The Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association (GLTPA) — Spring Logger Celebration, Harris MI.
The Island Resort and Casino in Harris MI. was host of the 2024 GLTPA Spring Logger Celebration, an event not soon forgotten. Despite the fact the forest industry has challenges, especially with sporadic roundwood pulp markets, loggers took time to communicate with one another, industry representatives and speakers to learn about things having an impact on their future.
As in years past, the Hamilton Roddis Foundation once again provided sponsorship for another lineup of exceptional speakers. In fact, several attendees stated this year’s speakers “knocked it out of the park” with quality information. The first keynote speaker, Steve Gould, founder of the “Target-Focused Life,” provided detail on how his professional target shooting exhibition career led him to another career of helping others in their quest to lead a “Target Focused Life” to achieve greater success in their businesses and daily lives.
The second keynote speaker, Margaret Byfield, Executive Director for “American Stewards of Liberty,” provided additional thought-provoking information from a national perspective on private property rights, old growth and mature forests and the temporary demise of Natural Asset Companies with their potential negative impact on Americas natural resources.
After the keynotes, GLTPA honored Michigan House Representative Cam Cavitt with the 2024 Legislator of the Year award. Citing his role in protecting the “future of Michigan’s forest industry.” Board members commended Cavitt’s support for the Billerud mill in Escanaba to receive $200 million per Senate Bill 7 and other policies that “ensure stability for sustainable forest management.”
Just prior to the noon lunch break, certification manager for SAPPI North America Rebecca Barnard, explained the new European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) so that Great Lakes Region wood suppliers may know how to comply. When the regulation takes effect on Dec. 30 of this year, no timber or byproducts harvested from land to be converted to farmland may be sold to the E.U.
The afternoon program was again filled with knowledgeable speakers starting with Scott Dane, Executive Director for the American Loggers Council headquartered in Washington D.C. Based on his recent article “The Dismantling of the American Timber Industry” Dane reported that nationally, within the last 15 months, 50 mills have closed, resulting in the loss of 10,000 jobs.
“We’re not having any less demand for wood products; we’re just importing it from other sources,” Dane said.
Rounding out the afternoon of speakers was Marty Ochs from the Green Bay Innovation Group. Marty addressed at length the perceived need to bring sawmills and logging jobs back to local hands. Ochs spoke specifically about Wisconsin, mostly, but the American Loggers Council (ALC) assured the audience the problem isn’t restricted to the Great Lakes Region.
Troy Brown, President of Kretz Lumber in Antigo WI, and current President of GLTPA stated, “the need for this type of meeting and this caliber of information is needed now more than ever. Things change at the speed of thought, and it is GLTPA’s prerogative to ensure its members are armed with the best information possible to know the now and prepare for the future. Today’s speakers were nothing short of magnificent. We don’t tell members what to think, but we sure provide the information so they can think.”
Dane, along with GLTPA Director Henry Schienebeck and other loggers from around the country, will be heading to Washington, D.C. this week to represent the interests of independent contractors logging throughout the U.S.
Involta’s recently acquired Northeast Wisconsin data center in the Village of Harrison is online and operational! We invite you to join us for the grand opening of our newest facility.
With plans to increase power capacity at the 24.5-acre site to 20 MW, our data center is perfectly poised to meet rising regional enterprise colocation demands.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 1:00 pm, followed by facility tours. Refreshments will be provided.
Event Amundsen Davis Webcast April 24, 2024 | 10:00 AM CT
Across the country, states are implementing pay transparency laws, which will impact the way employers advertise, pay and hire their employees. These laws are here to stay and if employers are not preparing for compliance now, they are setting themselves up for headaches later.
Join Julie Proscia and Sara Zorich on April 24 at 10 AM as they discuss the trends of these new pay transparency laws.
Flexible packaging-focused “Power Packs Live” event at PCMC’s Packaging Innovation Center in Green Bay, WI packs in two days of networking, education, and equipment demos
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin – April XX, 2024 — Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), part of BW Converting Solutions, is inviting flexible packaging newcomers and experts alike to a free information-packed open house at its state-of-the-art Packaging Innovation Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Participants interested in the event can choose from one of two sessions being held April 23 and April 24. Both will be held from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.
