We Don’t All Breathe the Same Air

Name: We Don’t All Breathe the Same Air
Start: 2023-10-30
End: 2023-10-30

Prof. Allen Robinson

Dean of the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering

Colorado State University

Monday October 30, 2023, 2 PM ET

Abstract:

Air pollution levels in the United States have decreased dramatically over the past several decades, yet exposure disparities persist between different communities. There is a need to better understand these disparities and their underlying causes in order to develop more effective policies to address them. In the first part of this talk, I will present results on current exposure disparities to criteria pollutants in the United States by race ethnicity and socioeconomic status and their historical trends. I will then focus on the causes of the disparities in fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) concentrations, including results from recent modeling analyses that investigate the impact of different regulatory strategies, such as the current NAAQS approach, enhanced emission controls, and location targeted approaches. I will also discuss the potential impacts of the Biden Administration’s Justice40 initiative on exposure disparities. The results indicate that new regulatory strategies will likely be needed to ensure we all breathe the same air.

Biosketch:

Dr. Allen L. Robinson is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and a Professor of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University where he serves Dean of the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering. His research focuses on the impact of emissions from energy systems and other sources on air quality, climate, and human health. He is a fellow of the American Geophysical Union and American Association for Aerosol Research.