Improving Life, One Breath at a Time LUNG-USAwww.lunginfo.org

Ozone Air Pollution and Health Perspectives for Delaware Kevin M. Stewart Director of Environmental Health American Lung Association of the Mid-Atlantic Delaware Air Regulation Development Regulation 1142 Section 2 “Control of NOx Emissions from Large Boilers and Process Heaters At Petroleum Refineries” Committee Meeting June 21, 2006 DNREC AQM Conference Room 715 Grantham Lane New Castle, Delaware

WIND Ozone and the pollutants that cause it can be transported long distances….. OZONE VOC NOx

Ozone pollution Comes from many sources, including–

Ozone is linked to: shortness of breath chest pain when inhaling deeply wheezing and coughing and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. Ozone is linked to: shortness of breath chest pain when inhaling deeply wheezing and coughing and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. Public Health Risks Are Significant

Exposure to ozone increases… risk of premature mortality pulmonary inflammation the risk of asthma attacks the need for medical treatment and for hospitalization of persons with asthma aggravation of COPD And increasing evidence that it can induce (cause) asthma

Who are at risk from ozone? Children with Asthma Adults with Asthma People w/ chronic lung diseases Seniors Children 18 & under

Sources: American Lung Association analysis based on data from U. S. Bureau of the Census, NHIS, and BRFSS for 2004.

Respiratory Hospital Admissions by Daily Maximum Ozone Level Ozone concentration (ppm) Respiratory Admissions (Burnett et al, 1994)

Rough Annual Estimates of Adverse Public Health Outcomes from Ozone Exposure in Delaware Respiratory Hospital Admissions 500 Asthma ER Visits 300 Asthma Attacks 20,000 Restricted Activity Days 65,000 Increased Symptom Days270,000 - ALA of Mid-Atlantic estimate based on data from Air Pollution and Public Health in Pennsylvania, report of PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center, March 2006, and US Bureau of the Census data, US EPA ozone data.

Graph taken from The Exposure-Response Curve for Ozone and Risk of Mortality and the Adequacy of Current Ozone Regulations Michelle L. Bell, Roger D. Peng, and Francesca Dominici in Environmental Health Perspectives doi: /ehp.8816 (available at Online 23 January 2006 Average of same and previous days’ ozone (ppb) Exposure Response Curve for Ozone and Mortality (using spline approach; showing central estimate and 95% posterior interval Percent Increase in Non-Accident Mortality Risk

Improving Life, One Breath at a Time For 100 years, the American Lung Association has been the lead organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while other leading causes of death have declined. The American Lung Association funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association is “Improving life, one breath at a time.” For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call LUNG-USA ( ) or log on to The official registration and financial information of the American Lung Association of Pennsylvania may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, (800) Registration does not imply endorsement.