Pollution's Impact On Washington: A Comprehensive Overview

Washington is taking steps to reduce its harmful emissions, but pollution continues to affect the state. In 2023, Washington's climate-damaging pollution rose despite laws requiring emissions to fall. The state's biggest polluters include oil refineries, pulp mills, and other manufacturers. The main sources of outdoor air pollution are motor vehicles, outdoor burning, wood smoke, gas and diesel-powered equipment, some industries, and wildfires. Air pollution in Washington has been linked to serious health issues, including respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, and higher death rates.

How does air pollution affect vulnerable groups in Washington?

Air pollution is a serious issue in Washington, with a variety of sources contributing to poor air quality, including motor vehicles, outdoor burning, wood smoke, gas and diesel-powered equipment, some industries, and wildfires. While air pollution can affect everyone, certain vulnerable groups are particularly susceptible to its harmful effects. These include older adults (over 65) and people with existing health conditions such as respiratory infections, respiratory diseases (including asthma and COPD), heart or circulatory disease, diabetes, or a history of stroke.

A report by the Washington Department of Ecology found that people in 16 overburdened areas of Washington faced a higher death rate from air pollution than the state average. The report predicted that older adults in these communities are twice as likely to die from health conditions linked to breathing fine particles (PM2.5) from human-caused sources. People of all ages in these communities had a lower life expectancy, living an average of 2.4 years less than those in the rest of Washington.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is of particular concern when it comes to the health of vulnerable groups. PM2.5 refers to airborne particles that are 2.5 micrometers or smaller in size, which can be inhaled deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Sources of PM2.5 include vehicle exhaust, power plants, woodstoves, wildfires, and some industries. Exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to decreased lung function, increased respiratory symptoms, aggravation of existing heart disease, non-fatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, and premature death among those with heart and lung conditions.

Children are also considered a vulnerable group when it comes to air pollution. Their developing lungs and higher activity levels put them at a higher risk of experiencing the harmful effects of air pollution. In addition, pregnant women are more susceptible to the negative impacts of air pollution, as it can affect both the mother and the developing fetus.

To protect vulnerable groups from the harmful effects of air pollution, Washington state has implemented various measures, including the Climate Commitment Act, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address environmental justice concerns. The state also provides recommendations to help reduce exposure to air pollution, such as encouraging people to drive less, obey burn bans, and avoid outdoor activities when air quality is poor.

What are the main sources of outdoor air pollution in Washington?

The main sources of outdoor air pollution in Washington state are motor vehicles, outdoor burning, and wood smoke. Gas and diesel-powered equipment, some industries, and wildfires also contribute to air pollution.

Vehicle exhaust is a major source of harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO). NOx is a respiratory tract irritant and has been associated with asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. CO interferes with the body's ability to absorb oxygen into the bloodstream, particularly affecting those with existing heart disease.

Wood smoke, including from fireplaces, wood stoves, and wildfires, contains fine particle pollution, which is one of the most serious air quality problems in the Puget Sound region. These fine particles are tiny, microscopic pieces that can easily enter the bloodstream and cause breathing and heart problems.

In addition, industrial facilities, power plants, and refineries contribute to air pollution in Washington. These sources emit harmful pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) and air toxics, which include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous substances. SO2 can cause respiratory problems, including increasing asthma symptoms, while air toxics are linked to cancer and other serious health issues.

Washington has implemented policies to address these sources of outdoor air pollution, such as the "cap-and-invest" law that imposes emissions caps on businesses and auctions pollution allowances. Despite these efforts, air pollution continues to disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, including people of color and older adults, leading to health disparities and higher mortality rates.

How does particle pollution affect Washington's waterways and soil?

Washington's waterways and soil are affected by particle pollution in several ways. Particulates can be carried by the wind and deposited in streams, lakes, or soil, causing a range of issues. For example, streams can become acidic, and the nutrient balance in coastal waters and large river basins can be altered. This, in turn, can lead to deficiencies in soil nutrients, damaging forests and crops and resulting in a change in ecosystem diversity.

Washington's diverse water sources include almost 74,000 miles of rivers and streams, over 4,000 lakes, and nearly 3,000 square miles of marine estuaries. The state's growing population is putting increasing pressure on these water sources, with more pollution than ever before. While Washington currently meets air quality standards for particle pollution, there are several areas of concern that are being closely monitored.

