PHTH Chapter 13-15 slides

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act (EPCRA)

A federal law enacted in 1986 designed to help communities plan for chemical emergencies and increase public access to information about hazardous substances in their area

what does the The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act (EPCRA) require?

• State and local governments must develop emergency response plans for chemical hazards.

• Industries must report the storage, use, and releases of hazardous chemicals to federal, state, and local authorities.

• Communities have the right to know about toxic chemicals in their environment through databases like the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).

nonpoint-source pollution

contamination that comes from diffuse, widespread sources rather than a single, identifiable discharge point

• stormwater runoff

• sediment

• fertilizers & pesticides

• oil and grease

Point-source pollution

contamination that comes from a single, identifiable source—something you can “point” to—where pollutants enter the environment

• pollutants come from pipes, ditches, or channels

• wastewater treatment plants

• oil refineries

• industrial facilities

Factory Farms

AKA Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)

• large-scale, industrialized agricultural operations where animals such as cows, pigs, and chickens are raised in high densities for meat, dairy, or eggs.

Factory Farm Environmental Harms

• Produce massive amounts of animal waste, which can contaminate soil and water.

• Contribute to air pollution through methane and ammonia emissions.

• Can be a source of both point-source and nonpoint-source pollution, depending on waste handling.

  • Under the Clean Water Act, only point-source discharges are tightly regulated, leaving a significant gap in controlling agricultural runoff from CAFOs. This is why agricultural pollution remains one of the largest unaddressed sources of water contamination in the U.S.

Water treatment step 1

Coagulation

• Chemicals (like alum) are added to the water, causing small particles to clump together into larger particles called floc.

Water treatment step 2

Sedimentation

• The heavy floc particles settle to the bottom of the treatment tank.

Water treatment step 3

Filtration

• The clear water on top passes through filters (sand, gravel, charcoal) to remove remaining particles and microorganisms.

Water treatment step 4

Disinfection

• Chlorine, ozone, or UV light is used to kill or inactivate harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

methods of municipal disposal

• Sanitary landfills

• Incineration

• Open dumps

• Composting

• Recycling

• Waste-to-energy facilities

sanitary landfills

Engineered sites where waste is buried and isolated from the environment, lined to prevent leachate leakage

incineration

Burning waste at high temperatures to reduce volume; can generate energy but may release pollutants

open dumps

Unregulated waste disposal sites; now largely illegal in the U.S. due to environmental hazards

composting

Biological decomposition of organic waste into nutrient-rich soil material

recycling

Processing materials (paper, glass, metals, plastics) for reuse instead of disposal

Waste-to-energy facilities

Specialized incineration plants that produce electricity or heat from burning waste

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

United States federal law enacted in 1976 that governs the management of solid and hazardous waste

• Cradle-to-grave management

• Waste classification

• Standards and permits

• Corrective action

• Focus on waste minimization

Cradle-to-grave management

RCRA establishes a system to track hazardous waste from its creation through transportation, treatment, storage, and final disposal.

Waste classification

It defines categories of waste, including hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste

Standards and permits

Facilities that generate, transport, treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste must comply with specific standards and obtain permits

Corrective action

RCRA requires cleanup of contaminated sites and mandates corrective actions if contamination occurs

Focus on waste minimization

Encourages reduction in the amount and toxicity of waste generated

What waste disposal disasters led to the creation of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)?

• Love Canal, New York

• Times Beach, Missouri

Love Canal, New York

residential neighborhood was built on top of an industrial chemical landfill. Toxic chemicals began seeping into homes, schools, and the environment, causing widespread health problems and media attention

Times Beach, Missouri

A town was contaminated with dioxin, a highly toxic chemical, due to the spraying of contaminated oil on roads to control dust. The contamination led to the evacuation and eventual abandonment of the town

Comprehensive Environmental Response and Liability Act (CERLA)

• “superfund”

• a federal law enacted in 1980 created to manage and finance the cleanup of abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites that pose a risk to human health and the environment

  • allows the EPA to respond quickly to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment.

Clean Air Act

U.S. federal law that regulates emissions of hazardous air pollutants from stationary and mobile sources, improving air quality and reducing health risks such as respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and environmental damage

• Originally passed in 1963, it was significantly amended in 1970, 1977, and 1990

In the Frontline War on the EPA, what was the primary concerns raised by former EPA officials and environmentalists regarding the Trump administrations approach to environmental regulation?

• Erosion of Scientific Integrity

  • Critics argued that the administration sidelined scientific expertise, leading to policies that favored industry interests over public health and environmental protection.

• Dismantling of Environmental Protections:

  • The rollback of regulations aimed at reducing pollution and combating climate change was seen as a significant step backward in environmental governance.