The event will focus on digital printing for flexible packaging. The inaugural Power Packs Live event builds upon the success of PCMC’s recently launched Power Packs educational video series. PCMC’s Packaging Innovation Center serves as a resource for demos, trials, and training along with research and development opportunities.
Digital Printing for Flexible Packaging Open House – April 23, April 24
This event will open with a keynote address by industry consultant and analyst Dr. Sean Smyth, one of the foremost experts in the global digital market.
A series of breakout sessions led by packaging experts will follow, covering topics including: digital software, led by Sean Hampson and Keith Grimm of Hybrid, and Eric Nelsen of Xitron; Why MemJet?, presented by Jason Thelander of Memjet; Design for Digital, led by PCMC’s Chris Pryor; and a business case/cost model of PCMC’s new ION hybrid packaging press delivered by PCMC’s Mike Branstrom.
Participants will also have an opportunity to see the ION hybrid press live in action. the ION turns traditional analog presses into digital hybrid printing platforms, providing the ability to produce larger digital runs cost competitively, meeting market needs for wider, faster printing with highest quality. It is designed to handle up to 400 feet per minute with web widths of 36, 42 and 52 inches for paper, film and folding carton. The ION is a fully modular system with digital CMYK and flexo print stations that can be custom configured to meet a variety of customer challenges.
Following lunch and networking, a closing panel session moderated by Sean Smyth will feature Jennifer Grace, President of LaCore Printworx, the first customer for ION; Flexible Packaging Association president Alison Keane; and PCMC’s, Windell McGill.
“We’re excited to host flexible packaging converters in Green Bay not only to show them a digital press printing at speeds not seen before, but also to learn about the business opportunity for digitally printed flexible packaging,” said ION Launch Manager Windell McGill. “We believe it will be a true learning experience and can’t wait to see everyone in Green Bay.”
Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), part of BW Converting Solutions, a strategic alliance of resources and services comprised of five industry-leading brands, specializes in the design, manufacture, and service of high-performance converting machinery for the tissue, hygiene, bag converting, and printing industries worldwide. Our comprehensive product offerings include rewinding, laminating, printing, embossing, perforating, folding, and packaging equipment for roll and folded tissue; plastic bag-making equipment, pouch-making equipment, and pre-applied closure solutions for the bag-converting industry; and a complete range of printing presses and laser anilox cleaners, serving the flexible-packaging, prime-label, and carton-converting industries. For more information, visit pcmc.com.
About Barry-Wehmiller
Barry-Wehmiller is a diversified global supplier of engineering consulting and manufacturing technology for the packaging, corrugating, sheeting and paper-converting industries. By blending people-centric leadership with disciplined operational strategies and purpose-driven growth, Barry-Wehmiller has become a $2.5 billion organization with more than 11,000 team members united by a common belief: to use the power of business to build a better world. CEO Bob Chapman shares the story of the company’s transformation in his new book, Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family. To learn more, go to barrywehmiller.com.
Folding carton-focused “Power Packs Live” event at PCMC’s Packaging Innovation Center in Green Bay, WI packs in a day of networking, education, and equipment demos
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin – April XX, 2024 — Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), part of BW Converting Solutions, is inviting folding carton packaging newcomers and experts alike to a free information-packed open house at its state-of-the-art Packaging Innovation Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, April 25 from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. The event will focus on digital and flexo printing for the folding carton industry. The inaugural Power Packs Live event builds upon the success of PCMC’s recently launched Power Packs educational video series. PCMC’s Packaging Innovation Center serves as a resource for demos, trials, and training along with research and development opportunities.
Digital and Flexo Folding Carton Open House – April 25
This event will open with a keynote address by industry consultant and analyst Dr. Sean Smyth and include a flexo supplier showcase where participants will catch up on the latest products from industry suppliers, followed by lunch, networking, and educational sessions including Digital for Folding Carton, The Right Fit: Digital vs Flexo, and a business case review.
An overview of the Fusion folding carton press will be followed by an up-close press-side demo. The Fusion press boasts energy and time-saving features like automatic drum cleaning and automatic impression setting to ensure minimal downtime. The Fusion significantly reduces energy requirements by utilizing low-power consumption components, design and operation. In addition, it offers fast changeovers and lower ink usage for competitive operating costs and a quick return on investment.
