Posts Tagged: smog
Nuestro Futuro: Latinos a Growing Force for Climate Action
It's difficult to think about Los Angeles in the 1970s and not envision smog blanketing the city. I remember it vividly. My father, who worked downtown, would often talk about the thick haze, the dirty air. And on the occasions I ventured into the city center as a child, I experienced the pollution smothering our home firsthand.
From the beginning, I had a keen awareness of Los Angeles's severe pollution problem, and later on, after my family moved to Colombia for my father's job, the issue became even clearer to me. From air pollution and dirty water to energy and water shortages, my childhood was shaped by environmental problems.
Later on, not long after I began working as an attorney at NRDC, in 1999, I noticed that the U.S. Latino community in particular was incredibly impacted by the many environmental issues plaguing the country. What's more, I saw that despite not having a lot of information about these problems or support to deal with them, Latinos were committed to finding a solution. I saw the same type of awareness that I remember so clearly from my own childhood—and it has shaped my work at NRDC ever since.
Today, my colleagues and I are proud to publish a new, comprehensive report on U.S. Latinos and climate change, the most pressing environmental issue of our time.
“Nuestro Futuro: Climate Change and U.S. Latinos” explores the growing number and influence of Latinos in the United States and highlights the elevated climate-related threats the community faces.
Perhaps most important, however, is that it demonstrates that Latinos care about the impacts of climate change—and they want action now. Latino engagement on the issue, the report finds, can help secure a safer climate and a cleaner energy future.
There are more than 56 million Latinos living in the United States today, up from more than 50 million in 2010. This rapidly changing segment of our population is expected to grow from nearly 18 percent of all U.S. inhabitants in 2015 to 29 percent by 2060. At the same time, Latinos are disproportionately vulnerable to climate-related threats because of where they live, their occupations, and the financial challenges they face.
More than 60 percent of U.S. Latinos live in California, Texas, Florida, and New York, where severe heat, air pollution, and flooding pose greater risks than they do in other states. And because a large number of Latinos work outdoors in crop and livestock production, construction, and landscaping, they are more susceptible to the impacts of extreme heat fueled by climate change. Meanwhile, millions of Latinos across the country don't have access to health insurance and are ineligible for federal disaster assistance that would help them recover from an extreme weather event.
In the face of these challenges, addressing climate change presents a tremendous opportunity. Despite the great diversity of Latinos in the United States, they are overwhelmingly united by a desire for action on climate. In fact, 9 out of 10 Latinos polled in 2014 said they wanted the government to take action to protect future generations from the dangers of climate change. And 8 in 10 expressed support for President Obama's efforts to reduce the carbon pollution that's driving climate change.
Significantly, a majority U.S. Latinos don't believe there is a trade-off between protecting the environment and fostering economic growth. They understand that clean energy and energy efficiency come with the economic benefit of lowering electricity bills and creating millions of jobs. And even when clean energy comes with an initial cost, Latinos are still highly supportive.
Latino culture has always honored the environment?from their indigenous roots, where nature holds a sacred space, to family traditions that instill a duty to care for and protect the earth. It should come as no surprise, then, that this incredibly diverse group stands with strong commitment and unity when it comes to tackling climate change—and I'm heartened and humbled by this passion.
I've come a long way from the smog days of my childhood in Los Angeles. What motivates me more now are my kids and the knowledge that we could be doing so much more, so much better. But we're not, simply because we choose not to. My job, I feel, is to bring more people into the fold—people like the 56 million Latinos in the United States. Because if enough individuals bring an awareness of climate change and start demanding real action, I have to believe that others will listen.
Source: Published originally on NRDC Nuestro Futuro: Latinos a Growing Force for Climate Action, by Adrianna Quintero, October 13, 2016.
VOC regulations affect the San Joaquin Valley.
It's that time of year when volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions released from nonfumigant pesticide applications can impair air quality. Regulations are in effect that growers and pest control advisers should know about, especially for the San Joaquin Valley starting May 1.
Here are highlights from Pam Wofford, Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), regarding the San Joaquin Valley. Pest control advisers cannot recommend and growers cannot use:
- high-VOC products containing abamectin, chlorpyrifos, gibberellins, or oxyfluorfen
- between May 1 and October 31, 2015 and again for May – Oct. 2016
- for alfalfa, almond, citrus, cotton, grape, pistachio, or walnut
Review the updated factsheet for nonfumigant regulations, available on the DPR website. Limited, specific exceptions are allowed. For exceptions, a PCA recommendation is required.
No regulations affect the use of low-VOC products. Pest control dealer requirements remain unchanged, as do fumigant VOC requirements.
Nonfumigant VOC emissions regulations for the San Joaquin Valley strive to maintain VOC emissions below the state implementation plan goal of 18.1 tons/day. In 2013, emissions increased to 18.28 tons/day from 16.26 tons/day in 2012.
View the 2013 VOC inventory for a report on all five ozone nonattainment areas on the DPR website. In addition to state implementation goals, there are VOC regulation benchmark goals to reduce emissions by 12 to 20% from emission levels in 1990. In 2013, VOC levels were reduced 11 to 88%.
