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Air Pollution Studies:

• W.James Gauderman, et al. "The Effect of Air Pollution on Lung Development from 10 to 18 Years of Age," New England School of Medicine, vol.351 no.11, Sept. 9, 2004. Landmark study finds that children exposed to more polluted air were five times more likely to have reduced lung development than children raised in cleaner areas. The study also finds other health risks, including more illness in later life. 
  
• O'Hare is worst carcinogen air polluter in Illinois (comparison)

• Thomas, Dawn. "Aircraft trace element pollution around London Gatwick Airport," 1989. The results show there is an increase in concentration of all the metals investigated from west to east, with a region of higher concentration protruding from the end of the runway.

   

   
• Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management and Center for Clean Air Policy. "Controlling Airport-Related Air Pollution," June 2003. Airport-related activities result in the emission of a host of air pollutants that adversely affect public health and the environment.

  
  

• R.E.Ruthenberg. “A Perspective on O’Hare Airport vs. Peotone (proposed) Airport Pollution Impact,” Aug. 15, 2003. This new O'Hare/Peotone study shows that 8 million people's health are affected by O'Hare Airport operations, 5.5 million significantly so. The study shows the contrast to Peotone to be a starkly better environmental alternative with a much smaller 3 million people affected, 1.5 million significantly so. In other words, millions fewer will have their health negatively affected by choosing Peotone over O'Hare.

  
  

• World Resource Institute, Health Effects of Air Pollution: Urban Air: Health Effects of Particulates, Sulfur Dioxide, and Ozone.

  
  

• Researcher's tool. California Air Resources Board web site.
  
  
• Cordina, Eric. “Aviation and the Environment,” London City University, July 2002. The thesis generally supports the conclusions that air transportation is a significant and growing environmental problem, with difficult associated governmental and industry decisions needed to be made in order to put long term solutions in motion. It points out that the air and oil industry has resisted moving forward on these solutions in the past, for profit motive reasons, but that the future oil shortages are generally now accepted world-wide and that this acceptance will shift solution perspectives over the next 10-20 years.

   

• "ODOR PERCEPTION THRESHOLDS VERSUS DANGER LEVELS OF AIRBORNE GASES AND PARTICULATE MATTER," 9/9/02. Our noses are a poor detector for ALL of dangerous pollution substances. Serious chronic health problems can result if high but non-detectable chemical concentrations persist and corrective steps are not taken. Conversely, if the odors of any of these substances ARE being detected, it’s a sure sign that the levels are probably high enough to cause acute health problems.

   

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment," June 3, 2002. Breathing toxic chemical air outdoors exposes all Americans to a lifetime cancer risk at least 10 times greater than the level considered acceptable under federal law.
  
  

• Yun-Chul Hong, et al. "Effects of Air Pollutants on Acute Stroke Mortality." We conclude that PM10 and gaseous pollutants are significant risk factors for acute stroke death and that the elderly and women are more susceptible to the effect of particulate pollutants. Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 110, Number 2, February 2002. 

• Timar, Gabriel S., "EFFECTS OF AIRCRAFT POLLUTION AT LESTER B. PEARSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT," PRELIMINARY, INTERIM DRAFT. Based on the limited data, and the inference of other studies, the writer feels that aircraft pollution generated by the operation of Lester B. Pearson International Airport may adversely influence the health of those residents of Mississauga, Toronto and Brampton who live within the Impact area. The overall death-rate compared to the Canadian National Averages most likely increased. The actual rate is not available, but the writer feels that it may be considerable.

   

• Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. "Final Report, Chicago O’ Hare Airport Air Toxic Monitoring Program", May 2002. Study finds that Chicago area toxic and hazardous air pollution concentrations are similar to other major, polluted cities and that O’Hare Airport emissions have a significant impact on the air quality in adjacent communities." Click Here for Study
  Click Here for Technical Notes

   

• A. Nemmar, DVM, PhD., et al. "Passage of Inhaled Particles Into the Blood Circulation in Humans." The finding "should be considered relevant for the cardiovascular (illness and death) related to ambient particle pollution. Circulation 2002;105:411-414.  

• A 1993 US-EPA study of Midway Airport exhibited massive amounts of known carcinogens coming from aircraft engines in tons-per-year. It also predicted that it produced more than 400 times the allowable cancer risks to the population than that of a federal Superfnd Cleanup site (Toxic Waste Dump), as a direct result of exposure to these airport toxins. CLICK HERE to view selected pages from the report "EPA Estimation and Evaluation of Cancer Risks Attributed to Air Pollution in Southwest Chicago."

   

• SC study shows air pollution may trigger asthma in young athletes. Feb. 2002.

   
• Committee on Air Quality in Passenger Cabins of Commercial Aircraft, Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology, National Research Council "The Airliner Cabin Environment and the Health of Passengers and Crew." , 2001. 

• Screening Air Quality Evaluation of Teterboro Airport. ENVIRON
  International Corporation. Oct. 12, 2001.
  
