DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
A briefing by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District on Air Quality and Public Health Impacts
SUMMARY:
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District will provide a presentation discussing air quality and how it impacts public health.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Clean Air Act requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. Air quality is a significant priority for City Council as it has an impact on our community's public health.
The Clean Air Act identifies 6 principal air pollutants for which public health-related standards have been set. These six pollutants include: ozone; particulate matter; nitrogen dioxide; sulfur dioxide; carbon monoxide; and lead. To monitor the status of the local air quality, Metro Health staff operates and maintains 18 separate air monitors in the San Antonio area. The air monitors measure ozone, nitrous oxides and other ozone precursors as well as meteorological parameters. Metro Health also works with other environmental organizations such as EPA, TCEQ and AACOG to monitor air quality in their work to protect the public's health.
On September 28, 2017, Metro Health presented an overview of an analysis of the public health effects of changing ozone levels in San Antonio to the Community Health and Equity Committee. The Committee recommended the Department provide a briefing to the full City Council during a B Session meeting on overall air quality and its impact on public health.
ISSUE:
Metro Health would like the opportunity to provide a presentation to the full City Council on air quality and its impact on the public's health.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with th...
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