“We’re excited to share with the industry PCMC’s state-of-the-art printing technologies. During the event, we’ll have a live demo of our high-production 59 inch wide, 10+2 Color Fusion CI press as well as our short-run digital offering for the folding carton space,” said Rodney Pennings, Director of Sales – Print. “This unique press with its 2-color downstream outboard allows flexibility for backside print and sustainable coatings. This, coupled with engaging presentations from BW Paper Systems-Zerand, a leader in die cutting, will show the economic benefits to moving your folding carton production from sheet fed to web fed.”
Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), part of BW Converting Solutions, a strategic alliance of resources and services comprised of five industry-leading brands, specializes in the design, manufacture, and service of high-performance converting machinery for the tissue, hygiene, bag converting, and printing industries worldwide. Our comprehensive product offerings include rewinding, laminating, printing, embossing, perforating, folding, and packaging equipment for roll and folded tissue; plastic bag-making equipment, pouch-making equipment, and pre-applied closure solutions for the bag-converting industry; and a complete range of printing presses and laser anilox cleaners, serving the flexible-packaging, prime-label, and carton-converting industries. For more information, visit pcmc.com.
About Barry-Wehmiller
Barry-Wehmiller is a diversified global supplier of engineering consulting and manufacturing technology for the packaging, corrugating, sheeting and paper-converting industries. By blending people-centric leadership with disciplined operational strategies and purpose-driven growth, Barry-Wehmiller has become a $2.5 billion organization with more than 11,000 team members united by a common belief: to use the power of business to build a better world. CEO Bob Chapman shares the story of the company’s transformation in his new book, Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family. To learn more, go to barrywehmiller.com.
Get links to the latest news, events, stories, and interviews from our 5P news sponsors. Our goal is to remind the decision-makers in Wisconsin of the importance of our industry both historically, and more importantly, into the future.
Read the latest 86 Stories and Links on the Internet below.
Grace Label was the first label converter in North America to add the NEW Domino N730i digital UV inkjet label press to their business. Installed in 2023, the N730i provides 1200 dpi printing at 230 ft/min. 7-Color CMYKOV+W covering 92% of the Pantone range, and white prints 76% opacity at speed. Already a Domino customer with the 600 dpi N610i installed in 2019, Grace Label’s business grew tremendously the next few years and they needed to add additional capacity. A visit to Labelexpo Americas 2022 was all it took. It was their first glimpse of the N730i, and they decided at the trade show they wanted that press. Now, having both the N610i and N730i in their arsenal, they call it their ‘Field of Dreams’ with these two presses, and their business continues to grow.
We caught up with the team at Grace Label to learn more about their company and their growth utilizing digital printing. We were joined by Steve Grace (president), sons Kyle Grace (operations manager) and Ethan Grace (digital press operator), as well as Lou Thurston (account executive), Mark Brooks (account executive), Amy Bogle (customer service representative), and John Watsabaugh (digital press operator).
Steve begins, “We’re located in Des Moines, Iowa. We’re a a medium-sized flexo and digital label printer started by my father in 1974. It started with 11 employees. Now, three generations later, we continue to grow. Being located in the Midwest, we work a lot in the food and beverage industries and we’re proud to remain independent after all these years. Although we’re not that big of a company, we have the capabilities of anybody out in the market. And our best thing we do here is that we take care of customers and we want to be able to stand toe to toe with any of the big guys and give them that higher sense of attention, that higher sense of importance to say hey, ‘we can fill your needs across the board’ and that’s the reason we got into digital in the first place.”
The addition of the NEW Domino N730i
So, what does the Grace Label team think of the new Domino N730i? It was interesting to hear their responses, as it was evident that each person’s view is largely based on their role within the company.
Ethan begins, “For me personally, what’s exciting about having one of the first N730i presses in the world, is we get to watch the development and evolution of digital printing technology in real time.”
Lou says, “It has really upped our game here at Grace Label. Being in the digital game on our Domino N610i, we really had a solid workhorse delivering super results. It just made it a lot easier when Steve went looking for that second press to go right back to Domino. And with the N730i, we’ve got something that nobody else is delivering today and we couldn’t be more excited to take that to the marketplace.”
