Running head: MODULE 5 1

Environmental Health Risks with Living near Refineries or Harbors

DJuan Steen
Trident University
July 20, 2014
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Environmental Health Risks with Living near Refineries or Harbors
In the United States marine ports are significant cores economic activity and major
sources of pollution (NRDC and the Coalition for Clean Air, 2004). Huge ships with engines that
run off of the some of the worst available fuel sources, enumerable visits from diesel trucks,
extended lines of diesel running locomotives transporting freight and other polluting
paraphernalia as well as the other undertakings of marine ports create a number of
environmental effects that can impact both local communities as well as the environment. Some
of these impacts include but are not limited to increased risk of illness, such as respiratory
disease or cancer, increases in regional smog, degradation of water quality, and the affliction of
public lands and local communities (NRDC and the Coalition for Clean Air, 2004). In spite of
significant growth within the harbor and shipping segment, attempts to prevent pollution at all
levels (local, state and federal) were primarily focused on other sources of pollution and the
environmental impacts continued to increase. Among direct sources of pollution in the U.S.,
harbors are some of the most below par regulated pollution sources. The end result to this is that
U.S. harbors are heavy polluters that emit heavy amounts of health-endangering air and water
pollution, creating noise and light pollution that disturbs adjacent communities and hurting the
environment.
The diesel engines at harbors that run the ships, trucks, trains and other freight-carrying
equipment, generate large amounts of air pollution that affects both the health of the workers as
well as those living in nearby communities and add significantly to air pollution in a specific
locale. The health effects of air pollution from harbors are asthma, bronchitis, respiratory
diseases, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and premature death (NRDC and the Coalition for
Clean Air, 2004). Harbor operations cause substantial harm to water quality, marine ecosystems
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and human health. This includes viral and bacterial contamination of fish and shellfish, oxygen
depletion in water, and accumulation of toxic substances in fish. The top concerns are wastewater
and leaking poisons from ships, storm water runoff and dredging (NRDC and the Coalition for
Clean Air, 2004).
Because of harbors very industrialized operations and the often closeness to
communities, they often create annoyances and threats. They take up valuable land space, can
cause traffic jams, are often loud, obtrusive and are often lit brightly at night. Threats can range
from just annoying to serious. Issues have been linked to things from hearing impairment, to
hypertension, sleep deprivation, reduced performance and aggressive behavior (NRDC and the
Coalition for Clean Air, 2004).
Scientific Study versus Anecdotal Reports
Critics of media that is observed on a daily basis tend to respond to many claims saying
that the science doesnt back it up. What this really is addressing is that there is issue
surrounding the difference between scientific evidence and anecdotal evidence. Anecdotal
evidence is such that has not been backed by laborious scientific research but is more or less is
based off of the experience of someone else personally (Rainey, 2012). In contrast, scientific
evidence is based from scientific methodology. There are several ways that this is achieved.
Examples are clinical trials, surveys and epidemiological studies (Rainey, 2012). The best of the
clinical studies are triple-blind studies where neither the subjects nor the researchers nor the data
analyzers are clear on the product source, element or substance is being used. In most cases,
trials are double blind. Even with the evidence from scientific study, the information is not full
proof and therefore cannot always be used but, this method should be used as often as it is
available and further judgment to be made from the results.
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Harbor Proximity and Community Mortality
Although harbors are not the cause of health issues in the surrounding communities, it is clear
that many of the issues are influenced either directly or indirectly by the related operations of the
harbor itself. In its Methodology for Estimating Premature Deaths Associated with Long-term
Exposure to Fine Airborne Particulate Matter in California (released October of 2008), the
California Air Resource Board reported that 3700 premature deaths per year directly attributable
to the Ports and goods movement statewide, and approximately 120 deaths per year associated
with diesel particulate matter emissions from activities at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long
Beach specifically (Human Impact Partners, 2010). Additionally the exposure to the diesel is
also associated with elevated rates of cancer (especially lung), hospitalization rates, asthma
exacerbation, and respiratory infections.
Multi-Criteria Integrated Resource Assessment. The use of the MIRA approach have
generally been used as the method of finding the best solution from a set of predefined options
based on the use of technological and single-discipline approaches. The purpose of MIRA is the
facilitation pf decision analysis by improving the understanding and interconnection between
both scientific data and societal values that are present in all environmental policy questions
(Stahl, 2002). This will affect the decision making process by taking both scientific methodology
into consideration as well as anecdotal reports. MIRA also maintains the isolated identities and
roles of subject matter experts and stakeholders while allotting for their combined association in
the decision making process. The process will consider multiple perspectives and as a result
could create some difficulty in achieving a resolution when trying to consider both the
considerations of subject matter experts as well as the stakeholders which in this case would be
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the community versus government officials and the owners and executives in relation to the
harbor itself.
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References
Human Impact Partners. (2010). LOS ANGELES AND LONG BEACH MARITIME PORT HIA
SCOPE. Washington D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
NRDC and the Coalition for Clean Air. (2004, March). Harboring Pollution. Retrieved from
National Resources Defense Council:
http://www.nrdc.org/air/pollution/ports/execsum.asp
Rainey, N. (2012, July 11). Anecdotal vs Scientific Evidence. Retrieved from ABC 33/40:
http://health.abc4.com/articles/675/Health-and-Fitness:-Anecdotal-vs-Scientific-Evidence
Stahl, C. H. (2002). A New Approach to Environmental Decision Analysis: Multi-Criteria
Integrated Resource Assessment (MIRA). Washington D.C.: University of Delaware.