Technology - POLLUTION

The Natural Resources Defense Council recently released a report, FLYING OFF COURSE, which demonstrated United States airports are major sources of air, water and noise pollution, but are excluded from MANY OF the rules equally polluting corporations must follow. Since there are FEW standards or regulations for aircraft emissions, local air quality boards are not able to provide intervention or protection.

A study of the health impacts of exposure to aircraft produced emissions among residents in the vicinity of Chicago's Midway Airport, found significantly higher cancer rates than in the general population. As a result, the NRDC subsquently recommended similar studies of health impacts be conducted in all major U.S. airports.

Several studies of the effects of the toxic chemicals found in aircraft emissions have been done in laboratory experiments with animals. These chemicals have been uniqivaobly linked with cancer production in animals.

A study of residents near Boeing Field found persons impacted by aircraft emissions had dramtically higher disease rates if all kinds. For example, a 48% higher death rate, a 57% higher asthma rate, 83% higher pregnancy complication rate, and twice the number of hospitilzations for asthma. For children, there was a 57% higher heart disease rate and a 36% higher cancer rate. In addtion, the life span of those living near airports is 70 years, compared to the 80 year average life span worldwide. Those effected by airports have a quality of life similar to those in third world countries. SInce pollution impacts can extend as far as a vicinity of 50 mile, many may be damaged by toxic aircraft emissions.

A sample of air at Seattle's Sea-Tac Airport found the following chemicals:
1,3-Butadiene , Freon 11, Freon 12, Methyl Bromide, Dichloromethane, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, Carbon Tetrachloride, Benzene, Trichloroethylene, Toluene, Tetrachloroethene, Ethylbenzene, m,p-Xylene, o-Xylene, Styrene, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, o-Dichlorobenzene, Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde, Acrolein, Acetone, Propinaldehyde, Crotonaldehyde, Isobutyraldehyde, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Benzaldehyde, Veraldehyde, Hexanaldehyde, Ethyl Alcohol, Acetone, Isopropyl Alcohol, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Butane, Isopentane, Pentane, Hexane, Butyl Alcohol, Methyl Isobutyl Ketone, n,n-Dimethyl Acetamide, Dimethyl Disulfide, m-Cresol, 4-Ethyl Toluene, n-Heptaldehyde, Octanal, 1,4-Dioxane, Methyl Phenyl Ketone, Vinyl Acetate, Heptane, Phenol, Octane , Anthracene, Dimethylnaphthalene (isomers), Flouranthene, 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, Naphthalene, Phenanthrene, Pyrene , Benzo(a)pyrene, 1-nitropyrene, 1,8-dinitropyrene , sulfites, nitrites, nitrogen oxide, nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen trioxide, nitric acid, sulfur oxides, sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid, urea, ammonia, carbon monoxide, ozone, particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5)

These chemicals can have the following effects:
LIVER DAMAGE, LUNG STRUCTURE DAMAGE, LUNG DISEASE, ASTHMA, EMPHYSEMA, KIDNEY DAMAGE, MUTATIONS, MYELOID LEUKEMIA, LYMPHOMA, BRAIN CANCER, HODGKIN'S DISEASE, TUMORS, SYSTEMIC IRRITATION, LACRIMATION, DELAYED HYPERSENSITIVITY, MULTIPLE ORGAN INVOLVEMENT, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DAMAGE, SKIN AND EYE IRRITANT, EEG CHANGES, NASAL EFFECTS, CONJUNCTIVE IRRITATION, NAUSEA, VOMITING, MUSCLE WEAKNESS, FLUSHING, PULSE RATE DECREASE, MENTAL DEPRESSION, HALLUCINATIONS, DISTORTED PERCEPTIONS, DYSPNEA, HEADACHE, DROWSINESS, ASPHYXIATION , (SOME LISTED EFFECTS ARE EXPERIMENTAL, CONFIRMED IN ANIMAL TESTS AND SUSPECTED IN HUMANS) PULMONARY IRRITATION, LUNG TIGHTNESS, COUGHING, WHEEZING , HEART DISEASE, CANCER

Specific chemicals and the known effects in aircraft emissions are:

BENZENE:

Benzene has long been known as an irritant to skin and eyes. It also has been shown to cause changes in bacterial cell cultures and has shown embryo toxic activity as well as carcinogeneity. Skin contact can cause dermatitis, drying and inflammation and other effects. In animals, inhalation caused blood, lymphatic and other diseases.

Acute inhalation can cause dizziness, weakness, headache, nausea, blurred vision, respiratory diseases, liver and kidney diseases and unconsciousness. Chronic exposure to even relatively low levels causes headaches, loss of appetite, drowsiness, nervousness, psychological disturbances and blood diseases, including bone marrow diseases and anemia.

FORMALDEHYDE:

Formaldehyde irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes, throat and nose. It is also reactive and combines with protein to cause allergic dermatitis,or rashes. The most common symptoms include eye irritation and headaches. Previously, formaldehyde was linked mainly to asthma; however, the EPA has recently conducted research which demonstrated formaldehyde is suspected of causing a rare form of throat cancer.

There are some means to provide protection. NASA has recently announced the ouctome of a two year research study that showed common indoor plants can effectively filter formaldehye, benzene and carbon monoxide,(another component of aircraft emissions). According to Dr. Bill Wolverton, former NASA senior research scientist, "plants take (toxic) substances out of the air through the tiny openings in their leaves----- But, research in our laboratories has determined that plant leaves, roots, and soil bacteria are all important in removing trace levels of toxic vapors".

The most effective plants for removing benzene, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde are: Bamboo Palm, Chinese Evergreen, English Ivy, "Janet Craig" Dracena, Mother-In-Law's Tongue, Pothos, Moss Cane/Corn Plant, Peace Lily, Pot Mum, Gerbera Daisy, Marginata, and Warneckii.

Psychological research has shown lack of control can exacerbate depression and vulnerability to disease. Therefore, taking whatever protective action one can will reduce the toxic impact of the increased, yet still unregulated aircraft emissions to which many are being exposed.