Group Against Smog and Pollution Grassroots advocacy and education in action February 25, 2010

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc.

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. Pittsburgh has come a long way from our smoky city image…but

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. DID YOU KNOW? Pittsburgh area recently ranked worst for short term fine particulate pollution -- American Lung Association, 2008 and 2009, State of the Air Report

Our Mission To obtain for the residents of Southwestern Pennsylvania clean air, water, and land in order to create the healthy, sustainable environment and quality of life to which we are entitled.

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. Current Projects/Programs: Allegheny County Partnership to Reduce Diesel Pollution Environmental watchdog, community organizer, and litigator. Actively participate in environmental decision making by educating & organizing the public, informing government officials, giving testimony, submitting comments, etc. GASP Smoke Reader’s Program GASPer Air Monitor Program Organizing education presentations and events Actively serve on a variety of local air quality committees

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. Why is Pittsburgh’s Air Polluted? Wind generally moves from west to east; pollution from the Ohio Valley Coal fired power plants Coke-making and other industry Geography – inversions common Mobile source pollution – especially diesel vehicles

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. Local sources of air pollution Coal-fired power plants The Reliant Cheswick facility contributes significantly to many air pollutants in Allegheny County, it produces a large percentage of the Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and HCl recorded in our county. Scrubber being installed Once operating it will help to reduce SO2 by 98% and Hg by 80%

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. Health effects from fine particulates -Eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, running nose & shortness of breath -Asthma attacks (possible asthma onset) -Heart attacks -Strokes -Premature death (crib death in children) -Cancer

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. Occupational exposure has been studied in truck drivers, dock workers, bus drivers and railroad workers Cardiovascular Disease Lung Cancer Bladder Cancer Colon Cancer Premature Death Nervous system impairment Stroke Asthma, respiratory infection and allergic symptoms

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. The Problem in Pittsburgh 237 deaths, 340 heart attacks and 3,399 asthma attacks attributed to diesel annually in Pittsburgh – According to the CATF report: Diesel & Health in America: The Lingering Threat. CATF found the nationwide average lifetime cancer risk posed by diesel exhaust to be 365 times greater than EPA’s “acceptable” level of one-cancer-in-a-million and over eight times higher than the risk of the 133 air toxics tracked by EPA combined! Air Toxics Study performed by Carnegie Mellon University concluded, “Diesel particulate dominates the cancer risk, especially downtown.”

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. Diesel PM 2.5 – Allegheny County (%) Source M.J. Bradley & Associate LLC

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. Allegheny County Partnership to Reduce Diesel Pollution A project of Group Against Smog and Pollution and Clean Water Action Goal: To reduce toxic diesel emissions from all of its sources; school buses, trucks, trains, marine, etc. Main Projects within this campaign: 1. Pittsburgh Healthy School Bus Fund 2. City of Pittsburgh Waste Hauler Retrofit Project 3. Advocating for clean construction legislation in Pgh.

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. GASP Smoke Readers Program This program administered by GASP trains up to 10 citizen opacity readers to report their inspections and alert the Allegheny County Health Department, Air Quality Program to excess smoke emissions.

Reliant Cheswick-uncontrolled

Reliant’s Cheswick Facility Advisory Committee

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. GASP’s Educational Efforts

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. GASPer Air Monitor Program An opportunity for you to learn about what you are breathing! Monitor both indoor and outdoor air quality using portable, easy to use equipment

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc th Anniversary Event

Smokestacks Pittsburgh 1906 from top of Union Station

Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. Group Against Smog & Pollution Wightman School Community Building 5604 Solway St., #204 Pittsburgh, PA Phone: Bryan Ritti, Education Coordinator