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
Jason Bailin has been promoted to the new role of Sales Manager of Eagle Performance Plastics, Inc. As Sales Manager, Jason will support the outside sales teams (Territory Managers), manage the flow of information and communication between Territory Managers and the Customer Account Teams as well as help develop and maintain strong relationships with our partner/customers.
Jason has been with Eagle for 2.5 years as a Customer Account Specialist. Prior to Eagle, he had been with Oshkosh Defense for 5.5 years on the Global Procurement Supply Chain team. Jason has a degree in Supply Chain Management from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Eagle Performance Plastics, Inc, founded in Appleton in 1971, is a supplier of custom machined plastic components to original equipment manufacturers throughout North America.
For eight decades, Trees For Tomorrow (TFT), located in Eagle River, Wisconsin, has served as a beacon for environmental education, dedicated to instilling sustainable resource management practices in learners of all ages. To better understand what Trees For Tomorrow does today, let’s take a look back at what got it all started.
Pulpwood Goes to War
Trees For Tomorrow HQ in the 1940’s
Eight decades ago, vast swathes of land in Wisconsin lay desolate—scarred by logging, fires, and neglect—amidst the backdrop of wartime demands. With most able-bodied men enlisted in the armed forces, the pulpwood supply crucial for the war effort and sustaining local mills faced a shortage. In response, the Wisconsin Victory Pulpwood Committee emerged, comprising of industry leaders, officials, journalists, and concerned citizens. Spearheaded by Melvin “Mully” Taylor, then an advertising professional, the committee launched the “pulpwood goes to war” campaign in 1943. This effort rallied communities together to contribute to the war effort, culminating in truckloads of timber being dispatched from forests to mills during the Pulpwood Roundup event.
2 for 1
Inspired by the success of this coordinated endeavor, the idea of long-term resource stewardship took root. Thus, on February 22, 1944, Trees For Tomorrow was born—a nonprofit initiative initiated by nine paper mills from the Wisconsin River valley. Based in Merrill, Wisconsin, and under Taylor’s leadership, the organization introduced the innovative “2 for 1” plan, offering two seedling trees for every one cut. Over the next two decades, Trees For Tomorrow facilitated the distribution and mechanical planting of 23 million trees, devised management strategies for 370,000 acres of private woodlands, and oversaw the sale of 400,000 cords of wood.
More Than a Tree Planting Organization
Today, Trees For Tomorrow proudly upholds the legacy of its founders at its Eagle River campus, serving as a hub for diverse educational experiences. Catering to schools, community groups, families, and individuals keen on immersing themselves in nature, TFT’s team of environmental educators offers tailored programs and curriculum options. The organization owes its sustained success to robust partnerships with various entities, including Green Bay Innovation Group, that share its commitment to environmental education. Collaborations, spanning from individuals, local businesses, regional organizations, and international corporations, highlight the collective effort to foster responsible resource use, inspire the next generation of industry professionals, and cultivate environmental stewardship in future landowners.
What sets Trees For Tomorrow apart is its commitment to imparting knowledge rooted in scientific inquiry rather than promoting personal opinions. Through hands-on experiences such as visits to logging sites, interactions with forestry professionals, and ecological investigations, students gain insights into sustainable management practices. In addition, TFT’s educational initiatives equip individuals with the skills and insight to make informed decisions about environmental conservation and multiple use management of natural resources.
Financial support from a diverse group of donors and partners ensures that Trees For Tomorrow’s programs remain accessible, often at a fraction of their actual cost. In addition to financial support, these stakeholders play a crucial role in shaping the future of environmental stewardship by empowering the next generation to realize the need to use science to manage natural resources. With nearly 500 individuals, organizations, and businesses lending their support annually, Trees For Tomorrow continues to thrive as a testament to the shared determination to manage our natural resources for generations to come.
To learn more about Trees For Tomorrow, contact Cheryl Todea, Trees For Tomorrow’s Executive Director, at ctodea@treesfortomorrow.com, 715-479-6456 or visit TreesForTomorrow.com.
