A Perfect Storm: Environmental Justice and Air Quality Impacts of Offshore Oil and Gas Development in the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf

The Arctic Outer Continental Shelf is the next great legal battleground over oil and gas resources, environmental protection, and environmental justice.  The Arctic is home to an array of sensitive ecological resources and a large Native Alaskan population that relies heavily on the natural environment for food and supplies.  The Arctic Ocean also holds a vast amount of untapped oil and gas resources that had previously been largely inaccessible because of harsh climatic conditions and withdrawals of large swaths of the Shelf by Congress and multiple presidents.  However, climate change is melting Arctic sea ice and opening up previously inaccessible areas.  In addition, President Trump is pushing to expand oil and gas development everywhere, including the Arctic.  If President Trump’s plans prevail against the many legal challenges seeking to protect the Arctic, Native Alaskans will face a multitude of threats to their health, safety, and way of life.Scholars, journalists, and environmental groups have already illuminated the threats of oil spills and climate change.  This Comment focuses on a less discussed impact of offshore oil and gas development: air pollution and its effects on Native Alaskans.  Onshore oil and gas development has already been polluting the air of Alaskan communities, causing increases in respiratory illnesses and other health problems, and leading to climate change, which is disrupting the natural environment upon which Native Alaskans depend for food and supplies.  A new era of offshore development would amplify these problems and create new and unique challenges that disproportionately burden Native Alaskan communities.This Comment makes two novel contributions.  First, it illuminates the erratic history and disjointed nature of air quality regulation on the Outer Continental Shelf.  Second, this Comment highlights how the federal government’s current regulatory structure for offshore air emissions uniquely fails Native Alaskans who are seeking to protect their health and way of life.  In addition, this Comment makes some recommendations for statutory and regulatory changes to better address the environmental justice impacts of air pollution from offshore oil and gas development in the Arctic

Research for AGRI Committee : preserving agricultural soils in the EU - Study

This study explains how threats to soils and soil services are linked to agricultural soil management, how threats can be mitigated, and which barriers complicate this. It highlights trade-offs and synergies that exist between different interests affected by soil management, such as climate change mitigation, water and air quality, biodiversity, food security and farm income. Conservation of peatland and extensive agro-forestry systems, and protecting soils against sealing, erosion and compaction are ranked as highest priorities. Potential policy elements are suggested

ASSESSMENT OF MOULD GROWTH TOWARDS OFFICE ENVIRONMENT QUALITY AT OFFICE BLOCK (UTP)

In the early days of abundant resources and minimal development pressures, there was only little attention given to growing environmental concerns over here in Malaysia. Awareness only increased after the haze episodes in Southeast Asia in 1983,1984, 1991, 1994 and 1997 respectively which imposed threats to the environmental management of Malaysia. Air pollution can be divided into two categories, which involves both indoor and outdoor contamination of environment. On the other hand, as for the indoor air quality, it could be defined as building that can be compromised by microbial contaminants which are caused by mold and bacteria's, chemicals such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde, allergens, or any mass or energy stressor which can induce health effects. Although a lot of researches have been done on the causes and impacts of air quality, but it was merely focused on outdoor air quality only. Therefore, concern about indoor air quality should be increased especially on the source of mold since it contributes to most of the health effects and symptoms. Moulds can be found almost everywhere whereby they can grow on virtually any organic substance, as long as moisture and oxygen are present. This study was prompted by concerns that both lecture rooms and office rooms at University Technology PETRONAS might not provide healthful environment for students or lecturers

PENYULUHAN DAMPAK PENGGUNAAN ENERGI KOTOR BATU BARA

The presence of coal mining has resulted in landscape change, reduced soil fertility, threats to biodiversity, reduced water quality, reduced air quality and environmental pollution. This service aims to understand and track awareness of dirty coal energy use in Palembang, one of the oldest cities, as the lack of understanding of coal's impact on local communities has led to a very serious disease outbreak. A coal-producing city in Indonesia. The approach used was to educate the community on the impacts of coal. Through these socialization activities, public awareness of the impacts can be obtained

Daet AirWatch: A Framework for Measuring and Visualizing Air Pollution Levels in Daet, Camarines Norte

Air pollution presents serious threats to public health and the environment, thus, effective techniques for mitigation and monitoring are required. In this study a comprehensive framework that integrates low-cost sensors, GPS technology, and data processing using an Arduino Uno and an ESP8266 Wi-Fi module is presented to address air pollution. The proposed framework allow real-time collection of pollutant data, including (PM), (VOCs), (CO), and ozone, alongside location information, temperature, and humidity. The gathered data is subjected to thorough processing, which includes converting sensor output values and calibrating and normalizing raw sensor readings. Moreover, the framework includes algorithms for translating pollutant concentrations into Air Quality Index (AQI) values, giving standardized metrics for evaluating air quality levels. The data is processed and then sent to an MQTT Broker for quick sharing of information and alerting about dangerous conditions. Additionally, the platform includes a user-friendly interface that displays pollution data on a web map, improving transparency and community awareness. By utilizing its effective data collection, processing, and visualization features, the suggested framework seeks to enhance public health results by giving people and communities the ability to make informed choices and take proactive steps to reduce air pollution dangers