  
• Annette Peters, PhD; Douglas W. Dockery, ScD; James E. Muller, MD; Murray A. Mittleman, MD, DrPH: "Increased Particulate Air Pollution and the Triggering of Myocardial Infarction." (Circulation. 2001;103:2810.) American Heart Association.
  
  

• Air monitoring study in the area of Los Angeles International Airport. April 2000. 
  April, 2000.  Key toxics found are benzene, butadiene, and elemental carbon. Longer term sampling is needed for a more complete risk assessment.

• Evaluation of Air Pollutant Emissions from Subsonic Commercial Jet Aircraft (EPA-420/R-99-013, April 1999). 

• EPA Toxic Emissions from Aircraft Engines study. (EPA-453/R-93-028, July 1993.)  

• Federal Aviation Administration.  Air Quality Procedures for Civilian Airports and Air Force Bases. 1997

• Final Report Sea-Tac Airport Air Quality Survey. 1995
  
  
• American Lung Association. Selected key studies on Particulate matter and health: 1997 – 2000. New studies confirm that current levels of Particulate air pollution are harmful to human health. 
  
  
• Circulation 2001 Jun 12;103(23):2810-5  Increased particulate air pollution and the triggering of  myocardial infarction. Peters A, Dockery DW, Muller JE, Mittleman MA. Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.               BACKGROUND: Elevated concentrations of ambient particulate air pollution have been     associated with increased hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease. Whether high concentrations of ambient particles can trigger the onset of acute myocardial infarction (MI), however, remains unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: We interviewed 772 patients with MI in the greater Boston area between January 1995 and May 1996 as part of the Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Onset Study. Hourly concentrations of particle mass <2.5 microm (PM(2.5)), carbon black, and gaseous air pollutants were measured. A case-crossover approach was used to analyze the data  for evidence of triggering. The risk of MI onset increased in association with elevated concentrations of fine particles in the previous 2-hour period. In addition, a delayed response associated with 24-hour average exposure 1 day before the onset of symptoms was observed. Multivariate analyses
  considering both time windows jointly revealed an estimated odds ratio of 1.48 associated with an increase of 25 microg/m(3) PM(2.5) during a 2-hour period before the onset and an odds ratio of 1.69 for an increase of 20 microg/m(3) PM(2.5) in the 24-hour period 1 day before the onset (95% CIs 1.09, 2.02 and 1.13, 2.34, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that elevated concentrations of fine particles in the air may transiently elevate the risk of MIs within a few hours and 1 day after exposure.
  
   Further studies in other locations are needed to clarify the importance of this potentially preventable trigger of MI. Publication Types: Multicenter study PMID: 11401937 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
  
  

• Washington State Dept. of Ecology. Sea-Tac Air Pollution Contribution. May, 1991.

• Adams, A., B. Hulet, D. Ramras, H.Seidman. Sea-Tac Air Quality. June, 1973. 

• Donaldson, Wallace R., U.S. Department of Commerce. Air Pollution by Jet Aircraft at Seattle-Tacoma Airport. ESSA Technical Memorandum. WBTM WR 58. Oct. 1970.  Study suggests a strategy to remove smoke plume.  Toxic plume contamination is 12 miles long for approaches, six miles long for take-offs.

Climate Change Studies:

• Climate Change Real Threat To National Security: Fast Solution, LimitCommercial Jet Flights, Feb. 27, 2004.

   

• Minnis, Patrick. "Contrails, Cirrus Trends, and Climate," Study of cirrus clouds and contrails left by jets concludes that jets could be partially responsible for the recent warming in the United States. As more jets crowd the skies, the warming effect could rival the global climate impact of greenhouse gases, Apr. 15, 2004. For additional information see http://www-pm.larc.nasa.gov.
  
  
• Katta Murty. "Greenhouse Gas Pollution in the Stratosphere Due to Increasing Airplane Traffic, Effects On the Environment," rev. 11/20/00. The puzzle of climate is that atmospheric and oceanic temperatures have increased much more than can be explained. 
  Study suggests that part of the reason for this phenomenon maybe the increasing volume of jet airline traffic. This indicates that the increasing volumes of airplane traffic worldwide have serious environmental consequences, perhaps more serious than the ozone hole phenomenon on which the attention of the scientic community is riveted.

  
  

• Murty, Katta G. "Global Warming Potential of Green House (GH)Gas Release at Different Altitudes," Aug, 7, 2002. Facts suggest that the large jet aircraft releases in the northern mid-latitudes may be partly responsible for the faster ice melt at the north pole.

  
  

• September's Science: Shutdown of airlines aided contrail studies

   

• International Panel on Climate Control: Aviation and the Global Atmosphere.
  
  

• GAO Study Links Aircraft Emissions to Global Warming as a significant factor.

• NASA believes jet contrails contribute significantly to climatic changes. (Adobe PDF format)

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. "Special Report on Aviation and the Global Atmosphere." 1999 (Adobe PDF format).

