Air Pollution

THE AIR POLLUTION FACTS for Orange County - April, 1998

The proposed airport at El Toro will surely make the following adverse health impacts a reality for all Orange County residents. As the big passenger and cargo jets crisscross and circle over our county, they will spread more than enough toxic pollution to raise the risk of premature death and sickness for all who live and work in this area.

1. An international airport at El Toro will add 80,000 pounds of pollution per day to Orange County - 40,000 lbs. from increased freeway traffic and approximately 40,000 lbs. from air traffic Source: El Toro Airport EIR

2. People living in the most polluted cities have a 15% to 17% increased risk of death compared with people living in the least polluted areas. Source: Harvard School of Public Health Study, 1995

3. Although lead has been removed from gasoline and paint, it remains a key component of batteries and aviation fuel. Source: Jennifer Mann, Scientist, formerly with the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (Los Angeles Times, June 17, 1997)

4. Fine particulate air pollution, derived chiefly from fossil fuel combustion, is extremely dangerous because it is not likely to be filtered out by the body’s respiratory defense mechanisms and therefore, can be most deeply breathed into the lung. Source: Harvard School of Public Health Study, 1995

5. Hospital admissions for chronic respiratory disease were found to rise by 7% for every 10 - microgram increase in particulate pollution - basically grit - in the air. Admissions rose 3.5% for acute respiratory illness and 3% for those with cardiovascular disease. Source: Kaiser Foundation Research Institute, 1995 study conducted in southern California

6. Adverse health effects associated with air pollution are diverse and include: a) Increased health care utilization (hospitalization, physician and emergency room visits) b) Increased respiratory illness (symptoms, infections, and asthma exacerbation) c) Reduction in life span d) Potential increased risk of developing cancer e) Decreased breathing capacity f) Lung inflammation g) Potential immunological changes h) Increased airway reactivity to a known chemical exposure - a method used in laboratories to evaluate the tendency of airways to have an increased possibility of developing an asthmatic response i) A decreased tolerance for exercise Source: South Coast Air Quality Management District, 1997 Air Quality Management Plan, Appendix I

7. Orange County has the 5th highest ozone level in the country. Los Angeles County was first. Source: American Lung Association (Los Angeles Times, November 20, 1997)

8. Babies in highly polluted areas were 26% more likely to die of SIDS than those who live in cities with cleaner air. Source: EPA research published in the National Institute of Health Journal ( Los Angeles Times, July 11, 1997)

9. Five Orange County cities ( Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove and Santa Ana) had higher than average death rates from heart disease and stroke. Air pollution was among the 4 key factors cited as a cause for this increased death rate. Source: California Department of Health Services, 1997 report

10. The five most serious environmental threats to children are lead, air pollution, pesticides, tobacco smoke and contaminated drinking water . Source: Los Angeles Times, November 26, 1997

11. Asthma effects 48,000 children in Orange County and the rate of asthma among Latino children is 2 1/2 times greater than among white children, probably because so many live in urban areas. Source: American Lung Association (Los Angeles Times, November 28, 1997)

12. Orange County could save $349 million a year in health care costs if stricter standards for airborne particulate matter were imposed. Source: The American Lung Association (Los Angeles Times November 20, 1997)