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AQMD News |
 AQMD
releases results of air quality monitoring and health
assessment for odors from Upper Oso Reservoir
November 18, 2009
– In response to numerous complaints about sulfur type
odors in the Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita areas
of Orange County, AQMD launched an investigation to identify
the source of the odors, determined to be Upper Oso
Reservoir operated by Santa Margarita Water District. An
advisory provides background and a status update on AQMD’s
investigation.
More (PDF, 81.2 KB)
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Air Quality
Headlines |
 Regional
News: Study finds high air pollution levels near Santa
Monica Airport
November 19, 2009
– Researchers at UCLA have found elevated levels of
ultrafine particle emissions near Santa Monica airport. The
study, published in the journal Environmental Science
and Technology, shows that emission levels were
significantly higher than normal about 300 feet downwind of
the runway’s east end. Findings are consistent with an AQMD
study to be released early next year.
More
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 National
News: Federal ship rules on their way to the White House
November 19, 2009 –
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has sent its draft
rules to limit emissions from ocean-going vessels to
President Obama for review. If approved, the rules are
estimated to cut about 1.2 million tons of nitrogen oxide
emissions and about 143,000 tons of particulate matter
emissions. EPA has a legal deadline of Dec. 17 to finalize
the rules.
More
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 Regional
News: 2008 Clean Air Award winner continues fight for
clean air
November 19, 2009 –
Otana Jakpor, a 15-year AQMD Clean Air Award winner for
Promotion of Good Environmental Stewardship, recently
interned at the Southern California Environmental Health
Sciences Center at USC. During her internship, Otana focused
on using U.S. Census Bureau information to map and study the
demographics of populations living near rail yards.
More
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 National
News: EPA proposes tightening of national sulfur dioxide
standard
November 18, 2009 –
U.S. EPA is taking comments on its proposal to establish a
new national 1-hour sulfur dioxide standard between 50 and
100 parts per billion. The new standard is designed to
better protect public health by reducing exposure to
short-term spikes in sulfur dioxide levels, which can cause
severe health problems.
More
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 National
News: New EPA website helps you “Green” your home!
November 18, 2009 – Whether you are a
homeowner or a renter, U.S. EPA’s new Green Homes website
suggests solutions that can add value to your home, reduce
energy use and costs, fight climate change and help protect
your health. Use the house graphic on the website to get
information on “greening” a particular room in the house.
More
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 International
News: Women bear higher risks from climate change,
report says
November 18, 2009 –
Climate change isn’t unisex, according to a new report
released by the United Nations Population Fund. The report
“The State of World Population 2009” urges governments and
aid workers to consider how global warming will affect women
across the world.
More
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 National
News: New coalition releases Electrification Roadmap
November 17, 2009 – The
Electrification Coalition has released “Electrification
Roadmap,” a report outlining how Congress can bring more
than 100 million electric cars to U.S. roads by 2030. The
report envisions a network of EVs and infrastructure in
select cities initially, expanding across the country to
make 75 percent of all vehicle-miles traveled powered by
electricity by 2040.
More
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 State
News: Computer model “STREET” previews a greener future!
November 17, 2009
– Researchers at UC Irvine have built the Spatially
& Temporally Resolved Energy and Environment Tool (STREET)
computer model that can foresee the effects of alternative
transportation fuels on air quality. Applying STREET in the
South Coast Basin, researchers found that a significant
increase in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and infrastructure
by 2060 would substantially improve air quality.
More
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 National
News: Better communication may be key to fighting
climate change
November 13, 2009 –
A new book by Columbia University’s Center for Research on
Environmental Decisions (CRED) says that a greater
understanding of human nature may be the answer to
protecting Mother Nature from climate change. “The
Psychology of Climate Change Communication” reports that the
continuing gap in understanding about climate change between
scientists and the public stems from a lack of effective
communication.
More
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 State
News: Global warming pollution up in California
November 13, 2009 –
Between 1990 to 2007 carbon dioxide emissions from fossil
fuel use increased by 10 percent in California, according to
the new report
Too Much Pollution (PDF,
1.19 MB) by the Environment Texas Policy and Research
Center. The report ranks California second nationwide for
the highest levels of carbon dioxide emissions in 2007.
More
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Did you know... |
 that
on average each year, 35 Californians and 450 people
nationally die from accidental carbon monoxide (CO)
poisoning? You can’t see it or smell it but more than half
of CO poisoning deaths are from malfunctioning or improperly
vented combustion appliances. To protect yourself and your
family, have your fuel-burning appliances inspected by a
trained professional at the beginning of every heating
season. To learn more, view the California Air Resources
Board
video on CO poisoning. |
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