• The Plane Truth. This report looks at the remarkable forecasts for the rates of growth within this industry and critiques the data used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It looks at the impact that aviation is currently having on the environment and estimates what that impact might be if these widely predicted rates of growth are achieved. The report concludes that the way aviation affects the environment requires serious discussion. greenhouse gases causing climate change, local air pollution and noise pollution, and looks at how that contribution is likely to increase. 

Compliance:

• EPA Enforcement Alert:
  "Airlines Must Comply With Federal Fuel Standards, Stormwater and Spill Prevention Requirements, and Report Emergency Releases."

• EPA Office of Compliance Sector Notebook Project. Air Transportation Industry. October 1998. Multimedia summary, industrial process, pollution outputs, TRI data, pollution prevention, federal regulations, compliance history, compliance assistance, voluntary programs, air transportation, airport operations, aircraft washing, aircraft deicing, tarmac deicing, runway deicing, chemical stripping wastes, used oil, batteries, aircraft cleaning, hazardous waste, environmental law, compliance, enforcement, storm water, pretreatment, emergency plans, spill prevention, air emissions, VOC's.

Fuel Studies:

• U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office. "Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy: Report on Alkyl-lead: Sources, Regulations and Options," June 2000. Human exposure pathways for alkyl- lead include inhalation of leaded gasoline vapors and dermal exposure to leaded gasoline. The largest use of alkyl-lead occurs in aviation gasoline for general aviation (piston-engine) aircraft. 
  
  
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Jet Fuels JP-5 and JP-8

   

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological Profile for Jet Fuels JP-4 and JP-7.

   

• Chapman, Elizabeth. "Aviation Fuel Essay." 2002. Aviation fuel seems to be a causative agent in many health problems and its use may have to be contemplated by Departments of Health over the world. 
  
  

• Canada and the United States, Draft Report on Alkyl-Lead: Sources, Regulations and Options. Revised: November 02, 1999. Aviation gasoline (avgas) is currently the fuel with the greatest alkyl-lead (TEL) content, ranging from 4.4x10-3 to 8.8x10-3 lbs as lead/gal (USEPA, 1998a). Only TEL is used in aviation gasoline. The other aviation fuels, such as Jet kerosene and JP-4, do not contain alkylated lead compounds.

Health Studies:

• Knox, E.G. "Childhood cancers and atmospheric carcinogens," Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, doi:10.1136/jech.2004.0216752005;59;101-105, Feb. 12, 2005. Reported associations of cancer birth places with sites of industrial combustion,VOCs uses, and associated engine exhausts, are confirmed. Newly identified specific hazards include the known carcinogens 1,3-butadiene,dioxins,and benz(a)pyrene. The mother probably inhales these or related materials and passes them to the fetus across the placenta. Airport and aircraft operations emit massive amounts of the mentioned toxins in comparison to other sources.

   

• Pope III, C. Arden, et al. "Cardiovascular Mortality and Long-Term Exposure to Particulate Air Pollution Epidemiological Evidence of General Pathophysiological Pathways of Disease," American Heart Association, Circulation, DOI: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000108927.80044.7F, 2004. The study builds upon the previous general agreements that a 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 average concentration can substantially increase cardiovascular disease risks, especially ischemic heart disease (meaning blocked coronary arteries), general atherosclerosis (scarring/blocked arteries) and aortic aneurysms (aortic artery ruptures). Also shows that PM2.5 environmental concentrations also increases disease risks further for smokers.
  
• Barros, J A, Sydney Basin: Air Toxic Emissions & Health Update, 2001. Study observes patterns of above average rates of lung cancer occurrences in the Sydney metropolitan area with typical patterns of air pollution circulation. It establishes that there is a strong coincidence, linking major pollution sources such as airports.

   

• Rhode Island Department of Health, "Preliminary Incidence Cancer Rates," Feb. 7, 2004. Long-term health study of T.F. Green airport shows a significant lung cancer pocket, up to 50% higher than average, in many airport neighborhoods (generally down prevailing wind). Smoking has been generally discounted. (Note: There are many types of cancer caused by airport-poisoning because of the many entrance points. Some toxins are inhaled, ingested through vegetable gardens or water sources, absorbed through our skin and mucous membranes, etc.)
  
• World Health Organization, "Health Aspect of Air Pollution," June 2004. Concludes that there are no safe levels for most vehicle-sourced pollution and there is a wider range of effects than previously thought. 
  
• "IARC Monographs Programme on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans (carcinogen information)", The International Agency for Research on Cancer (World Health Organization). The IARC Monographs series publishes authoritative independent assessments by international experts of the carcinogenic risks posed to humans by a variety of agents, mixtures and exposures.
  