Based upon a recent report from the American Forest & Paper Association, the lowering of PM.2.5 would severely harm the Paper and Forestry Industry. The report stated the EPA ruling delivered a devastating blow, especially to U.S. Manufacturing. The EPA rule was amended in 1990 including fine particles particulate (PM.25). The new rule was implemented on January 27, 2023, with a preferred range of nine to twelve micrograms.
Based upon our initial feedback, we were informed that most of the larger Paper and Pulp Mills in Wisconsin have converted to Natural Gas or other energy resources to comply with the new EPA rules. However, we have close to nineteen Paper Manufacturers with three virgin pulp mills plus a number of recycled pulp mills that we must be concerned with in the State of Wisconsin. We recognize these facilities are from 50 to 100 years old and Wisconsin cannot afford to lose our paper and pulp manufacturing! We need to bring together the State of Wisconsin, The Wisconsin Paper Council, the Wisconsin DNR, The Great Lakes Timber Professionals, and other Associations to support Paper Manufacturing in Wisconsin. The Green Bay Innovation Group understands that Paper is the backbone of the 5P and Converting Industries. Without Paper and Pulp Manufacturing in Wisconsin, it will have a major impact across the Wisconsin Economy.
The Green Bay Innovation Group would like to hear back from you to better understand the impact on your company. We will be putting out a survey to the Paper and Pulp Companies to better understand the impact on your company.
We do recognize the Huge Impact of ambient PM.25 on Public Health Worldwide even at low levels. The USA has done an excellent job with PM.25 over the past 20 years! We refer to Particle Pollution as soot. One of the biggest causes of soot is wildfire smoke and with Wisconsin’s mild winter, we can expect potential problems with wildfires. We can expect that Canada and the Western USA will continue having wildfires impacting Wisconsin. Wisconsin will need to support our DNR, Forestry Service, and the Great Lakes Timber Association to minimize the impact of fires. Wisconsin will have to bring together ALL parties to produce a reasonable and sensible solution.
Get links to the latest news, events, stories, and interviews from our 5P news members. 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 84 Stories and Links on the Internet below.
Marquette-area businesses and nonprofits now have a new, local, digital marketing company working for their success. Packerland Websites, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, has opened an office in Marquette, Michigan, at CoLAB, 101 W. Washington St. Suite 8, Marquette, Michigan. The Lake Superior Community Partnership assisted in the opening by holding a ribbon cutting ceremony on Feb. 28, 2024.
Participating in the ribbon cutting, from left, are Hanna Westra, LSCP Outreach and Development Specialist; Christopher Germain, LSCP CEO; Alayna Sutterland, Carnegie Higher Ed; Jennifer Lindsay, CRO Metrics; Alexa Haferkorn, Packerland Websites Web Design Specialist; Eric Lindsay, Semco Energy; Bill Koehne, Packerland Websites Founder/Owner; Erica Huss, Small Business Support Hub Project Manager; Erin Mahaney, CoLAB Manager; Bethany Cody, Veridea; and Brooke Quinn, LSCP Senior Business Development Representative.
Opened in 2011, Packerland Websites is a family-owned website development and digital marketing company led by owner/founder Bill Koehne. Koehne chose the name “Packerland Websites” because of the dominant influence of the Green Bay Packers in the Green Bay community and because of the team’s winning tradition.
“We’re excited to open our Marquette, Michigan, office, meet with businesses and nonprofits, and build winning websites across the Wisconsin, Michigan border,” he said. “Our websites are more than just a brochure on the internet. Instead, they’re developed around a marketing plan to meet specific goals.”
Website Design Specialist Alexa Haferkorn will manage the Marquette, Michigan, office. Haferkorn earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Communications from Northern Michigan University in 2016. She applies both visual design skills and marketing skills to create branding that gets results.
“I design web pages, logos, and fliers to catch customers’ attention and share a unique message,” she said. With her background in graphic design and website development, Alexa brings a combination of talents to Packerland Websites.
“Aside from her technical and artistic skills, she has a knack for communicating with clients to help them create websites that meet their business goals,” Koehne said.
In addition to website development, Packerland Websites specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), geofence marketing, content writing, and app development.
“We’re excited to help Marquette organizations advance to the next level with website design and other digital marketing tools,” Koehne said.
To schedule a complimentary marketing consultation call Cheri Simonet, Sales Account Manager, at 920-265-2632.
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.
