Air Pollution in Houston Tx - Research Paper Example

Air Pollution in Houston Tx. Houston has been making headlines in the media over the past years not for any good reason but the dreaded air pollution problem. Environmental experts have termed the state of Air pollution in this city “unacceptable”, a view that is supported by the general public living in the region. Houston’s air quality problem has had a long history. Much of the problem is related to the city’s closeness to ship channels industries that constitute the largest petrochemical complex in US. Such is the case that Over 60% of US petrochemical industries are located in this region. The most prevalent air pollutant in Houston city is the ground-level ozone or smog. Today, this city is placed above Los angel that once was the country’s smoggiest city (Cook, and Candice, pg 26). According to reports released in 2013, Houston city topped the list as the most affected by the Ozone problem. This city has sustained the standings as the highest single measurement of ozone pollution in US, typically exceeding the 1-hr ozone standard most of the days. In the same year, a study by a professor at Texas A & M revealed that the concentration of Houston’s Ozone in the summer usually rose two or three times above the government acceptable standards. The American Lung association added its voice on this issue by claiming that city’s pollution is at its peak such that running in such a place equals smoking a pack of cigarettes in one day. Having said the above lets now take a look at the various sources of air pollution in Houston city. At this point it is important to mention that about half of the area deemed as major sources of pollution in the entire Houston region are located on the eastern side of the Harris County. Close to twenty or more major industrial sources are found in east Houston. These chemical industrial facilities include the two largest oil refineries in the country. Together, the whole region play host to over 400 industrial facilities that release toxic pollutant into the air. However, as mention earlier the major contributor to Houston pollution is the ship channel. Here, the ship channel that feeds the port, together with the port itself produces a wide range of pollutants that add up to those generated by nearby industrial sources. Another source of air pollution is the emissions from automotives like buses, trucks, and cars. This area serves as an intersection of four major highways including: State Highway 225 and Interstate Highways 10, 45 and 610. Cumulatively, these highways produce substantial pollution following the high traffic density. Other small contributors include dry cleaners, gas stations, restaurants, lawn maintenance equipment dependent on gasoline, charcoal barbecues and printing process. The pollutants identified in Houston city include particulate matter (PM) that has been found to cause serious effects on Houstonians health. Course particle, whose diameter is larger than 2.5 microns, are blown into the air after being produced following the grinding operations. On the other hand, fine particles with diameter that is less than 2.5 microns are produced by fuel combustion in power generators, automobiles, and industrial facilities, wood stoves and fireplaces at people’s homes (Kettunen, pg 123). Fine particles saturate the air having been formed from gases such as nitrogen oxide, Sulphur dioxide and volatile organic compound. People exposed to these matters risk getting a number of complications that include, sore throat, persistent cough burning eyes, shortness of breath, tightness of the chest and wheezing. Moreover, particulate matters can cause asthma which can in turn lead to premature death. This is common in elderly persons who may be having preexisting respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Another serious emission is mercury, a potent neurotoxin, known to cause delays in development, learning disability and problems in motor coordination. In addition, Mercury has been found to hamper the functionality of multiple organs including the brain, heart, immune system and nervous system. Texas in the leading region in the country with regard to emissions of mercury; the largest percentage is said to be generated following the use of coal-fired power plants. Air-borne mercury often settles in rivers and lakes and accumulates in sea food and marine life, only to be ingested later by human beings. A research conducted by The US Public Interest Research Group to examine fish for toxic mercury using representative sample of about 260 U.S. Reservoirs and lakes, found 100% contamination in the sample fish. This study was based on data accumulated by EPA between 1999 and 2001. Houston air pollution has been found to be the leading cause of interferences with the vegetation and agriculture in the neighboring areas. Additionally, this pollution affects people’s health and lifestyle by increasing the medical costs and depreciating the quality of life in the long run. Houston city pollutants can be grouped into two classes, namely: “Definite Risks” and “Probable Risks.” Among the definite risks are the Ozone and fine particles. These pollutants were found to be the main cause of cardiopulmonary and respiratory conditions and in some worst cases caused premature death. Concentration of carcinogens such as diesel particulate matter, chromiumVI, 1, 3-butadiene, benzene, formaldehyde, ethylene dibromide, and acrylonitrile was found increase the risk of cancer. Additionally five other substances including – 1, 3-butadiene, formaldehyde, acrolein, chlorine, and hexamethylene diisocyanate, caused either reproductive effects, respiratory effects or pulmonary effects (Sexton, pg 33). The second group of pollutants “Probable Risks,” despite the weak evidence about the presence, is thought as health risks said to be at unacceptable concentrations as measured in Houston air. They include eight carcinogens; vinyl chloride, ethylene dichloride, acetaldehyde, naphthalene, carbon tetrachloride, arsenic compounds, 1, 1, 2, 2-tetrachloroethane, ethylene oxide, and one pollutant – acetaldehyde. Together these pollutants have been found to pose chronic non-cancer risks (Sexton, pg 45). The complexity of this matter lies in the fact that these plants (the major producer of pollutants) form the essential pillars of the city’s economy, with high number of employment opportunities provided by the chemical plants (The Allegheny Front 4). Despite this complexity, authorities in recent past have developed policies that help reduce air pollution. The policies are focused on zeroing in on emissions of chemical substances in the air. Houston has spearheaded the campaign to ensure air pollution is controlled and kept to a minimum even with the expansion of industrial chemical emitting plants. According to one recent report, Houston successfully installed air monitors of which 87.5% showed statistical effectiveness in improving trend in at least one ozone metric in a five year period running from 2004 to 2009. It is on this ground that States such as Pennsylvania have been keenly following the progress and seek to emulate the example set forth by Texas. Work Cited "Houston Air Pollution: Preview for Pennsylvania?" (2013, October 25). Retrieved from March 26, 2015. Cook, Earl, and Candice DePauw. Public Interest In Air Pollution In Houston. [College Station, Tex.]: Texas A & M University, Environmental Quality Program, 1973. Print. Kettunen, J et al. 'Associations Of Fine And Ultrafine Particulate Air Pollution With Specified Cardiovascular Causes Of Death'. Epidemiology 17.Suppl (2006): S258. Web. Sexton, Ken et al. 'Comparative Assessment Of Air Pollution-Related Health Risks In Houston'. Environ. Health Perspect. (2007): n. pag. Web. Read More