• Robert D. Brook, MD; Barry Franklin, PhD, Chair; Wayne Cascio, MD; Yuling Hong, MD, PhD; George Howard, PhD; Michael Lipsett, MD; Russell Luepker, MD; Murray Mittleman, MD, ScD; Jonathan Samet, MD; Sidney C. Smith, Jr, MD; Ira Tager, MD. "Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease: A Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the Expert Panel on Population and Prevention Science of the American Heart Association." (Circulation. 2004;109:2655-2671.) American Heart Association, Inc. Conclusive study shows that the long-term effects of chronic exposure to pollutions another factor that causes heart disease.

   

• Dolan, Robin T. "Epidemiological Review of the Cluster of Multiple Sclerosis Within East Boston and Winthrop, MA: Possible Roles of Childhood Nutrition and Xenobiotics Exposure as Causative Factors for the Disease," Aug. 28, 2003. What is the connection of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and other diseases to airport/aircraft and other major polluters?: A discussion of the human defenses and their limits in the everyday battles against the xenobiotic onslaughts.
  
• Ruthenberg, R.E. "Jewish Genetic Sensitivity To Pollution Accentuated Disease," Apr. 1, 2004. Study presents evidence that genetic differences between Jewish and the general populations can result in disease sensitivity to pollution sources and particularly to major nearby pollution sources, such as O’Hare airport-aircraft. Environmental Justice law protections stipulate that no individual group of the population should bear a disproportionate share of negative consequences from polluting operations such as O’Hare airport.

   

• R.E.Ruthenberg. "Comparison of Criteria Emissions from O’Hare Airport Aircraft to Those of Electric Power Generating Plants." 7/28/02. "O’Hare aircraft have significantly greater NOx, VOC and CO emissions than do typical electric generating plants. O’Hare aircraft-only emissions greatly exceed USEPA major source regulatory levels by factors of between 7-70X. Airport ground/vehicular operations alone exceed major source regulation levels and could potentially at least double the overall totals."

   

• Gammon, Marilie D., et. al. "Environmental Toxins and Breast Cancer on Long Island. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon DNA Adducts". Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention Vol. 11, 677-685, August 2002. Study confirms that PAH in the body associates to substantially increased risk (+50%) of breast cancer and, importantly, clarifies that the PAH detection is relatively short-term oriented (1-3 years) i.e. recent PAH exposure as compared to long-term e.g. over a decades long period. Second, no correlation could be identified to PAH from the known sources of cigarettes or grilled meats. Finally, no dose-related trends were discernable, i.e. the "threshold effect" possibility.
  
• RUTHENBERG, R. E. "INVESTIGATION OF THE CANCER INCIDENCE RATES IN THE VICINITY OF O’HARE AIRPORT," March 21, 2002. Study shows surprisingly high cancer incidence rates in northeastern O'Hare downwind communities, begging immediate epidemiological studies of airport/aircraft pollution correllations that may be resulting in several hundred additional deaths each year.

• R. E. Ruthenberg, "THE “SEA-BREEZE” OR LAKE-BREEZE EFFECT AND IMPACT ON POLLUTION CONCENTRATIONS/DISPERSIONS FROM SOURCES SUCH AS AIRPORTS," 6/6/02. Examines this weather phenomena and demonstrates how it can cause up to 20:1 pollution concentration increases in communities located between an emission source, such as Chicago's O'Hare Airport, and the lake (or ocean) coast. 
  
• Cowan, Paula F., "Air Pollution-Chicago O'Hare International Airport," June 1997.

   

• Rob McConnell, et al. "Asthma in exercising children exposed to ozone: a cohort study." Interpretation Incidence of new diagnoses of asthma is associated with heavy exercise in communities with high concentrations of ozone, thus, air pollution and outdoor exercise could contribute to the development of asthma in children. Lancet. Volume 359, Number 9304. 02 Feb 2002. p. 386-91.

   

• C. Arden Pope III, PhD; et al. “Lung Cancer, Cardiopulmonary Mortality, and Long-term Exposure to Fine Particulate Air Pollution.” Results: Fine particulate and sulfur oxide–related pollution were associated with all-cause, lung cancer, and cardiopulmonary mortality. JAMA: Vol. 287 No. 9, March 6, 2002. 

   

• Park Ridge, Illinois O'Hare Toxic Air and Cancer Risk Pollution Study. O'Hare Airport Toxic Air Study discovered over 200 air toxic emissions emitted from airport property.  The study shows unacceptable cancer risks from airport operations and flights at O'Hare which affects 98 communities in about a 32 mile radius of the airport, including Chicago proper.
  Chapter 1 
  Chapter 2
  Chapter 3
  Chapter 4 (In Adobe PDF Format)

• Illinois Department of Public Health. "Cancer Incidence in Populations Living Near Chicago O’Hare and Midway Airports, Illinois 1987-1997," Nov. 2001. Study concludes "No consistent pattern was observed to indicate a general elevation of cancer incidence among populations living near the Chicago O’Hare and Midway airports", based on large-scale averaging distortions and comparative objectives that miss the mark.  Click Here for Study   Click Here for Technical Notes
  

• Fox J. Philis. Summary comments from airport workers on the Oakland Airport expansion. 1997. These analyses indicate that off-site impacts of the Project are already significant and would increase the incidence of cancer and respiratory disease in residential neighborhoods around the airport and among employees at the airport itself.

