Featuring Surili Patel of APHA and Dr. Lea Hildebrandt Ruiz of the University of Texas. Community Pulse segment featuring EarthX’s Michael Cain.
Dr. Hildebrandt Ruiz begins by speaking about air pollution and why we should "care about what's in air." Dr. Hildebrandt Ruiz breaks down the biggest polluters and the most common types of air pollution. In regard to our environment, carbon dioxide and methane are two of the most common types of pollutants emitted by human activity. On the other hand, the pollutants that cause longterm health impacts are different and include atmospheric particles or aerosols, PM or particulate matter, and ozone. Dr. Hildebrandt Ruiz gives listeners insight into how scientists predict ozone and air quality. While PM has a big impact on human health it also factors greatly into our environment and climate change. As a University of Texas professor, Dr. Hildebrandt Ruiz reminds listeners that PM is also one of the biggest air pollutants in the state of Texas. While, the EPA has clean air regulations, as well as existing standards for PM and Ozone, we must follow these guidelines & scientists must reevaluate them every couple of years. Dr. Ruiz Hildebrandt closes with the reminder, everyday people can implement the use of filters during combustible activities to stop PM before it enters the atmosphere.
Surili Patel unpacks ground-level ozone and it’s impact on human health conditions such as, chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, worsening bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma, as well as long term permanent lung damage. We may not always associate our medical conditions with ozone while on a bike ride, or even while in the garden, but they are very likely a result of air pollution, specifically ozone. Exposure to fine particulates starts as early as in the womb and is often associated with premature birth. Mental health is also impacted by air pollution, in the short term during natural disasters, but also slowly over time. For example, wildfires cause trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and impact air quality. Additionally, indoor air quality has also been impacted by climate change, as a result of floodwaters contributing to increased mold. Climate change’s impact on air pollution does NOT stop at our doors. Surili reminds listeners that policy plays a huge role in air quality and it is our responsibility and great power to vote, not only federally, but also locally; and if you can't vote work with your community members to help them register and vote.
Michael Cain of EarthX joins the community pulse segment to speak about EarthX TV. Since 2011 when Trammell Crow founded EarthDay Dallas, (which led to EarthDay Texas) EarthX has been building toward the 2020 50th anniversary of earth day. During the COVID-19 EarthX pivoted and held a VIRTUAL conference, featuring Youth Panels, Women Leaders and more. This virtual conference led to EarthX TV, a platform for voices & people to come together in a shared mission, despite their differences, to learn from one another in order for everyone to make one change to save the environment and our planet. EarthX TV's launch is 9/21/2020, visit their website for more information at: https://earthx.org/earthxtv/.