Mark adds, “From a sales perspective, Grace Label has the ability to make sure we’ve got our customers covered in any way, shape, or form. With Domino’s partnership, we’ve already had a great press. With the addition of the N730i, we’re able to enter the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical market. On top of that, we’ve got even quicker turnarounds and higher press speeds.”
Kyle says, “When it comes to scheduling, I’ve got flexo, and I’ve got the N730i, and I’ve got the N610i. And it’s really nice between the N730i and the N610i to have that flexibility between the two and I know I’m going to get great quality. And our nutraceuticals that really require that fine text works just a little bit better over on our N730i. It has been a game changer for us in that regard, and I’m getting orders out the door in a timely fashion.”
Steve provided an example of how it is a differentiator for their business. “We have a customer that required a really nice crisp white on a clear label. They had to go through their press three times to achieve the opacity that they wanted. Domino was able to do this label in one pass. So, we can sit down with a customer and just say ‘hey, we can fill your needs across the board’.”
John concludes, “The N730i runs color across the web very nicely, especially with very small graphics, very small type. You can see type that doesn’t even look like type, and when you put a magnifier on it, you can read it. It does a beautiful job.”
Is there a ‘Domino difference’?
Steve begins, “Yes, there is a Domino difference. They do what they say they’re going to do. They help us out when we need help and anytime we’ve had a problem, it’s been solved and that’s why we decided to reinvest in Domino again.”
Mark says, “The Domino difference really is capability. It’s offering us to be very confident with our customers in our abilities to graphically meet their needs.”
Amy comments, “For me, the Domino difference truly is the quality that comes off of the press, as well as how quickly we can get the labels turned around.”
Lou adds, “The Domino difference for Grace Label is robust, high quality, high speed, quick to market with huge support from Domino. They’re not just a vendor, they’re a true business partner.”
Steve sums it up. “Domino is a great partner, and it’s nice to have somebody that’s got the technology and the service and the people that you can rely on to help you get through the next phase. With the additional capabilities of the N730i, there was really no other choice to be made.”
Domino is a leading manufacturer and distributor of digital printing and product identification solutions. Celebrating its 46th year in business, Domino is a global organization with world headquarters in the UK, and North America headquarters in Gurnee, IL. Domino has 25 subsidiaries, representation in over 120 countries, and over 3,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Domino digital printing, please visit dominodigitalprinting.com
The Importance of Professional Engineering Services in Customized System Solutions
In today’s economic climate, maintaining profit margins while meeting the demanding needs of your customers is a tricky puzzle to complete. Improving the technological profile of your operations can provide the key to improving efficiency and gaining a competitive edge. Still, investing in new technology isn’t without risks. Professional engineering services help anticipate and mitigate these risks while maximizing the return on your investment.
What are Professional Engineering Services?
Professional engineering includes all the activities involved in designing, developing, optimizing, and maintaining systems and infrastructures. Engineers use a variety of technical, scientific, and mathematical principles along with expertise in industry standards and regulations to solve the complex problems that arise. Professional engineers typically specialize in sectors such as mechanical and piping, civil and structural, and electrical and controls, and they work in every industry.
Engineering Higher Returns
Along with ensuring proper installation and operation of your equipment, professional engineers bring various benefits to every project. More than an additional cost, engineers often reduce the overall expense of major projects by avoiding costly errors, compatibility issues, and problems with regulations and compliance.
Professional engineers also keep costs down through the following:
Improved Efficiency: Optimized processes, increased production, and reduced downtime.
Enhanced Quality: Expert insights and solutions improve product quality, safety, and performance.
Technology and Innovation: Experience with advanced tools and software leads to innovative solutions.
Flexibility and Scalability: Customized solutions can be scaled depending on your needs and requirements.
Professional Engineers in Action
When the City of Chicago’s South Water Purification Plant needed a carefully coordinated retrofit for their pump systems, the Quad Plus engineers were up to the task. The primary challenge we faced was that the plant could not be shut down for any length of time.
Instead, we had to complete one system transformation every six weeks for nine systems originally installed in the late 1940s. Our engineers worked with the equipment supplier to design one package supporting a range of field currents. That way, one system could handle all motors, and all spare parts would be interchangeable.
