The right to breathe fresh air
BY DR PATRECE CHARLES-FREEMAN
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
OUR constitution gives us the fundamental right to life, liberty, personal safety and, of course, the age-old right to vote; but what about the right to a breath of fresh air?
Environmental degradation has been on the rise and is observed in both rural and urban communities due to the lack of effective restrictions on a wide range of development projects. Among the most severe environmental problems affecting Jamaica are those related to air pollution, which threatens health, vegetation and infrastructure.
According to the WHO 2000 Fact Sheet N187, air pollution causes serious health effects mainly respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, and lung cancer.Following concerns expressed by the communities living within close proximity to bauxite processing plants, I conducted an investigation into the effects of pollutants, specifically particulate matter on the health of persons living in these areas.
The study examined the levels of particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5 and the prevalence of respiratory illnesses within communities that were believed to be exposed to industrial pollutants emanating from a bauxite factory. The communities represented urban, rural, industrialised, and non-industrialised areas. The monitoring of air quality, health assessment of the individuals who participated in the study and the relationship between health and the environment were investigated.
The study showed that adults within six miles of the bauxite company had higher levels of sinusitis, allergies and asthma. Children within the same area also showed higher rates of sinusitis and allergies, however, no clear relationship was established with asthma.
The results suggested that particulate matter associated with bauxite mining may have significant negative impacts on the health of persons in communities, particularly those residing closer to the factory who are exposed to unacceptable levels of PM10 and PM2.5 particles.
The Charles-Freeman 2007 study examined the levels of particulate matter at sizes 10 and 2.5 µg/m3. The mean average of the levels of the pollutants for both PM10 and PM2.5 showed an exceedance above the national average acceptable safe level of 50µg/m3 at a distance of one - six-mile radius from the bauxite processing plant.
This study pointed to an increase in particulate matter exposure for individuals living in close proximity to the bauxite factory than those individuals living further away.
Whilst one accepts that industrialisation is central to economic development and improved prospects for human well-being, particularly in developing countries such as Jamaica, we cannot be unmindful of the fact that this often brings with it many negative implications for health.
It is in this context that we must review the renewed quarrying on the Puerto Bueno Mountain near the Queen's Highway between Rio Bueno and Discovery Bay in St Ann.
The communities have a right to be concerned, not only about the protection of the natural environment on the Puerto Bueno Mountain, but also for the health of the residents who live within six miles of the site of the quarry and crushing plant.
More attention needs to be given to the plight of the residents who will be exposed to the air pollution resulting from the quarry and crushing plant on the Puerto Bueno Mountain. The data set from the Charles-Freeman 2007 study clearly established that there was a higher prevalence of sinusitis, asthma and allergies for adults and that there was a need to examine and monitor respiratory symptoms of adults living within a six-mile radius of the bauxite factory.
Likewise, children may experience an increasing vulnerability to the pollutants and higher rates of sinusitis and allergies were reported amongst children living closer to the bauxite factory versus those living further away. It therefore stands to reason that the communities in close proximity to the quarry and crushing plant will be exposed to significantly higher levels of unacceptable particulate matter and will also experience similar health effects.
The Charles-Freeman study suggests, to some extent, that with technology comes inherent negative impacts on our environment. We must explore effective means of combating the effect of technological advances and globalisation on environmental degradation and the health of our people.
— Dr Patrece Charles-Freeman is a public and environmental health consultant
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