Environmental Threat Perception in Southwest Pennsylvania: A Qualitative Study of Local Expert Opinion

Much recent national and international focus has been placed on environmental threats and their relationship to ecological and public health concerns. In order to address problems at a local level, a Pittsburgh Regional Environmental Threat Analysis (PRETA) is presently underway. As part of this project, ten in-depth interviews were conducted with experts in environmental fields to collect a range of ideas and observations about local environmental threats from those who work with these issues regularly. Experts' individual perceptions on current environmental problems and priorities in the southwest Pennsylvania region were gathered and analyzed qualitatively. Interviews reveal major threats to ecology and public health, including threats: (1) to water quality by Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) and wet weather events, (2) to air, water, and human safety from coal combustion and processing, (3) of a lack of equity, or lack of environmental justice, and finally, (4) of new and unknown chemicals and contaminants in the water supply, again posing risks to the quality of water resources. Using open-ended questions, experts cited organizations involved in prevention or remediation of threats, and overall themes were discovered from interview material. Major areas broached by informants included prevention, improved policy and regulation, and improved public education. This assessment of the state of environmental threats in the southwest Pennsylvania region is significant to public health because of the strong impacts that environmental issues have on the short and long-term physical and mental health of the population. By gathering threat perceptions and recommendations from local experts, this study notes the current state of affairs, informs the larger PRETA project, and creates a launch point for further work in ecological and environmental public health improvement

Two New Pieces of Emergency Response Equipment for use in Confined Space Environments

NASA is developing two new pieces of emergency response equipment that recognize and address the constraints of a confined space environment. One piece of equipment is a respirator designed for use in a post fire environment. Traditional first responders generally use supplied air respirators - they provide cool, dry, safe breathing air to the first responder, and because they are supplied at above ambient pressure, the system is tolerant to a loose-fitting mask. Supplied air respirators have a limited supply of air, but because the traditional first responder intends to address the emergency from outside and then retreat, this limited air supply does not pose a serious problem. NASA uses a supplied oxygen respirator for first response to an emergency affecting air quality on the International Space Station. The air supply is rated for 15 minutes - ISS program managers sponsored a hardware development activity to provide the astronauts up to 8 hours of breathing protection after the supplied air system is exhausted. Size and weight limitations prevent the use of a supplied air system for 8 hours for six crew members. A trade study resulted in the selection of a filtering respirator system over a re-breather system; due to design simplicity, operational simplicity, and likely threats to air quality on ISS. The respirator cartridge that filters smoke particles, adsorbs organics and acid gases, and catalytically converts carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide has been qualified for use on ISS, and was delivered on STS-135, the final mission of the Space Shuttle Program

PRETA Air: Hazardous Air Pollutants

This report shows that people living in a 10-county region of southwestern Pennsylvania have a significantly higher than acceptable risk of developing cancer due to exposure to toxic air pollution released by manufacturing processes, energy production and diesel combustionThe Pittsburgh Regional Environmental Threats Analysis Report -- funded by The Heinz Endowments -- analyzes publicly available data on hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), also known as air toxics. Air toxics include approximately 200 pollutants identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as respiratory, neurological and reproductive disorders. The report is the third in a series as part of a project examining major threats to human health and the environment in southwestern Pennsylvania

'Retired' Sensitive Cropland: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?

Falling commodity prices have renewed farmers' interest in expanding the Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, which protects environmentally sensitive land by paying farmers "rent" to take it out of crop production. CRP has long been the cornerstone of federal conservation policy, but its benefits are fleeting. Once the rental contracts expire, farmers go back to planting crops and the benefits are lost. Long-term or permanent conservation easements would do a much better job of mitigating the negative environmental impacts of American agriculture.That's the finding of a new EWG report that shows how conservation easement programs are better for the environment and are better investments for taxpayers than CRP. Traditional row-crop agriculture is increasingly causing environmental and public health problems. Threats to public health through contaminated drinking water, poor air quality and toxic algal blooms are widespread and costly, and fish and wildlife habitats and populations face ongoing risks.Although CRP provides conservation benefits that help alleviate these threats, the benefits are lost as soon as the contract expires and land is brought back into crop production. Between 2007 and 2014, 15.8 million acres dropped out of the CRP program and were not re-enrolled. These 10-year contracts cost taxpayers an estimated $7.3 billion to rent. At the same time, only 6.7 million "new" acres were enrolled in CRP, for a net loss of more than 9 million acres.Programs that focus on long-term or permanent easements already exist. The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program works with states to target high-priority objectives, including conservation easements. The Wetland Reserve Easement option in the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program enrolls acres in easements to restore, protect and enhance wetlands.Instead of expanding CRP, more funding in the 2018 Farm Bill should go to both of these highly effective programs. That would be a better deal for taxpayers, the environment and public health.