VOC resources:
- Department of Pesticide Regulation VOC information
- Nonfumigant pesticide product VOC information
- UC IPM VOC: learn to minimize emissions and use DPR's VOC calculators
- UCIPM Pest Management Guidelines
Picture showing smoggy conditions.
New study warns of climate change risks for Hispanic communities
The changing climate could pose health and economic hardships on areas in the southeast and southwest, particularly in Hispanic communities.
Nearly half of all U.S. Hispanics live in the country's most smog-polluted cities, the report states, breathing dirty air that can cause asthma attacks, reduce lung function, and aggravate respiratory illnesses. Climate change and the hotter temperatures that come with it only make smog worse.
The National Climate Assessment is a project of the U.S. Global Research Program which was established by Congress to coordinate climate science and global change research across 13 federal agencies.
Source: Published originally on the San Antonio Business Journal as New study warns of climate change risks for Hispanic communities by Mike W. Thomas, May 6, 2014.
Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions from Pesticides
(This article summarizes California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s online VOC information.)
It’s that time of year again when hot weather fuels the creation of ground-level ozone, also called smog. High levels of ozone can harm people and crops. Ozone is caused by mixing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxide, and sunshine. Some pesticides emit VOCs that contribute to ozone formation.
Between May 1 and October 31 when smog is likely to form, using pesticides that release VOCs may be restricted in the five nonattainment areas (NAAs) where ozone levels do not meet federal or state air quality standards:
- Sacramento Metro NAA: all of Sacramento and Yolo counties; parts of El Dorado, Placer, Solano, and Sutter
- San Joaquin Valley NAA: all of Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare counties; parts of Kern
- Southeast Desert NAA: parts of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties
- South Coast NAA: all of Orange County; parts of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino
- Ventura NAA: all of Ventura County
In NAAs, regulations affect field soil fumigation with:
- methyl bromide
- 1,3-dichloropropene
- chloropicrin
- metam sodium
- metam potassium
- dazomet
- sodium tetrathiocarbonate
Regulations may require reduced application rates, specific injection depths, soil compaction requirements, and a tarpaulin repair response plan. Fumigants used in greenhouses and for certain nursery fumigations, potting soil, individual tree and vine replantings, or harvested commodities are not affected.
In the San Joaquin NAA, where 65% of the VOC emissions are from nonfumigant pesticides, regulations begin November 1, 2013 for high-VOC pesticide formulations of:
- abamectin
- chlorpyrifos
- gibberellins
- oxyfluorfen
Pesticides that contain solvents typically release high rates of VOCs. Solid formulations release the least amount. Starting in 2014 a PCA recommendation is required for use during May 1 to October 31. If the VOC emissions level is exceeded, applications for high-VOC formulations may be prohibited.
Whether in a NAA or not, simple steps can minimize the release of VOCs into the air.
- Use other pest management tactics.
- Choose low-emission pesticides or formulations.
- Avoid emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations and fumigants.
- Use DPR’s VOC calculators to determine emissions.
- Consider reducing the amount of pesticide applied by spot treating, making fewer applications, or using target-sensing equipment.
- Choose low-emission application methods for fumigants.
- Fumigate and cover with tarpaulins.
- Fumigate and cover with several post-fumigation water treatments.
- Apply through drip irrigation.
- If possible, apply pesticides before May or after October.
- Follow laws and regulations, especially in NAAs where additional regulations may be in effect.
When choosing a pesticide using the UC Pest Management Guidelines, click on the Air Quality button at the top of each treatment table.
- Citrus: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/selectnewpest.citrus.html
- Avocado: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/selectnewpest.avocado.html
It will take you to the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s VOC calculators to determine emissions from fumigant and nonfumigant pesticides.
DPR Resources:
- VOC emissions from pesticides: http://cdpr.ca.gov/docs/emon/vocs/vocproj/vocmenu.htm
- Nonattainment area maps: http://cdpr.ca.gov/docs/emon/vocs/vocproj/em_region.htm
- Reducing VOC emissions from field fumigants: http://cdpr.ca.gov/docs/emon/vocs/vocproj/reg_fumigant.htm
- Reducing VOC emissions from nonfumigant pesticide products: http://cdpr.ca.gov/docs/emon/vocs/vocproj/reduce_nonfumigant.htm
- Get on the VOC email list to be alerted about changing situations (go to cdpr.ca.gov and click on “Join E-lists” at the bottom left-hand corner)
smog
Help prevent air pollution by limiting pesticide use
If you plan to apply a pesticide, use the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s VOC calculators to determine emissions from fumigant and nonfumigant pesticides. Get there by clicking the Air Quality button at the top of each treatment table in the UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines.
Simple steps can minimize the release of VOCs into the air:
- Use pesticides only when necessary
- Decrease the amount of pesticide applied if appropriate
- Choose low-emission management methods
- Avoid emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations and fumigants
Ozone, or smog, is caused by mixing VOCs, nitrogen oxide and sunshine. High levels of ozone can harm people and crops. Regions in California that do not meet federal or state air quality standards for ozone, called nonattainment areas, may restrict the use of pesticides that release VOCs.