We achieved our objective of a total retrofit with no shutdowns and streamlined and simplified the system so it no longer suffered from delays and downtime.
Planning for Success
Professional engineering means visualizing your industrial projects to anticipate and solve problems before they arise during installation and startup. For expertise in mechanical, piping, electrical, civil, and structural engineering for projects large and small, contact Jim at jwoulf@quadplus.com or call (920) 515-4155.
By Ashley Knobeloch, BSN, RN1; Megan Christenson, MS, MPH1; Elaina Andreychak, MPH1; Jenny Camponeschi, MS1; Carrie Tomasallo, PhD, MPH1 1Wisconsin Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
SUMMARY — Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is an air pollutant that causes heart and lung disease and can lead to premature death, especially in infants, people over 65 years of age, and people with cardiovascular or respiratory disease. In Wisconsin, people of color tend to face higher rates of exposure to PM2.5 as compared to people who are white. There is no safe level of exposure to PM2.5. Although Wisconsin’s PM2.5 rates have decreased over the last 20 years, it is still important to take steps to reduce exposure. Recommendations to reduce harm caused by PM2.5 include policy development and taking individual precautions to reduce personal exposure.
BACKGROUND
Air pollution is a worldwide environmental health threat that is associated with 7 million premature deaths annually.1 A variety of health conditions are associated with air pollution, including heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, and lung cancer, as well as acute and chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma. Research has shown that lower levels of air pollution are linked with better short- and long-term cardiovascular and respiratory health.2
Particulate matter (PM) is one harmful component of outdoor air pollution. PM is composed of a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets of organic and inorganic substances such as ammonia, black carbon, mineral dust, nitrates, sodium chloride, sulfate, and water. There are two key types of particulate matter: PM10 and PM2.5. Inhalable coarse particles (PM10) result from wind-blown dust (for example, dust from unpaved roadways and dust creating industries).3 Fine particles (PM2.5) are most commonly created by chemical reactions of other air pollutants from sources such as power plants, automobiles, and industries. Forest fires and wood stoves also create PM2.5 pollution.
The hazardous effects of particulate matter impact more people than any other pollutant.2 PM2.5 is particularly dangerous because these particles are so small that after they are inhaled, they can travel through the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream, leading to additional health-damaging effects. See Figure 1 for size comparisons between fine beach sand, human hair, PM10, and PM2.5. Long-term exposure to particulate matter has been linked to a higher risk of developing heart and lung disease, lung cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementias.4 Long- and short-term exposure also increase the risk of premature death in infants, people over 65 years, and people with heart or lung disease.4 In Wisconsin, it is estimated that in the year 2012, 16.5% of deaths of individuals over 14 years of age were attributable to PM2.5 pollution—the 9th highest state rate in the United States.5
PM2.5 has been linked to health impacts even at very low concentrations, and no safe level of exposure has been determined.2 The safest approach to protect public health is to achieve the lowest concentrations of PM2.5 possible. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets primary and secondary standards for particulate matter in the United States.6 Primary standards are created to protect public health, including the health of individuals who are at increased risk from air pollution, such as children, older individuals, as well as those with asthma and/or heart disease. Secondary standards are created to protect public welfare and the environment. The current EPA primary standard for PM2.5 is 12 μg/m3 (annual mean, averaged over three years). The current EPA secondary standard for PM2.5 is 15 μg/m3 (annual mean, averaged over three years).
WISCONSIN PM2.5 DATA
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Environmental Public Health Tracking Program provides data on PM2.5 levels in Wisconsin within the program’s data portal. These data are available to the public and are regularly updated. The portal provides historical data from counties with air monitors and modeled data from counties without monitors. The modeled data come from the EPA’s Downscaler (DS) model, which uses the Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system to provide PM2.5 concentration estimates for areas without monitors. To learn more about this, see our Air Quality Data Details. Figure 2 displays data from the portal, which shows a trend of decreasing PM2.5 annual average concentration in Wisconsin from 2002 to 2018.
