The Environmental Protections Agency

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Mount Airy, MD

History

Pollutants of concern for Mount Airy

Carbon Dioxide

Lead

Mercury

Local information

Potential stakeholders

Residents

Local Government

Farmers

Local Business owners

Health effects

Welfare effects

Potential solution to problem

History of Mount Airy

In the early part of the 1800’s, around the 1830’s to be exact there was a settlement of houses and stores along Parr’s Ridge. During these early days the settler’s didn’t bother to give the place they had just settled a name. As time went on around the 1840,s some of the citizens felt the need to add a church and school to help educate the children. The church was name the Ridge Presbyterian Church and was built for that purpose, and is still in the town today under the new name of the Pine Grove Chapel. Between 1833 and 1850 the town became part of the big railroad growth and began to grow fast as a big railroad holding and transport station town for the hub between Baltimore and Frederick, and then on to Cumberland and further west. Parr’s Ridge was a challenge to the engineer’s ability to design engines capable of pulling cars over the summit. Tracks were laid into the village and a station was built. As the railroad grew, so did the Town. Much of its prosperity can be traced to the B&O Railroad. History tells of a tale about an Irish railroad brakeman whose ears had become frozen from the cold air which crosses the town. Thinking about how the cold air froze his ears he suggested that they name the town Mount Airy. As a result of the expanding railroads in the town its residents had to deal with the air pollutions (Carbon Dioxide (CO2)) and (Mercury) from the many railroad cars parked in the holding stations. During the time of the big railroad boom in the small town of Mt. Airy, MD, no laws or regulations were in place for air pollutants and many workers got sick or even died. Since the industrial revolutions and the development of laws to help with air pollutions it has helped in some ways to control it, but in other ways we have contributed to it. The pollutants of concern for the residents are Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Mercury.

Pollutants of concern for Mount Airy, MD (present day)

Currently, Mount Airy, MD is not solely economically dependent on the railroad in order to provide for their loved ones, most of its residents work a variety of different jobs and many of its citizens work in many of the surrounding areas, such as Washington, DC or Baltimore; the town is a part of both of those cities' metropolitan areas. Protection of the Town's natural and environmental resources is absolutely essential to maintaining the quality of life that Mount Airy currently enjoys. In an effort to coordinate environmental efforts across the State, and ultimately improve the condition of the Chesapeake Bay, the State has adopted several regulations requiring local governments to address specific environmental issues. These laws, the Maryland Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Act of 1992, and 1991 Forest Conservation Act, along with the Smart Growth Legislation of 1997 all directly affect planning decisions in Mount Airy. In addition to these State regulatory measures, the Town has independently addressed protection of steep slopes, floodplains and town well watershed areas. Because of its heavy use of farm equipment and population growth, the town of Mount Airy air pollutants have increased. Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Lead, and Mercury air pollutants have been part of that increase, because of the population growth. Over the years the air quality index for the town of Mt. Airy is getting better and is lower than the states average, but overall higher than the United States Means AQI. Mount Airy has an air quality rank of #223 of 682, when compared to the other surrounding cities in the state of MD. Most of the town is farming community, while the city area is small and considered to be historical.

Local Information

Mount Airy, MD has a population of about 9500 residents and is split between two counties, Frederick and Carroll. The average median income is about $99,901 per household.

Mount Airy is similar to Westminster in its position astride Parrs Ridge, and has a humid, temperate climate with four rather well defined seasons. The general atmospheric flow is from west to east but alternate surges of cold air from the north and of warm humid air from the south occurs in the area, causing highly variable weather. Nearness to the Atlantic Coast allows coastal storms to make up any deficiency of precipitation resulting from the passage of weather systems over the mountains to the west. The average annual temperature is approximately 54 degrees, with January generally the coldest month and July the warmest. Temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit an average of 27 days a year. The average annual precipitation totals about 45 inches, with February the driest and August the wettest months. During the growing season, which averages about 177 days from April through September, the middle half of August is normally the wettest and the last part of July through the first part of August is the driest. The average seasonal snowfall is 28 inches. Data and climatology analysis taken from the 1970 Town of Mount Airy Master Plan. Topography, the shape and lay of the land, is a major factor in controlling and guiding the density, type and direction development is to take place in any area. Severely sloping terrain, if not retained and protected in an undeveloped state, is suitable only for low density residential use or forestation, while land, which is moderately sloped or rolling, can be appropriate for low, medium, and high-density residential development. In addition, it is the level areas, which are most easily adaptable for industrial and commercial land use. Because of the large farming community located in Mount Airy, there is a fertilizer (Mixing only) company located in the town. The company produces Nitrogenous Fertilizer and is listed as one of the most dangerous air pollutant locations. The hazard associated with Nitrogenous fertilizers industry generates high concentration of ammonia, urea, air emission (SOx, NOx, and COx SPM), ETP, sludge and spent catalysts wastes. The hazardous waste from the fertilizer is considered highly toxic. Therefore disposal of such wastes needs proper attention so as to reduce possible environmental hazards. This waste is listing in Mount Airy as the most dangerous Air pollutant. Under the Clean Air Act, a facility that uses this certain flammable and toxic substances must develop a Risk Management Plan.

