[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Atlanta sick of smog, study says - Utility-financed report disputed
Maybe, during episodes of air pollution, people keep their windows shut
thereby increasing exposure to radon. Therefore, it must be the radon that
causes the problem :-).
If anyone dislikes this hypothesis, I can formulate another one implicating
any causative agent you choose. If the causative agent is one that happens
to be in political disfavor, you might be able to receive government funding
to study the hypothesis.
Just trying to be helpful --- Jerry Cohen
PS- Has anyone noticed that increasing consumption of "organic" foods
has accompompanied increased concerns toward global warming? Is there
a possible link?
----- Original Message -----
From: Susan Gawarecki <loc@icx.net>
To: RadSafe <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 1:53 PM
Subject: Atlanta sick of smog, study says - Utility-financed report disputed
> More on the debate about the health effects of air pollution.
>
> --Susan Gawarecki
>
> Atlanta sick of smog, study says - Utility-financed report disputed
> (Atlanta Journal Constitution, Dec. 1)
>
> WASHINGTON — Air pollution levels in Atlanta are linked to hospital
> visits for problems ranging from respiratory infections to heart
> attacks, scientists from a utility industry-owned research center said
> Wednesday.
>
> But the Electric Power Research Institute, or EPRI, indicated that most
> of the health effects appear to be associated with pollution from cars
> and trucks rather than coal-burning power plants. The research is part
> of an ongoing series of air pollution studies initiated in the early
> 1990s by the institute and Atlanta-based Southern Co.
>
> EPRI executive Ron Wyzga told a news conference that the research shows
> "a statistical link between air pollution and health effects,
> particularly with several types of cardiovascular disease."
>
> Critics questioned the research conclusions, contending the institute
> had put a utility industry "spin" on the findings.
>
> Citing epidemiological studies by scientists at Emory University,
> Georgia Tech, Kaiser Permanente-Georgia and other institutions, Wyzga
> said the work revealed particular health problems associated with carbon
> monoxide and carbon particles. Both are typically released into city air
> by cars and trucks.
>
> It found a slight but statistically significant increase in asthma,
> upper respiratory infections and heart attacks on heavy pollution days.
>
> Hospital statistics were compared with levels of pollutants such as
> ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide measured at
> a central Atlanta sampling site.
>
> However, scientists not associated with the studies accused EPRI of
> "spinning" the research to make it appear that pollution from power
> plants is a less serious problem than the studies actually indicate.
>
> "The scientists with the universities in Atlanta have done very balanced
> work," said Jana Milford, an atmospheric chemist with the advocacy group
> Environmental Defense, "but when the utility industry presents the
> results the spin starts."
>
> And George Thurston, a New York University epidemiologist, said the
> utility industry's interpretation of the research was off-base in
> several respects.
>
> He noted that taking air samples from central Atlanta overstates the
> amount of car exhaust in the city's air.
>
> "If you did a study of air pollution and health problems in Los Angeles,
> you'd say power plants are no problem at all, because there are millions
> of cars there and no power plants," he said.
>
> Thurston, who has worked as a consultant for the Clean Air Task Force,
> an environmental group, said the Atlanta study, which EPRI describes as
> "a uniquely designed and comprehensive study," is too small to support
> strong statistical conclusions.
>
> He also said some of the Atlanta university scientists have privately
> complained to him that their work is being misrepresented by the power
> industry.
>
> The Environmental Protection Agency released a report in October, saying
> that ground-level ozone — smog — is responsible for tens of thousands of
> premature deaths annually in America, including Atlanta, mostly from
> heart and lung maladies. The odorless, colorless gas is formed on hot,
> sunny days when sunlight triggers reactions between nitrogen oxides and
> hydrocarbons emitted from cars, airplanes, coal-burning power plants and
> other sources.
>
> Wyzga said the EPRI research will be expanded to other cities, beginning
> with St. Louis.
>
> Other studies have implicated sulfates, which are extremely minute
> particles that come from power plant smoke, with cancer, respiratory
> disease and heart attack deaths.
>
> ************************************************************************
> You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To
> unsubscribe, send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu Put the
> text "unsubscribe radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail,
> with no subject line. You can view the Radsafe archives at
> http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/
>
************************************************************************
You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To
unsubscribe, send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu Put the
text "unsubscribe radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail,
with no subject line. You can view the Radsafe archives at
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/