FIGURE 1. Particulate matter size comparison
PM2.5 concentrations in Wisconsin have decreased by over 35% since the early 2000’s.8 From 2006–2008, several Wisconsin counties were not in compliance with federal PM2.5 standards, as shown in Figure 3. Currently, all Wisconsin counties are in compliance with federal PM2.5 standards. This improvement is the result of a variety of federal and state laws and control programs which have significantly reduced pollutant emissions. One law that has significantly reduced Wisconsin’s PM2.5 rates is the Clean Air Act. The Clean Air Act is a federal law which led to the creation of a variety of state and federal environmental protection programs to improve air quality in the United States. From 2002 to 2017, many air-polluting emissions have decreased substantially. This includes reductions in air pollutants which create PM2.5, 9 such as an 89% reduction in sulfur dioxide (SO2), a 63% reduction in emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), as well as a 58% reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs).8
FIGURE 2. PM2.5 (μg/m3): Annual Average Concentration (Monitor + Modeled Data), 2002, 2010, and 20187
FIGURE 3. Trends in 24-hour PM2.5 Design Values in Wisconsin, 2001–20198*
*Note: The dark purple line shows the mean design value (a statistic that describes air quality status compared to national standards), the light gray lines show trends for each monitor, and the purple shaded area shows the range of values observed. The dotted line represents the national standard, which decreased in 2006.
DISPROPORTIONATE PM2.5 EXPOSURE FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR IN WISCONSIN
Throughout the United States, people of color are exposed to disproportionately high levels of PM2.5.10 This trend is consistent across states, urban and rural areas, and income levels. In the United States, people of color have 25% higher rates of exposure to PM2.5, on average, compared with people who are white.10 In Wisconsin, people of color have 34% higher rates of exposure to PM2.5, on average, compared with people who are white.10
DHS’ Environmental Public Health Tracking portal shows overlap between the counties with the highest yearly average PM2.5 concentration and the counties with the highest percentage of people who are Black/African American (including those of Hispanic ethnicity), people who are Asian/Pacific Islander (including those of Hispanic ethnicity), and Hispanic individuals. In fact, the eight counties with the highest annual average concentration of PM2.5 include four of the five counties with the highest percentage of Black/African American residents (Milwaukee, Racine, Dane, and Rock counties), two of the five counties with the highest percentage of Asian/Pacific Islander residents (Dane and Milwaukee counties), and four of the five counties with the highest percentage of Hispanic residents (Milwaukee, Racine, Walworth, and Rock counties). See Figures 4 and 5 for visualizations of these data.
FIGURE 5. Percent of Population by Demographic Group, 20187
RECOMMENDATIONS
For Individuals:
Individuals can take the following steps to protect themselves from indoor particulate matter:
Keep living quarters clean.11
Don’t smoke.11
Vent fuel-fired combustion appliances (including furnaces, stoves, and heaters) to the outdoors.12
Use an exhaust fan vented to the outdoors while cooking.12
Ensure that woodstoves are properly sized, certified to meet EPA emission standards, and that doors to the woodstove close tightly.12 Review the EPA’s Burn Wise website for more information on burning wood safely.
Ensure annual inspection, cleaning, and tune-up of central heating systems.12
Change filters on air cleaners and central heating and cooling systems according to manufacturer’s instructions.12
Use a reliable source such as AirNow.gov to track daily PM2.5 levels in your area. When outdoor particulate matter levels are extremely high, take additional steps to protect yourself and your family:
Limit physical activity. Avoid activities that cause you to breathe faster or more deeply.11
Stay indoors in an area with clean air.11 If you live in an area with high levels of particulate matter, consider purchasing an air cleaner. Review the EPA’s Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home to learn more about air cleaners. If you cannot afford an air cleaner, consider going somewhere that has air filtration (such as a friend’s house) when air pollution levels are high.
