For this research paper, I chose to discuss the Louisiana air quality and its effects on the community. I was raised here in Baker, Louisiana which is north of Baton Rouge. Growing up I noticed something very striking and odd. We are overly exposed to chemical plants and their outputs. Driving around Baton Rouge at night and seeing a distant flame I often wonder what it really was. I wonder how this was affecting the community. How was this affecting our health? Upon doing research, I discovered it is called upset emissions. Upset emissions are unplanned events which release VOCs into the air. The Bucket Brigade which is an anti-energy group refers to emissions as accidents. Every year they release an annual report which gives information on the State of Louisiana air quality. A group called Energize LA made a rebuttal against the report. They argued that the Bucket Brigade facts were inaccurate. The views of both will be explained in detail. For this research paper, there will be a discussion on the upset emission effects on communities and health. As well how it correlates to the previous class discussions on the Clean Air Act. The Bucket Brigade annual report there has been massive amounts of pollutant released. It states that Louisiana refineries averaged six upset emissions per week in 2012. There were over 327 upset emissions in 2012. This number has dropped from 346 from 2011. They are working with insiders to be whistleblowers from within the oil industry and government agencies. They want folks to become activist against the illegal behavior which has been occurring. The Bucket Brigade reached out to the different refineries but only one responded. According their list of top air pollution accidents in 2012 Exxon Mob... ... middle of paper ... ...November 13). Buket Brigade Annual Emission Report . Retrieved from Energize LA: http://energizela.com/news/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-bucket-brigades-annual-emissions-report-in-one-quote/ Air Quality Meter . (2013, November 11). Retrieved from Baton Rouge Clean Air Coalition : http://www.brcleanair.com/localinfohealth/ Baton Rouge Clean Air Coalition . (2013, November 11). Retrieved from Health : http://www.brcleanair.com/localinfohealth/ Brickey, K. F. (2008). Environmental Crime . Austin : Aspen Publishers . Stephania A. Cornier, S. L. (2006). Origin and Helth Impacts of Emissons of Toxic By-Produts and Fine Particles from Combustion and Thermal Treatment of Hazardous Wastes. Environmental Health Perspectives, 810-817. Taking Action . (2013, Novemer 11). Retrieved from Baton Rouge Clean Air Coalition : http://www.brcleanair.com/localinfohealth/
Print. United States. National Park Service. " Air Quality.
Many people are unknowingly exposed to air pollution and have no idea. Some common causes of air pollution are automobiles, factories, landfills and toxic materials. Air pollution destroys the environment; it causes climate change because it greatly affects the greenhouse effect and it causes acid rain. Acid rain contaminates water and destroys animal’s homes. Air pollution has many effects on people it causes coughing, elevates your risk of asthma, wheezing, it can cause diseases and birth defects. It’s estimated “that seven million people died prematurely in 2012 from exposure to air pollution and that air pollution can cause cardiovascular diseases. The use of incinerators has caused protest movements from the Chinese citizens because they are becoming aware of the air pollution that is being given off from the burning of their trash and the effects it has on their health. There have been many reports of premature births and stillbirths of pregnant women that live near garbage incinerators”( Professional Safety, 2014, p.
Exxon/Mobil, one of the nation’s leading oil producers, has its main refinery located in Beaumont, Texas. Each year, the residents of Beaumont/Port Arthur have to contend with the 39,000 pounds of pollution spewed each year by the Exxon refinery. Exxon’s emissions are 385% above the state refinery average. In 1999, the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Committee (TNRCC) allowed the plant to increase their emissions, without allowing the public to have a say in the matter. Interestingly, 95% of the people living near the plant are of African American descent and are in the poverty range. Some believe that this, along with the lack of education in the area, allows Exxon to get away with such high emissions. Residents in nearby neighborhoods have been complaining of headaches, nausea, eye, and throat irritation for years. Since 1997, Mobil has repeatedly violated health standards in its emissions of two key air pollutants: sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, These “rotten egg” smells are so strong, one can smell it through a car driving past the refinery. After numerous complaints and one record of a refinery worker becoming unconscious because of the fumes, the EPA awarded Exxon with a $100,000 environmental justice grant in October of 1998. Hopefully, Exxon has put the money to good use and cleaned up their emissions.