Other Sources of Air pollutants: Cars from local residents, Most of the local residents live in Mt. Airy and commute to work using one of the major highways. Growth within the Town limits of Mount Airy closely follows the growth patterns of many of the municipalities located along the I-270 and I-70 corridor outside the metropolitan D.C. area and because of this growth a great concern for Carbon Dioxide from cars became one of the residential complaints. Mobile sources include both on road vehicles (such as cars, trucks and buses) and off-road equipment (such as ships, airplanes, agricultural and construction equipment). Mobile sources contribute significantly to air pollution. Driving a car is probably a person's single most polluting daily activity. Nationwide, mobile sources are responsible for about 75% of carbon monoxide pollution, and more oxides of nitrogen emissions than area or point sources. In urban areas, the motor vehicle contribution to carbon monoxide pollution can exceed 90 percent. In a typical urban area, at least half of the hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide pollutants come from mobile sources. Motor vehicles are also substantial sources of hazardous air pollutants, such as the recognized carcinogens benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, 1, 3-butadiene and diesel particulate matter.

Local businesses:

Area sources include small pollution sources like dry cleaners, gas stations, and auto body paint shops. The following businesses produces CO2 and other type of air pollutants that are under environmental watch for a potential to releases those pollutants into the environment, The East Ridgeville gas station,7 11 Gas station, Car Enterprises, Century Ford, Highs Store Gas Station, Shell Gas Station, and Exxon Gas Station those I mentioned have been classified as having a minor effect on the environment under the Clean Air Act which states is a Stationary Source Minor discharger of air pollutants if: * Potential uncontrolled emissions < 100 tons/year, or * Major source thresholds are not defined, or classification is unknown. All of the above produce CO2.

The other facilities listed produce lead, mercury and particular matter into the environment and is also under watch by the Environmental Protections Agency the Dennis Kitchen & Bath Wood Office and Store Fixtures, Partitions, Shelving, and Lockers Southern States – Other Animal Food Manufacturing Superior Concrete- Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing Miracle Works-Auto Repair shop Ridge side Cleaners-Dry-cleaning and Laundry Services, Wally’s Iron Works which produce iron and Clements & Steed Incorporated which is a Sawmill and Planning Mills were also put on the environmental air pollutant watch list.

Health Effects

The health effects of from the Carbon Dioxide are asphyxiation, caused by the release of carbon dioxide in a confined or unventilated area. This can lower the concentration of oxygen to a level that is immediately dangerous for human health. Overall the Health Effects from these pollutants were not as bad as because the Air Quality Index was considered good, even though it was higher than the state and national average.

Mount Airy air quality index & pollution index.

Index

Mount Airy

Maryland

National

Air quality index

41

40

37

Pollution index

5,553,870

7,257,408

6,623,939

The Mount Airy, MD air quality index is a median value which considers the most hazardous air pollutants. The Mount Airy, MD air quality index is 2.8% greater than the Maryland average and 10.8% greater than the national average. Now take a look at the Air Quality index (AQI) Scale which puts Mount Airy, MD in the green for most of the year.

Air Quality Index (AQI) Scale

AQI Color

AQI Category

AQI Numbers

Green

Good

0-50

Yellow

Moderate

51-100

Orange

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

101-150

Red

Unhealthy

151-200

Purple

Very Unhealthy

201-300

Black

Hazardous

301-500+

General Health Effects and Cautionary Statements

Index

Value

AQI

Descriptor

General Health

Effects

Cautionary

Statements

Up to 50

Good

None for the general population.

None required.

50 to 100

Moderate

Few or none for the general population.

None required.

100 to 200

Unhealthful

Mild aggravation of symptoms among susceptible people, with irritation symptoms in the healthy population.

Persons with existing heart or respiratory ailments should reduce physical exertion and outdoor activity. General population should reduce vigorous outdoor activity.

200 to 300

Very Unhealthful

Significant aggravation of symptoms and decreased exercise tolerance in persons with heart or lung disease; widespread symptoms in the healthy population.

Elderly and persons with existing heart or lung disease should stay indoors and reduce physical activity. General population should avoid vigorous outdoor activity.

Over 300

Hazardous

Early onset of certain diseases in addition to significant aggravation of symptoms and decreased exercise tolerance in healthy persons. At AQI levels above 400, premature death of ill and elderly persons may result. Healthy people experience adverse symptoms that affect normal activity.

Elderly and persons with existing diseases should stay indoors and avoid physical exertion. At AQI levels above 400, general population should avoid outdoor activity. All people should remain indoors, keeping windows and doors closed, and minimize physical exertion.

Air quality information

Measurement

Total

Days measured

215

Days with good air quality

161

Days with moderate air quality

51

Days w/ poor A.Q. for sensitive groups

3

Days with unhealthy air quality

0

2012 Pollution Indexes

Mount Airy, MD 21771

Maryland

United States

Air Pollution Index

74

87

100

Ozone Index

77

87

100

Lead Index

47

50

100

Carbon Monoxide Index

69

91

100

Nitrogen Dioxide Index

81

106

100

Particulate Matter Index

85

88

100

Index score: (100 = National Average) for an area is compared to the national average of 100. A score of 200 indicates twice the national average, while 50 indicates half the national average.

Welfare effects although carbon monoxide has not been found to adversely affect vegetation or materials, it can affect animals in the same manner that it affects humans. Lead Exposure can occur through inhalation of air and through ingestion of food, water, soil or dust containing lead compounds. A recent survey from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reported a 78% decrease in blood lead levels between 1976 and 1980 and from 1988 to 1991. This dramatic decline is the result of reducing leaded gasoline and the removal of lead from soldered cans. I couldn’t find any data on sampling done for the air pollutants; I only could find the indexes.

Potential solution to problem: the solution for the High CO2, was to have clean air burning cars/hybrids or electric, add a small transit system and monitor local business and have them come up with plan to cut down on air pollutants.