• Undermining of Agency Independence:

  • The administration's actions were viewed as attempts to weaken the EPA's autonomy, potentially compromising its ability to enforce environmental laws effectively.

How did Scott Pruitt’s role as EPA administrator impact environmental regulations?

• Pruitt expressed his doubts on climate change 

• After Pruitt was elected, Trump signed an executive order to slash all environmental regulations 

  • “making the regulated the regulators”

  • They rolled back over 2 dozen rules and regulations

According to the Frontline War on the EPA, how did the fossil fuel industry respond to the EPA’s environmental policies under the Obama administration?

• Companies that profited off of the fossil fuels retaliated saying that obamas plan was a “trainwreck” and bad for the economy

• Americans For Prosperity tried to spin the propaganda that the environmental regulations were only going to profit the rich and negatively impact the poor 

•  Communities that revolved around the coal mining industry felt that the Obama Administration and the EPA were leaving them disadvantaged

• Oklahamas state economy is heavily reliant on fossil fuel production 

  • 22% of their state government revenue comes from oil and gas

• Scott Pruitt: the state attorney general for Oklahoma, sued the EPA 14 for “exceeding their authority” 

• Republicans became the majority in congress, meaning that there was little chance obama could get congress to act on climate change

Most effective policy changes and actions for clean water protection

1. Stricter regulatory standards for pollutants entering water bodies

   • setting enforceable limits on contaminants from industrial, agricultural, and municipal sources.

2. Improved monitoring and enforcement

   • ensuring compliance through regular inspections, penalties for violations, and transparent reporting.

3. Investment in infrastructure upgrades

   • funding modernization of wastewater treatment plants, stormwater systems, and safe drinking water delivery.

4. Public education and community involvement

   • raising awareness about pollution prevention and engaging communities in protecting local water sources.

5. Promotion of sustainable land use practices

   • including better agricultural runoff control and protection of wetlands and natural buffers.

Paris Agreement's 2°C target justification

Limiting global warming to well below 2°C to avoid the most severe and irreversible effects of climate change, such as extreme weather events, sea level rise, loss of biodiversity, and disruptions to food and water supplies

• aims to reduce greenhouse gases

• Beyond 2°C, the risks of catastrophic impacts on ecosystems, economies, and public health increase substantially, including heat-related illnesses, vector-borne diseases, and respiratory problems

The Agreement also encourages efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C, recognizing that lower warming reduces risks even further, especially for vulnerable populations and small island nations

Climate Change and Health

Direct impacts on health from extreme weather events:

• injuries

• death

• mental health stress

Indirect impacts on health form changes in the ecosystem and social system:

• Altered patterns of infectious diseases (e.g., mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue expanding into new areas).

• Food and water insecurity caused by crop failures, reduced water availability, and contamination.

• Increased respiratory illnesses due to worsened air quality (e.g., from wildfires or pollution).

• Displacement and conflict from resource scarcity or environmental degradation

Climate Drivers

natural and human-induced factors that influence Earth’s climate system, which in turn affect health outcomes

• increased temperatures

• precipitation extremes

• extreme weather events

• sea level rise

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

a federal agency with broad responsibilities for food safety, nutrition, and agricultural policy that affect public health

• inspects and regulates:

  • Meat

    Poultry

    Processed egg products

  • Ensures these foods are safe, wholesome, and accurately labeled.

    Oversees major federal food assistance programs:

    • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

    • National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs

    • Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program (in collaboration with states)

  • Develops Dietary Guidelines for Americans jointly with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Public Health importance of the USDA

• The inspection and regulatory roles help prevent foodborne illnesses.

• Its nutrition programs address food insecurity and promote healthy eating.

• Its agricultural policies influence environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that plays a major role in protecting public health by regulating food, drugs, medical products, and cosmetics

• Food Safety Regulation

  • Oversees the safety of all foods except meat, poultry, and processed egg products (which are regulated by USDA).

  • Regulates seafood, produce, dairy, packaged foods, and bottled water.

  • Enforces labeling requirements and ensures food is free from harmful contaminants.

• Drug and Medical Product Regulation

  • Reviews and approves prescription and over-the-counter drugs for safety and effectiveness.

  • Regulates vaccines, biologics, and medical devices.

• Cosmetic Safety

  • Ensures cosmetics are safe and properly labeled.

• Tobacco Products

  • Regulates manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of tobacco products through the Center for Tobacco Products.

• Enforcement and Surveillance

  • Conducts inspections of manufacturing facilities.

  • Monitors adverse events and recalls unsafe products

public health importance of the FDA

• Prevents foodborne illness by ensuring safety standards for most of the U.S. food supply.

• Protects consumers from unsafe drugs and medical devices.

• Regulates products that can have long-term health impacts (like tobacco).

• Provides science-based nutrition labeling to help consumers make informed choices