Sunday, June 1, 2014

EPA regulations on CO2 will accomplish nothing for climate or public health

In his address from a children's hospital, Obama said that his upcoming onerous, unnecessary EPA regulations on the essential, trace gas CO2 are for -  wait for it  - the children, alleging disingenuous co-benefits of reduced asthma attacks and heart attacks:
“in just the first year that these [CO2] standards go into effect, up to 100,000 asthma attacks and 2,100 heart attacks will be avoided — and those numbers will go up from there.”

This was a diversionary tactic to conflate CO2 with the actual "carbon pollution" of atmospheric particulate matter, to deflect criticism from Obama's draconian CO2 proposals that will have no effect on climate. Carbon dioxide levels in each breath humans exhale are more than 100 times higher than levels in the environment, and have nothing to do with asthma or heart attacks [which even the EPA* admits]. 

Particulate matter has been linked by EPA-sponsored research to asthma and heart attacks, although the data is controversial. However, even if particulate matter is related to asthma, existing clean air laws on the books have already reduced particulate matter to levels far below the national standards set by the EPA, as shown in the graphs below. 

For particulate matter of 2.5 microns size, existing clean air regulations reduced national levels from 2000-2012 by 33% to more than one standard deviation below the national standards set by the EPA.

For particulate matter of 10 microns size, existing clean air regulations reduced national levels from 1990-2012 by 39% to more than two standard deviations below the national standards set by the EPA.

It is clear that existing regulations on particulate matter have already cleaned up the particulate emissions that matter for public health, and that adding Obama's unnecessary and expensive regulations on CO2 will not have any effect on public health or climate, at great harm to the economy. 

Particulate matter data from the EPA:


National Trends in Particulate Matter Levels

Using a nationwide network of monitoring sites, EPA has developed ambient air quality trends for particle pollution, also called Particulate Matter (PM). Under the Clean Air Act, EPA sets and reviews national air quality standards for PM. Air quality monitors measure concentrations of PM throughout the country. EPA, state, tribal and local agencies use that data to ensure that PM in the air is at levels that protect public health and the environment. Nationally, average PM concentrations have decreased over the years. For information on PM standards, sources, health effects, and programs to reduce PM, please see www.epa.gov/airquality/particlepollution.
PM2.5 air quality between 2000 and 2012, based on the seasonally-weighted annual average.  Chart shows a range of concentrations in 570 monitoring sites nationwide, with the average decreasing 33% from 2000 to 2012.

PM10 air quality between 1990 and 2012, based on the seasonally-weighted annual average.  Chart shows a range of concentrations in 239 monitoring sites nationwide, with the average decreasing 39% from 1990 to 2012.

PM10 air quality between 2000 and 2012, based on the seasonally-weighted annual average.  Chart shows a range of concentrations in 511 monitoring sites nationwide, with the average decreasing 27% from 2000 to 2012.
How to Interpret the Graphs
View the chart data in Microsoft Excel  (Download Excel Viewer) Exit EPA Disclaimer
View the chart data in HTML  (New window opens)

Related:

Why Obama’s EPA plan is not needed and dangerous to our country

*74 Fed. Reg. 18901, EPA: GHGs "do not cause direct adverse effects such as respiratory or toxic effects.”

9 comments:

  1. EPA rule will only target CO2 emissions, not particulate matter

    http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/plugged-in/2014/06/01/new-greenhouse-gas-rule-will-benefit-both-climate-and-health/

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  2. “in just the first year that these [CO2] standards go into effect, up to 100,000 asthma attacks and 2,100 heart attacks will be avoided — and those numbers will go up from there.”

    This is what professional magicians call a redirection. You look at his right hand while his left hand is doing the trick.

    As a person trained in science, I cut through the form of words to call this a lie concealed with the prodigious talent of the President and his staff..

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    Replies
    1. yes apparently they realized trying to sell this as a climate issue wouldn't work, since it won't have any effect on climate either.

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    2. Then they top it off with another lie "Clean Power Plan" and Gina says the wonderful thing about it is that it's not about pollution control" The lies just roll off their tongues and the msm pays no attention.

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  3. Before I said this was redirection as in a magician's sleight of hand.

    We could describe it as "sleight of mouth".

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  4. http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/06/05/epas-next-wave-of-job-killing-co2-regulations/

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  5. US Chamber of Commerce says this will cost $3,400 per person. That much less $$ translates into 6 months shorter life. Young and Xia 2013
    Statistical Analysis and Data Mining DOI:10.1002/sam

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  6. Went right over your head.

    0bama and EPA economically justified the rule based on reduction in PM emissions (translating - shutting down coal-fired power production).

    That's because they know in fact they have absolutely no cost benefit when trying to justify the rule's merits on the basis of CO2.

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  7. See also Steve Gorham's article:

    http://dailycaller.com/2015/07/01/is-small-particle-air-pollution-really-killing-americans-no/2/

    ReplyDelete