• Piazza, Bill. Los Angeles School District. Santa Monica Airport Emissions Report.   Among many other significant findings, the study shows that with generally only 15 jet flights a day, 5,000 annual, that it causes a significant increase in cancer risks.

• Epidemiological study of Boston's Logan. Among other findings it shows: For the most common respiratory diseases, asthma and allergy, disease is twice as common in the most heavily exposed neighborhood as it is in the least exposed.
  

• American Lung Association. Selected key studies on Particulate matter and health: 1997 – 2000. New studies confirm that current levels of Particulate air pollution are harmful to human health. 
  
  

• Airport Cancer Maps: US-EPA / Minneapolis Minnesota Cancer Risk Map. US-EPA / Minneapolis Minnesota Noncarcenogenic Inhalation Risk Map. Airport Site map for Minneapolis. Sydney Airports Cancer Map. (Maps are in Adobe PDF format).

• Health data from a residential US-EPA grant study prepared by Seattle-King County Department of Public Health for communities surrounding Boeing Field (King-County International Airport).  The data shows significant health spikes in hospitalization and death rates. Summary Data. Full Data.

• Public health impact of large airports (study for purchase). Public health impact of large airports. Passchier W, Knottnerus A, Albering H, Walda Netherlands.wf.passchier@gr.nl  Health Council of The Netherlands, The Hague.  Large airports with the related infrastructure, businesses and industrial activities affect the health of the population living, traveling and working in the surroundings of or at the airport. The employment and contributions to economy from the airport and related operations are expected to have a beneficial effect, which, however, is difficult to quantify. More pertinent data are available on the, largely negative, health effects of environmental factors, such as air and soil pollution, noise, accident risk, and landscape changes. Information on the concurrent and cumulative impact of these factors is lacking, but is of primary relevance for public health policy. A committee of the Health Council of The Netherlands recently reviewed the data on the health impact of large airports. It was concluded that, generally, integrated health assessments are not available. Such assessments, as part of sustainable mobility policy, should accompany the further development of the global aviation system.

• Addressing Community Health Concerns Around SeaTac Airport. Washington State Department of Health, Washington State Department of Ecology, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. March 2000. The airport and airport-related activities are potentially major sources of air pollution and environmental justice requires that one group of people not benefit at the cost of environmental degradation affecting the quality of life of another group. Further study is being pursued.

• Williams, Beth., M.S.A. Air Pollution: A Study with Particular Reference to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport ; RCAA White Papers, Book 1. (Reviews air and toxic pollutants commonly found in airport communities and their effects on health and the environment. Summarizes 1991 Washington State Department of Ecology Study and the lack of a monitoring program at Sea-Tac.) 

• Airports are known to be major sources of noise, water, and air pollution. Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 105, Number 12, December 1997. The issue of the effect of airports on the environment and human health has heated up in recent years as public interest and citizen groups contest airport expansion on environmental and health grounds, and the airline and airport industries attempt to meet increasingly stringent regulations in these areas.

• Environmental Policies at Europe's Airports':  A European study that finds aviation mitigation measures are seen as ineffective and increasingly outpaced by growth. While pointing out problems, study suggests some solutions. View their home page at  http://www.milieudefensie.nl/airtravel/.

• Report from the Environmental Organization, Copenhagen
  This report concludes that the airport/aviation industry is the single most polluting industry, yet is virtually free from meaningful regulation.

Miscellaneous:

• Verhagen, Frans C. "Management of Aviation Environmental Issues: A Selective Bibliography and Internet Resources." Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, Aug. 30, 2004.

  
  

• Whitelegg, John. "The Economics of Aviation: a North West England perspective," April 2003. Aviation is a small part of the national and regional economy and the claims made in support of job creation are not supported by the evidence. 
  
  
• World Health Organization, ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS AND PUBLIC HEALTH RADARS AND HUMAN HEALTH Fact Sheet. Radar systems detect the presence, direction or range of aircraft, ships or other, usually moving objects. June 1999
  
• World Health Organization. DEPLETED URANIUM. The main civilian uses of DU include counterweights in aircraft, radiation shields in medical radiation therapy machines and containers for the transport of radioactive materials. Fact Sheet N° 257 Revised April 2001.

 Noise Studies:

• Ruthenberg, R.E. "O’Hare Airport Noise Home Insulation Program Shortfalls," Apr. 19, 2005. Study shows that the industry and federal government is trying to deny noise mitigation to the noise-pummeled public by regulating its noise metric in its favor because of cost. Thus, locally, at the current paltry O’Hare “noise-proofing” Mayor Daley budgetary rate of about $18 million per year, it would take 180 years to complete the program to bring it up to even minimum W.H.O. protection recommendations of 55dB DNL. 
  