One of the main sources of particle pollution in Washington's air is wood-burning stoves and fireplaces. To reduce particle pollution, the Washington State Department of Ecology recommends using cleaner wood stoves and reducing outdoor burning when possible. They also monitor particle pollution levels through Washington's Air Monitoring Network, which consists of 55 sites across the state.

In addition to the effects on waterways and soil, particle pollution can also have significant impacts on human health. Smaller particles can escape the body's natural defences and move deeper into the lungs, causing various health problems, especially for those with chronic heart and lung diseases, children, and the elderly.

How does Washington monitor and address particle pollution?

Washington's air quality is monitored by the Washington State Department of Ecology, which works with local clean air agencies, the EPA, and Tribes to maintain a network of over 60 air monitoring stations. These stations measure air pollution and provide near-real-time air quality information to protect the health of residents. The state also provides an air quality mobile app that offers current air monitoring information.

The Department of Ecology has identified vulnerable populations in 16 areas that face high levels of air pollution and social, economic, and environmental inequities. To address particle pollution, the department recommends cleaner wood stoves and reducing outdoor burning when possible. They also provide permits for agricultural, outdoor, and residential burning to control and reduce air pollution.

Washington's Air Monitoring Network, consisting of 55 sites, helps monitor the air quality and ensure it meets health-based federal standards. Twenty-two of these sites are in urban areas, while 19 are in small communities outside of urban regions with local sources of PM2.5 pollution. The network also includes sites in agricultural and tribal areas, with the latter being run by tribal partners.

The state has implemented strategies to improve air quality, such as promoting public transportation, incentivizing the transition to cleaner-burning appliances, and implementing burn bans to reduce wildfires and seasonal wood burning. Additionally, they are working to reduce diesel dependence and transition to electric or hybrid vehicles for the state fleet.

How does industrial emissions reduction legislation affect Washington?

In 2021, the Washington Legislature passed the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), which established a comprehensive, market-based program to reduce carbon pollution and achieve the state's greenhouse gas limits. The CCA plays a key role in reducing Washington's greenhouse gas emissions, growing the state's clean-energy economy, and prioritising environmental justice. Under the CCA, most Washington state facilities or businesses that produce more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually are required to obtain emissions allowances. Some of these allowances are sold at auctions, while others are awarded at no cost. The CCA also recognises certain industries, termed "Emissions Intensive Trade Exposed" (EITE) industries, that face unique challenges in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. To avoid sudden operational changes, these EITEs are given no-cost allowances until at least 2034.

The CCA sets a limit, or cap, on overall carbon emissions in the state, and the number of allowances issued will be reduced over time to ensure Washington achieves its emissions reduction commitments. This means that fewer emissions allowances will be issued each year. As allowances become more scarce, they will become more valuable, and businesses that don't reduce their emissions will face increasing compliance costs. The CCA directs steep fines of up to $50,000 per violation, per day, for non-compliance.

The CCA also includes the Clean Fuel Standard and an expanded hydrofluorocarbons management program. Together with existing policies on clean energy and zero-emission vehicles, these laws put Washington on a path toward achieving its greenhouse gas limits: 45% below 1990 levels by 2030, 70% below by 2040, and 95% below by 2050, with net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Washington has also adopted more stringent regulations on vehicle pollution from California, known as "vehicle emissions standards". These standards apply to automakers and ensure that any new combustion-engine vehicles sold in Washington produce less air pollution and fewer greenhouse gases. By transitioning to clean vehicles, Washington can improve air quality and address climate change, as transportation is the state's biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Washington State Department of Ecology and local clean air agencies monitor particle pollution to ensure it doesn't reach harmful levels. They work to reduce particle pollution by recommending cleaner wood stoves and reducing outdoor burning when possible. Washington currently meets air quality standards for particle pollution, but there are several areas of concern that are being closely watched.

A recent report from the Washington Department of Ecology found that air pollution disproportionately affects Washington's most vulnerable communities. The report, required under the CCA, predicts that older adults in these communities are twice as likely to die from health conditions linked to breathing fine particles (PM2.5) from human-caused sources. People in these communities also lived an average of 2.4 years less than those in the rest of Washington. The report underscores the importance of strong air quality and environmental justice provisions in the CCA.

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