an emergency response. Suncor managers notified Colorado health officials and local leaders that the company was conducting air monitoring to measure pollutants in nearby communities after the event “resulted in flaring and emissions exceedances.” “As we stabilize and bring the units back online, there may be additional flaring and emissions,” a Suncor bulletin said. The refinery along Sand Creek in Commerce City has been plagued with pollution problems, and the evening meeting was designed to hear residents’ views on possible environmental improvement projects using a $2.6 million share of the money Suncor paid the state following prior violations of pollution limits. Suncor’ runs the refinery on an … [Read more...] about Suncor boiler fails, causing spike in air pollution at Commerce City oil refinery

It is not the first time that life on Earth has threatened its own existence. More than 2 billion years ago, photosynthesis by ocean cyanobacteria emitted massive amounts of molecular oxygen into the atmosphere. Known as the Great Oxygenation Event , it caused major cooling and glaciation of the Earth’s surface. It also drove evolution of species towards greater diversity and complexity that created the homo sapiens. Humans began polluting their environment on a massive scale during the Industrial Revolution . By the end of the 19th century the use of coal and heavy machinery made many workplaces hazardous. Areas around factories became unlivable. Besides affecting people’s health, the air filled with particles and chemicals created problems for industries. Printing, food and textile production suffered most. This, however, did not stop technological progress. It resulted in the invention of the air conditioner . Can we air condition Earth instead of reducing our energy … [Read more...] about Climate change: Can humans be the Earth’s air conditioner?

As Native peoples and stewards of Mother Earth, we celebrate the recent confirmation of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland Deb Haaland Bald eagle population has quadrupled in last decade White House withdraws deputy Interior secretary amid reported pushback from Murkowski OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Obama marine monument designation | Interior reverses course on tribal ownership of portion of Missouri river | White House climate adviser meets with oil and gas companies MORE as the first Native person to lead a cabinet agency. For the first time in U.S. history, a Native leader will oversee the Interior Department’s responsibility for the well-being of the nation’s 1.9 million Native people, along with about 500 million acres of public land, federal waters and the endangered species who share our home. This historic moment comes at an especially difficult time, however, as our communities continue experiencing some of the worst … [Read more...] about Native Americans urge Deb Haaland to help tackle pollution in communities of color

Secretary Buttigieg’s recent testimony in front of Congress describes a different future for America’s transportation , one that improves the air we breathe. This testimony comes weeks after pledges by the giants of the auto industry to vastly increase their production of electric vehicles (EV) over the next five years. Carrying out these pledges sets the stage for a breakthrough in public health. Phasing out gasoline-powered cars will be a slow process and, honestly, much more aggressive policy is needed to reap the health benefits of electrification. It is highly likely, however, that in 30 years we will look back at gasoline-powered cars the same way we now look at cars with no seatbelts and wonder why there was such a debate about making the change to EVs. As an ear, nose and throat doctor, I see patients whose breathing is worsened by air pollution. While politics may not belong in the exam room, policy that impacts health does. I, along with thousands of other health … [Read more...] about In the ’80s it was seatbelts, now doctors are pushing for electric cars