• Burton, N J S., "Methods Of Assessment Of Aircraft Noise," London South Bank University, 2004. Results indicate that the Australian system operates the most stringent controls with regards to aircraft noise and residential planning whilst the systems adopted in the USA are the least strict.

   

• Heidemarie Wende, Jens Ortscheid, "Requirements for the protection against aircraft noise." Federal Environmental Agency Berlin Germany, 2003/2004. Considerable nuisance can be avoided by limiting the exposure to aircraft noise (outside) to equivalent levels below 55 dB(A) by day and 45 dB(A) at night, and impairment of health can be avoided by limiting the exposure to aircraft noise (outside) to equivalent levels below 60 dB(A) by day and 50 dB(A) at night. 
  
• Brown, Justin, Jesse Seidman, Neil Solanki, David Neinstein, Steven Factor. "O’Hare International Airport Noise Pollution: A Cost-Benefit Analysis." Winter 2004.

   

• Timar, Gabriel S. "Effects of Noise." One may therefore conclude that noise pollution is not just a minor annoyance, but serious and sometimes fatal environmental hazard. Public health officials should look into the physical and emotional impact of noise pollution especially in communities exposed to frequent low level overflight. 
  
• Bronzaft L., Arline. "US Aviation Policy Ignores Hazards of Noise," World Transport Policy & Practice, Volume 9, Number 1, (2003) pp37–40. United States policy underestimates the numbers of people affected by airport-related noises and dismissing evidence that aviation noise is harmful to health, quality of life and children’s development. 
  
• Lederman, Norman, Aviation Low Frequency Noise. Low frequency noise pollution is an intrusive, damaging and unhealthy by-product of aviation.  Apr. 13, 2001.
  
  
• Staffan Hygge, Gary W. Evans, Monika Bullinger. "A Prospective Study of Some Effects of Aircraft Noise on Cognitive Performance in Schoolchildren," Cornell University study finds airport noise impairs children's memory and reading ability. Excessive noise, such as jet aircraft flying overhead, impairs children's reading ability and long-term memory, a Cornell environmental psychologist and his European colleagues conclude in a study of schoolchildren living near airports. Journal of the American Psychological Society. Sept. 5, 2002. Volume 13: Issue 5. p 469-474.

   

• Occupational and Environmental Medicine. "Increased prevalence of hypertension in a population exposed to aircraft noise," 2001. Report shows that people exposed to average aircraft noise levels of 55 decibels or higher were 60% more likely to report having been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Those with exposures exceeding 72 decibels were 80% more likely to report a high blood pressure diagnosis. 

   
• P Lercher, G W Evans, M Meis and W W Kofler, "Ambient neighbourhood noise and children's mental health." Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2002;59:380-386. © 2002 Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Exposure to ambient noise was associated with small decrements in children's mental health and poorer classroom behaviour. The correlation between mental health and ambient noise is larger in children with early biological risk. http://oem.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/59/6/380

  
  

• AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS. Noise: A Hazard for the Fetus and Newborn. Volume 100, Number 4 October, 1997. Noise is ubiquitous in our environment. High intensities of noise have been associated with numerous health effects in adults, including noise-induced hearing loss and high blood pressure. The intent of this statement is to provide pediatricians and others with information on the potential health effects of noise on the fetus and newborn. 
  
  

• Aviation and the Environment: FAA's Role in Major Airport Noise Programs. RCED-00-98 April 28, 2000.

• Airport noise is harmful to the health and well-being of children and may cause lifelong problems.
  by Cornell University and others, March 1998. Study shows concern for the 10 million American schoolchildren living in airport affected areas. The study was supported, in part, by the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, the National Institutes of Health, the Nordic Scientific Group for Noise Effects, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the German Research Foundation.

• Papers from Inter-Noise 98, the 1998 International Congress on Noise Control Engineering.

• Kids near airports don't read as well because they tune out speech. by Cornell University, April, 1997.
  

• Willy Passchier-Vermeer and Wim F. Passchier. http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2000/suppl-1/123-131passchier-vermeer/abstract.html "Noise Exposure and Public Health". Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 108, Supplement 1, March 2000. Exposure to noise constitutes a health risk. There is sufficient scientific evidence that noise exposure can induce hearing impairment, hypertension and ischemic heart disease, annoyance, sleep disturbance, and decreased school performance. 
  
  

• Prof. W. Holland, Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise. Noise and Health. June 1997.

• Bronzaft, A. L. Effects of Noise. In Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Engineering. (1998). Edited by J. R. Pfafflin and E. N. Ziegler. Netherlands: Gordon and Breach Science Publishers.  

  Review article includes definition of sound and noise, physiological and psychological effects of noise, responsibility of government, planning and designing for quiet, and discussion of efforts of organizations combating noises.

