|
Directories Int'l Realty US Realty
|
 |
Are Your Kids Exposed To Total Suspended Particles? Stuart Lieberman, Esq., Obviously air pollution is not good for our health. They have been telling us this for many years and we now believe what they have been telling us. Air pollution comes from a variety of sources. Industry and automobiles produce the most air pollution that we encounter on a daily basis. And of the kinds of air pollutants that we are exposed to every day, the total suspended particles, which are referred to as TSPs are the ones that carry the biggest punch. These TSPs are various sizes of molecular toxin clusters. Because they are smaller particles, they are able to penetrate deeply into the lungs, and from there they have the greatest opportunity to make us sick. And so they do. So many people in this country suffer from cancer and chronic respiratory problems caused by air pollution. Our children are at particular risk. An article that was just published in the August issues of the Quarterly Journal of Economics reported that there were 2,500 fewer infant deaths in the United States between 1981 and 1982. At that time, we were in a recession. The presumption is that during a recession, factories produce less goods and when they produce less goods, they belch out smaller amounts of air pollution including these particularly dangerous TSPs. So here we have one benefit associated with a lousy economy. The scientists were able to evaluate the differences in infant death between the recession period and non-recession period. They ruled out other competing factors such as socio-economic conditions and weather because these factors seem to have little relative influence on the death levels. Thus by deduction, the only thing that seemed to change was the state of the economy and accordingly, the corresponding reduction in factory pollutant emissions. Other studies have already demonstrated that children are particularly at risk when they are exposed to TSPs. These particles include a variety of materials such as soot, ash, dirt, sand, metals and pollen. Automobile and diesel emissions as well as industrial and residential emissions and natural sources of pollution are also included in the TSPs. Other studies have demonstrated that there are marked increases in daily death statistics associated with high 24 hour concentration levels of TSPs. There has been some risk associated with lower concentration. Multi-day high level exposures increase the risk of adverse effects. What does this mean for all of us who live in homes and have children or others who have been shown to be susceptible to exposure to TSPs, including persons with chronic lung or cardiovascular disease, persons with the flu, asthmatics and the elderly? I think that there are real life applications associated with this information. For persons who are particularly at risk to air pollution, perhaps it is best to avoid areas where there might be increased exposure. Thus, it might make sense to avoid the city if possible and it might make sense to avoid portions of this nation which have chronically excessive levels of air pollution. These areas are referred to as “non-attainment” areas of the United States. Avoiding factories is also beneficial. But, how many of us can move to whereever it is that we want to move? Most of us seem to live where we live more by accident than by plan. And most of us have a good number of considerations that come into play when we decide where we want to live. Perhaps unfortunately, health issues are not always priority on our list of concerns. The government does advise us of heavy air pollution and smog days. At a minimum, it makes sense to pay attention to these warnings, especially for those who are particularly at risk. But there is more that we can all do. Support organizations and elected officials who demonstrate that they care about the environment. And support "green" businesses, businesses that care about the earth. Conversely, throw out officials who don't care, and don't support companies that lack a conscience.
The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.
|