Gulbinas, Vilija. “On the Road to Recovery: an Angelino’s Guide to Smog”. Los Angeles, CA: US. 1998. www.ben2.ucla.edu/~vgulbina
The first think that I see when I walk outside everyday is the layer of haze that looms across the Wasatch Front. It doesn’t surprise me that The American Lung Association gave Salt Lake City an F, on our “State of the Air” report card. (American Lung Association,2013).What companies are the biggest contributor to our pollution? Should our children suffer the consequences of pollution? There are many causes and effects of pollution along the Wasatch Front, which includes large industrial companies, commercial companies and household pollution.
An extensive part of WEACT’s mission is to “promote actions that people can take in their own homes as well as addressing the larger policy issues of where industry is located and its effects on the health of neighborhood residents” (Carlson & Stroebel). In order to take these actions and help guarantee that policy makers were listening, the creation of the risk maps were vital. The risk map was able to present areas where “young people experienced foul odors, irritated throats, watery eyes, shortness of breath, and other self reported symptoms” (Corburn 55). The mission of this street science project was to safeguard the community’s health concerns, in addition to allowing further action to be implemented. However, the risk maps were not the only way that WEACT sought to address these
US Enviromental Protection Agency. (2010, December 13). Retrieved January 20, 2011, from US EPA Human Health: http://cfpub.epa.gov/eroe/index.cfm?fuseaction=list.listByChapter&ch=49
They try to prove that the emission of chemicals from the Shell company are actually hazardous and are released at unsafe concentrations. With respect to the Ecological Model of health, the focus here is the relationship between the citizens and their environment, so any change in the environment can affect the health of citizens (Drummer. 2008). Another focus is the location relative to the Shell company that is an issue. The residents of this town are faced with health problems due to the location of the Shell company, which enforces that Health Geography is a big influence here (Drummer. 2003). Citizens within the Diamond community report increasing rates of asthma in children, along with machines in their house to help prevent/cope with allergies. The location plays a major role as to why these negative health effects are occurring since the chemical plant is emitting these chemicals nearby. When the air was tested, multiple chemicals were found but one that stood out was Benzene which is known to have cancer causing effects (WHO. 2018). Even with this knowledge, the Shell company continued to claim that the living conditions within this city were adequate (Grunberg.
Wright, C. Y., & Diab, R. (2011). Air pollution and vulnerability: Solving the puzzle of
Reinhardt, Timothy E. Monitoring firefighter exposure to air toxins at prescribed burns of forest and range biomass. Portland: Forest Service, 1991.
One of the most important issues that must be addressed and resolved in Texas is that of the environmental pollution. In fact, Texas has been one of the most polluted state in America. It doesn’t take long for the different type of waste such as nuclear waste, chemical pollutants, emission from coal-fired power plants, and pollution resulting from fracking to have damaging effects on the air and in the water supply of many Texans. In response to this situation that doesn’t stop from becoming worse, the Lone Star State needs to act quickly.
One of the most dangerous environment issues Southern California is facing today is air pollution. This includes the burning of fossil fuels and natural disasters. Los Angeles is one of the most polluted cities in the world, and the most polluted city in the United States. I will research information about the causes, the effects, and the history of air pollution in the Los Angeles. For my research, I have relied mostly on, the school’s database and library, as well as current events.
PURPOSE: To persuade my audience that we must take action now to control air pollution
Factories and transportation depend on huge amounts of fuel--billions of tons of coal and oil are consumed around the world every year. When these fuels burn they introduce smoke and other, less visible, by-products into the atmosphere.