• Bronzaft, A. L. Noise Sources, Health Impacts and Legal Remedies: A Psychologist's Perspective. (1998). Environmental Law in New York. New York: Matthew Bender.

  Discusses the sources of noises and mental and physical health impacts but the major focus is on the law and noise on the federal and New York State level.

• Bronzaft, A., Ahern, K. D., McGinn, R., O'Connor, J. and Savino, B. Aircraft Noise: A Potential Health Hazard. In Environment and Behavior, January 1998, Volume 30, pp 101-113.

  Abstract: A questionnaire distributed to two groups, one living within the flight pattern of a major airport and the other in a non-flight area, sought to determine whether these groups would respond differently to questionnaires pertaining to noise, health perception, and quality of life issues. Nearly 70% of the residents living within the flight corridors reported themselves bothered by aircraft noise. Aircraft noise, in contrast to other bothersome noises, interfered more frequently with daily activities. Subjects who were bothered aircraft noise were more likely to complain of sleep difficulties and more likely to perceive themselves to be in poorer health. This study's finding of a possible relationship between noise and adverse health effects might encourage policy makers to enact pending anti-noise legislation and to fund further noise research.

  Please share this study with public officials, neighbors, and all interested in effects of noise on health. With 70% of the subjects reporting being bothered by noise, it can't be said that only a few are bothered. Daily activities interfered with: watching television, sleeping, opening windows, sleep. These are all important to a good "quality of life."

  For more information: Contact Arline L. Bronzaft, Ph.D., 505 E. 79th Street, New York, NY 10021. -- email: albtor@aol.com 

Possible Solutions:

• Government Accounting Office, "Intercity Passenger Rail: Issues for Consideration in Developing an Intercity Passenger Rail Policy," "Studies suggest that as the speed of intercity passenger rail increases, the potential benefits attributable to reductions in airport and highway delays increase, as does the potential distance over which passenger rail is able to compete with air transport." GAO-03-522T. 30 Apr 03. 
  
• Government Accounting Office. "Long-Term Capacity Needed Despite Recent Reduction in Flight Delays," [GAO-02-185] Dec. 2001. The independent research body of Congress finds not to expand O'Hare and other major airports but to: remove the FAA from the process, put back the operational and management controls that governed delays, build a Wayport system to open slots at the majors for the more profitable routes, build a national world-class high-speed rail system.

  
  

• Ayres, Ed and Worldwatch Institute. "Airports and Cities: Can They Coexist?" July/Aug. 2001. As demand for air transport explodes, the conventional response is simply to keep expanding airport capacity. But more imaginative solutions are now needed.

   

• Goerling, Helmut K. "The Airports of Tomorrow: What Decision Makers Must Know Before Voting. A 20/20 Look at Meeting 2020 Requirements," 2002. New concepts of airport designs and other ideas.
  
  
• U.S. Government Accounting Office. "NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM: Long-Term Capacity Planning Needed Despite Recent Reduction in Flight Delays." GAO-02-185, Dec. 2001. Not in best interests to expand O'Hare and other major airports. Instead, 1) Take issue away from FAA; 2) Reestablish Operational & Management Controls; 3) Develop a Wayport System; and, Develop a World-class High-Speed Rail system.

   

  
  

Reports:

• Top aviation experts voice concern over O'Hare expansion.

• Martin, Peter and Alan Martin, "A Vicious Cycle: How Can The Government Justify Expanding Airport Capacity To Solve An Overcapacity Problem?" Oct. 30, 2003. This report examines this question in detail, considering both the air transport industry and the interactions of its partners, along with the “enablers”, big business, politicians, and government agencies.

   

• Sustainability Network. "Air-Transport - Is it Time for A Re-Think: Should we fly just because we can?" Sustainability Network Update No. 23E, 3/10/03. 
  
  
• Health Effects Institute. "UNDERSTANDING THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF COMPONENTS OF THE PARTICULATE MATTER MIX: PROGRESS AND NEXT STEPS", Apr. 2002. 
  
  
• Hart, P.E. "The future development of air traffic in the UK," World Transport Policy & Practice, Volume 9, Number 1, (2003) pp41–46. UK does not present a convincing case for investing in the new runways or airports industry proposed. If air transport covered all its social costs, air fares would increase and hence air traffic would decrease. fares are artificially low, in relation to road/rail transport.

   

• Bay Area Air Quality Management District findings and recommendations regarding Airport and Aircraft Air Quality. Dec, 17, 2001.
  

• Flying Off Course: Environmental Impacts of America's Airports. Natural Resources Defense Council. Oct. 1996. The findings were, while airports vary in terms of size and geographical characteristics, significant environmental impacts were common to most of the airports in our survey. The study also found that the regulatory framework currently in place to address these impacts is inadequate. Because aviation is the fastest growing mode of transportation in the United States, increasing nearly twice as fast as motor-vehicle travel, these failings must be addressed. This report focuses on the issues they thought to be most significant: noise and land use, ground-level air emissions, water pollution, and, on a more global scale, climate change and energy efficiency.

