RCAA On-Line Library--Air Pollution

RCAA ON-LINE LIBRARY

Air Pollution

Issues in Brief: Air pollution is a health issue. Jet planes emit huge quantities of toxic materials, such as cancer-causing benzene, & tiny particles of soot, as they leave & approach airports. Occasionally, jet planes dump raw fuel over residential areas during final approach to Sea-Tac. No governmental agency regulates the emissions or the fuel dumping. No agency even monitors them. The environmental impact statements for the third-runway projects do not provide information about local impacts of jet-plane exhausts – instead, theoretical models of jet fumes are averaged in with all other air pollution across the whole county, to produce a false appearance of compliance with general clean-air requirements.

Generally, people living near airports are less healthy than the general population. Studies of the health effects from jet exhausts are in early stages, but are alarming. Neither the Port nor the FAA has any program to provide assistance to individuals who suffer from disease brought on by jet-plane pollution, or to work with local health agencies to study, or to treat, health problems. These costs are shifted to families, local clinics and hospitals, & local governments.

Documents:

Air Pollution: A Study with Particular Reference to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Williams, Beth., M.S.A. [Acrobat file,- 80 KB, 31 pages]
RCAA White Papers, Book 1. (Reviews air and toxic pollutants commonly found in airport communities and their effects on health and the environment. Summarizes 1991 Washington State Department of Ecology Study and the lack of a monitoring program at Sea-Tac.)

Airport Pollution - Frequently Asked Questions [link]
The Natural Resources Defence Council; October 1996 [Acrobat version - 4.32 MB]

Breathtaking Premature Mortality Due to Particulate Air Pollution in 239 American Cities [link]
National Resource Defense Council - May 1996 [Acrobat version - 1.78 Mb, 651 pages]

Flying Off Course Environmental Impacts of America's Airports [link]
This report examines the noise, ground-level air quality, water pollution and other issues associated with America's airports. The information is excerpted from NRDC's print publication, Flying Off Course, published in October 1996. [Acrobat version - 1.78 Mb, 334 pages]

Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants [link]
United States Evironmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dec, 2003

RCAA Home Library Portal Background Introduction History, Chronology Charts and Graphs Photo Archive Maps, Flight Tracks Shelf List Purpose, Need, Alternatives Purpose and Need Alternatives Impacts Environ. Impact Statements Community Overview Air Pollution Equity and Cost Shifting Health Impacts on Local Govt's Noise Residential Impacts Social Changes Schools Water Pollution Wetlands and Streams Construction, Engineering Issues The Embankment Fill Other Elements Earthquake Risks Economics Rising Costs Costs Omitted Indirect Costs Comparable Projects Dumb Idea at Any Price Port Spin RCAA Newsletters Latest Edition Newsletter Archive Other Regional Airports		RCAA ON-LINE LIBRARY Air Pollution Issues in Brief: Air pollution is a health issue. Jet planes emit huge quantities of toxic materials, such as cancer-causing benzene, & tiny particles of soot, as they leave & approach airports. Occasionally, jet planes dump raw fuel over residential areas during final approach to Sea-Tac. No governmental agency regulates the emissions or the fuel dumping. No agency even monitors them. The environmental impact statements for the third-runway projects do not provide information about local impacts of jet-plane exhausts – instead, theoretical models of jet fumes are averaged in with all other air pollution across the whole county, to produce a false appearance of compliance with general clean-air requirements. Generally, people living near airports are less healthy than the general population. Studies of the health effects from jet exhausts are in early stages, but are alarming. Neither the Port nor the FAA has any program to provide assistance to individuals who suffer from disease brought on by jet-plane pollution, or to work with local health agencies to study, or to treat, health problems. These costs are shifted to families, local clinics and hospitals, & local governments. Documents: Air Pollution: A Study with Particular Reference to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Williams, Beth., M.S.A. [Acrobat file,- 80 KB, 31 pages] RCAA White Papers, Book 1. (Reviews air and toxic pollutants commonly found in airport communities and their effects on health and the environment. Summarizes 1991 Washington State Department of Ecology Study and the lack of a monitoring program at Sea-Tac.) Airport Pollution - Frequently Asked Questions [link] The Natural Resources Defence Council; October 1996 [Acrobat version - 4.32 MB] Breathtaking Premature Mortality Due to Particulate Air Pollution in 239 American Cities [link] National Resource Defense Council - May 1996 [Acrobat version - 1.78 Mb, 651 pages] Flying Off Course Environmental Impacts of America's Airports [link] This report examines the noise, ground-level air quality, water pollution and other issues associated with America's airports. The information is excerpted from NRDC's print publication, Flying Off Course, published in October 1996. [Acrobat version - 1.78 Mb, 334 pages] Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants [link] United States Evironmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dec, 2003 Home \| What's the Latest? \| Links \| Library \| Newsletter \| About Us