Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen — Health Criteria

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to meet requirements set forth in Sections 108 and 109 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). These sections require the EPA Administrator (1) to list widespread air pollutants that reasonably may be expected to endanger public health or welfare; (2) to issue air quality criteria that assess the latest available scientific information on the nature and effects of ambient exposure to the criteria pollutants; (3) to set “primary” NAAQS to protect human health with adequate margin of safety and to set “secondary” NAAQS to protect against welfare effects (e.g., effects on vegetation, ecosystems, visibility, climate, manmade materials, etc); and (4) to periodically review and revise, as appropriate, the criteria and NAAQS for a given listed pollutant or class of pollutants. The purpose of this Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) – Health Criteria is to critically evaluate and assess the latest scientific information published since the 1993 NOx Air Quality Criteria Document (AQCD), with the main focus on pertinent new information useful in evaluating health effects data associated with ambient air nitrogen oxides exposures. A First External Review Draft of this ISA (dated August 2007) was released for public comment and was reviewed by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) in October 2007; a Second External Review Draft was made available to the public in March 2008. Public comments and CASAC recommendations have been taken into account in making revisions to the document for incorporation into this final ISA. This document will provide inputs to the risk and exposure analyses prepared by EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS), which will lead to the proposal and, ultimately, promulgation of decisions on potential retention or revision, as appropriate, of the current Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) NAAQS by the EPA Administrator. Preparation of this document was coordinated by staff of EPA’s National Center for Environmental Assessment in Research Triangle Park (NCEA-RTP). NCEA-RTP scientific staff, together with experts from other EPA/Office of Research and Development (ORD) laboratories and academia, contributed to writing of document chapters. Earlier drafts of document materials were reviewed by non-EPA experts in peer consultation workshops held by EPA. This ISA describes the nature, sources, distribution, measurement, and concentrations of nitrogen oxides in outdoor (ambient) and indoor environments. It also evaluates the latest data on human exposures to ambient nitrogen oxides and consequent health effects in exposed human populations, to support decision making regarding the primary (health-based) NO2 NAAQS. NCEA acknowledges the valuable contributions provided by authors, contributors, and reviewers and the diligence of its staff in the preparation of this document

Fish Consumption and Mercury Exposure among Louisiana Recreational Anglers

Ba c k g r o u n d: Methylmercury (MeHg) exposure assessments among average fish consumers in the United States may underestimate exposures among U.S. subpopulations with high intakes of region-ally specific fish. obj e c t i v e s: We examined relationships among fish consumption, estimated mercury (Hg) intake, and measured Hg exposure within one such potentially highlyexposed group, recreational anglers in the state of Louisiana, USA. Me t h o d s: We surveyed 534 anglers in 2006 using interviews at boat launches and fishing tourna-ments combined with an Internet-based survey method. Hair samples from 402 of these anglers were collected and analyzed for total Hg. Questionnaires provided information on species-specific fish consumption during the 3 months before the survey. re s u l t s: Anglers’ median hairHg concentration was 0.81 μg/g (n = 398; range, 0.02–10.7 μg/g);40% of participants had levels >1 μg/g, which approximately corresponds to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s reference dose. Fish consumption and Hg intake were significantly positively associated with hairHg. Participants reported consuming nearly 80 different fish types, many of which are specific to the region. Unlike the general U.S. population, which acquires most of its Hg from commercial seafood sources, approximately 64% of participants’ fish meals and 74% of their estimated Hg intake came from recreationally caught seafood. co n c l u s i o n s: Study participants had relatively elevated hairHg concentrations and reported con-sumption of a wide variety of fish, particularly locally caught fish. This group represents a highlyexposed subpopulation with an exposure profile that differs from fish consumers in other regions of the United States, suggesting a need for more regionallyspecific exposure estimates and public health advisories.ISSN:1552-9924ISSN:0091-676

EPA's Denial of the Petitions to Reconsider the Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases Under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act

This document addresses a petition to the U.S. EPA to reconsider findings that could have an economic impact on businesses due to the enforcement of the Clean Air Act. The petitioners questioned the climate science and data, and this denial argues that the petitioners used The document denies the petition on the basis of the petitioners providing inadequate and unscientific arguments

Climate Change Indicators in the United States

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published this report to help readers interpret a set of important indicators to better understand climate change. The report presents 24 indicators, each describing trends in some way related to the causes and effects of climate change

NCCA 2010 Technical Report - National Coastal Condition Assessment 2010

"This document provides supplemental technical information on the background and development of the Benthic Index, Water Quality Index, Sediment Quality Index, and Ecological Fish Tissue Contaminants Index used in the National Coastal Condition (NCCA) 2010 Report.

Coastal Stormwater Management Through Green Infrastructure: A Handbook for Municipalities

Coastal Stormwater Management through Green Infrastructure: A Handbook for Municipalities (Handbook) is designed to assist coastal municipalities within the Massachusetts Bays Program (MassBays) area to incorporate green infrastructure into their stormwater management planning as they respond to MS4 stormwater permit requirements, review development proposals, and retrofit existing municipal facilities and sites. The MassBays Program can assist those municipalities in using this Handbook to facilitate the use of green infrastructure and address stormwater runoff

Prevalence and occurrence of zoonotic bacterial pathogens in surface waters determined by quantitative PCR

The prevalence and concentrations of Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp. and enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) were investigated in surface waters in Brisbane, Australia using quantitative PCR (qPCR) based methodologies. Water samples were collected from Brisbane City Botanic Gardens (CBG) Pond, and two urban tidal creeks (i.e., Oxley Creek and Blunder Creek). Of the 32 water samples collected, 8 (25%), 1 (3%), 9 (28%), 14 (44%), and 15 (47%) were positive for C. jejuni mapA, Salmonella invA, EHEC O157 LPS, EHEC VT1, and EHEC VT2 genes, respectively. The presence/absence of the potential pathogens did not correlate with either E. coli or enterococci concentrations as determined by binary logistic regression. In conclusion, the high prevalence, and concentrations of potential zoonotic pathogens along with the concentrations of one or more fecal indicators in surface water samples indicate a poor level of microbial quality of surface water, and could represent a significant health risk to users. The results from the current study would provide valuable information to the water quality managers in terms of minimizing the risk from pathogens in surface waters