• Professor Kenneth Button, The Institute of Public Policy, George Mason University. Oct. 29, 1998. Aviation & the Environment: A General Perspective (Adobe PDF format). 

• Button, Kenneth. The Institute of Public Policy, George Mason University. The Usefulness of Current International Air Transport Statistics. 

• Global aviation impacts from Friends of the Earth International.  1997.

Socio-Economic Impact Studies:

• Cidell, Julie L. "Scales Of Airport Expansion: Globalization, Regionalization, And Local Land Use," July 2004. Among many findings, study shows that O'Hare airport is not as significant as marketed; transfer traffic could be landing elsewhere, relieving O'Hare. 
  
• Whitelegg, John and Howard Cambridge. "Aviation and Sustainability," University of York's Stockholm Institute, Jul 2004. Aviation growth is risk to our planet; the rise in demand for air travel is one of the most serious environmental threats facing the world. 
  
• R.E. Ruthenberg. "O'Hare Airport Expansion Project: Cost Errors or Lies," Comments submitted in response to ALP show that the cost of O'Hare expansion could be in excess of $67 billion. The conclusion shows that one of the main reasons is because of lies.
  
• A VICIOUS CYCLE: HOW CAN THE GOVERNMENT JUSTIFY EXPANDING AIRPORT CAPACITY TO SOLVE AN OVERCAPACITY PROBLEM? By: Peter Martin and Alan Martin, Oct. 30, 2003.

• Orange County California "Loss of Property Value and Property Tax Revenue Attributable to El Toro Airport Noise"

  (This section discusses projected socio-economic impacts of Sea-Tac expansion including changes in land uses, impacts on home ownership, local government revenues, impacts on residential property values and property tax revenues, effects on community facilities and services, educational impacts on children as well as impacts on School District revenues. This section recommends steps to mitigate community impacts associated with Sea-Tac expansion.)

• http://www.rcaanews.org/hoksum.htm#hoksumtop * Helmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, Inc. -- ;Dallas, Texas; Raytheon Infrastructure Services, Inc. -- ;Denver & Philadelphia, in association with Thomas/Lane & Associates, Inc. -- ;Sea­Tac International Airport Impact Mitigation Study: Initial Assessment and Recommendations, February, 1997. Executive Summary. Prepared under a grant from the State of Washington. Reviews the costs of mitigating noise, transportation, property loss, tax loss, and school impacts of the proposed third runway at Sea­Tac.  

• http://www.rcaanews.org/hoksec9.htm#hoksec9top * Helmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, Inc. -- ;Dallas, Texas; Raytheon Infrastructure Services, Inc. -- ;Denver & Philadelphia, in association with Thomas/Lane & Associates, Inc. -- ;Sea­Tac International Airport Impact Mitigation Study: Initial Assessment and Recommendations, February, 1997. Section 9 ­ Potential Socio­Economic Impacts and Mitigation.

• http://www.rcaanews.org/HOKappa.htm * Helmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, Inc. ­ Dallas, Texas; Raytheon Infrastructure Services, Inc. -- ;Denver & Philadelphia, in association with Thomas/Lane & Associates, Inc. -- ;Sea­Tac International Airport Impact Mitigation Study: Initial Assessment and Recommendations, February, 1997. Appendix A: Equity Issues and Socio-Economic Impacts. This section of the HOK Report examines the economic benefits and costs to the locally impacted communities. It generally concludes that the communities shoulder heavy costs for the impacts but receive relatively small amount of the benefits from the airport.

Water Studies:

• Cowan, Paula F. "Water Pollution-Chicago International Airport," May 28, 1997. Study of O'Hare airport shows significant problems with health concerns. 
  
  

• McDowell, Scott A., Sawmill Creek - "Watershed Restoration" Project, Mar.
  1997. Water quality study near Baltimore-Washington Airport shows that
  Sawmill Creek has been adversely affected by deicing fluids which, is a
  serious human threat.  Study also identifies additives to the deicing
  fluids.
  

• Hartwell, S. Ian, et. al, State of Maryland. Toxicity of Aircraft De-icer and Anti-icer Solutions on Aquatic Organisms. May, 1993. The propylene glycol anti-icer solution was found to be more toxic than the ethylene glycol de-icer solutions by two orders of magnitude. Both types of solutions exhibited greater toxicity than literature values for the primary ingredients.

• Toxicological data and bibliography for some of toxic additives found in
  deicing fluids at Baltimore-Washington Airport.

• Gruden, C.L., et. al. Toxicity of Aircraft Deicing Fluid Additive in Anaerobic Environments. Aircraft deicing practices generate millions of gallons of contaminated runoff and concentrated wastes annually. The chemical additives to the deicing fluids appear to have negative impacts on biological treatment systems, fish and zooplankton at low concentrations.

• Aviation: the social, economic and environmental impact of flying.

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