Take the following additional steps to reduce air pollution in your home when outdoor particulate matter levels are high:
Avoid burning anything, including wood, gas logs, candles, and incense.11
Avoid vacuuming unless your vacuum has a HEPA filter.11
Open windows and air out your home after outdoor air quality improves.11
For Policymakers:
Policy development is the best way to reduce particulate matter. Due to ongoing trends involving disproportionate PM2.5 exposure among people of color in Wisconsin, it is critical that policymakers consider health equity in all policy decisions pertaining to PM2.5. Policies that have been successful in reducing particulate matter include setting and enforcing standards for toxic air emissions,13 as well as addressing the following:
Transportation: Prioritize eco-friendly means of transportation, including rapid urban transit, rail travel, walking, and cycling. Shift towards low-emissions vehicles, low-emissions fuels (including fuels with reduced sulfur content), and cleaner heavy-duty diesel vehicles.2
Energy: Ensure access to affordable clean energy solutions. Increase use of low-emissions fuels and renewable combustion-free power sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower.2
Industry: Encourage clean technologies which reduce smokestack emissions. Improve management of agricultural and urban waste.2
CONCLUSION
There is no safe level of exposure to PM2.5. PM2.5 penetrates the lung barrier and can enter the bloodstream. Long-term exposure increases the risk of developing heart and lung disease, lung cancer, diabetes, and dementia. Exposure (including short-term exposure) is also linked to premature death in infants, people over 65 years of age, and individuals with cardiovascular or respiratory disease. Following a nationwide trend of disproportionate PM2.5 exposure, people of color in Wisconsin face disproportionately high rates of exposure to PM2.5 compared with white individuals in Wisconsin. While Wisconsin’s PM2.5 levels have decreased in recent years, it is still important to take steps to reduce exposure since even low concentrations of PM2.5 can cause harmful health effects.
REFERENCES
1World Health Organization. Air Pollution: Impact. 2022. https://www.who.int/
health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_2. Accessed July 6, 2022.
2World Health Organization. Ambient (outdoor) air pollution. September 2021. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-
4American Lung Association. State of the Air 2022: Health Impact of Air Pollution. 2022. https://www.lung.org/research/sota/health-risks. Accessed July 11, 2022.
5Vohra K, Vodonos A, Schwartz J, Marais E, Sulprizio M, Mickley L. Global Mortality from Outdoor Fine Particle Pollution Generated by Fossil Fuel Combustion: Results from GEOS-Chem. April 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.110754. Accessed July 6, 2022.
6United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Retains Air Quality Standards for Particle Pollution (Particulate Matter). December 2020. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/documents/fact_sheet_pm_naaqs_proposal.pdf. Accessed July 6, 2022.
7CDC National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network. Data Explorer. 2018. (https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/DataExplorer/. Accessed July 6, 2022.
8Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 2020 Wisconsin Air Quality Trends
Report: Data from 2001-2019. October 2020. https://widnr.widen.net/view/
pdf/07lemijpnt/AM583.pdf?t.download=true. Accessed July 6, 2022.
9United States Environmental Protection Agency. Evaluating the Contribution of PM2.5 Precursor Gases and Re-entrained Road Emissions to Mobile Source PM2.5 Particulate Matter Emissions. 2004. https://www3.epa.gov/ttnchie1/conference/ei13/mobile/hodan.pdf. Accessed July 6, 2022.
10Tessum C, Paolella D, Chambliss S, Apte J, Hill J, and Marshall J. PM2.5 Polluters Disproportionately and Systematically Affect People of Color in the United States. 2021. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abf4491. Accessed July 13, 2022.
11AirNow. Extremely High Levels of PM2.5: Steps to Reduce your Exposure. 2019. https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/extremely-high-levels-of-pm25/. Accessed July 8, 2022.
12United States Environmental Protection Agency. Indoor Particulate Matter. April 2022. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-particulate-matter. Accessed July 8, 2022.
13United States Environmental Protection Agency. Related Rules and Programs that Help States Attain PM Standards. May 2022. https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/related-rules-and-programs-help-states-attain-pm-standards. Accessed July 8, 2022.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank Wendy Fall for her contributions to this surveillance brief.
ABOUT TRACKING The Wisconsin Environmental Public Health Tracking Program is your source for environmental public health data on Wisconsin communities.
FUNDING The Wisconsin Environmental Public Health Tracking Program is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
WISCONSIN ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH TRACKING PROGRAM Phone: 608-267-2488 Web: dhs.wisconsin.gov/epht Email: dhstracking@wi.gov
Green Bay Innovation Group
Bringing Green Bay Companies Together. Green Bay Innovation Group is committed to building an authentic networking experience where innovation can thrive.
