Introduction

Our health and the environment are unequivocally linked. Our environment – where we live, work and play – has a direct impact on our health. A polluted and toxic environment threatens the natural life support systems on which we depend for good health and basic survival. By compromising the quality of our air, water, and land, we compromise our personal health and the health of our communities.

In an urban center such as Alameda County, we are exposed daily to a considerable amount of environmental contaminants that have well-documented health effects. Some substances irritate the skin or eyes, cause headaches and nausea, or make it difficult to breathe. Other environmental contaminants cause more severe health effects, including behavioral abnormalities, cancer, physiological malfunctions, developmental abnormalities and birth defects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of sources of common contaminants and their health effects illustrates just how prevalent they are in our society, and how damaging they can potentially be. (See Appendix for this list of common contaminants and their health effects.)

How do we get exposed to these environmental contaminants? According to the EPA, common exposure pathways include: 

·         Groundwater and Surface Water – Exposure occurs if people drink contaminated groundwater or surface water, accidentally ingest it while swimming, or if it comes into contact with their skin (e.g. in the shower, while swimming, etc.).

·         Soil, Sediment, Dust – People are exposed to hazardous substances in soil, sediment, or dust if they ingest it (e.g. sediments land on their food), if they breathe it in (especially dust), or if their skin comes into direct contact with the contaminated materials. Because of their play habits, children are highly susceptible to exposure through these pathways.

·         Air – When hazardous substances take the form of vapors, the simple act of breathing can expose people to contamination. As well, a person's skin can absorb hazardous substances in vapor form.

·         Food – Eating contaminated food is another common exposure route. In some cases, food may have been directly exposed to the hazardous substance. In other cases, the food contamination may have occurred further down the chain (e.g. animals eating contaminated plants).

On the other hand, a clean and well-cared for environment supports our health by providing us with a sustainable and safe place to grow food, fresh air to breathe, clean water to drink, and recreational spaces in which to play. Managing our city infrastructure in a green manner, beautifies our living spaces, increases public safety, reduces noise and airborne pollution, cuts city maintenance costs, improves resource efficiency, reduces water consumption, and enhances our ability to manage wastewater.

The following guide provides environmental and health facts on the major environmental issues impacting human health in Alameda County, including: air, water and land pollution. Reading between the lines, it becomes evident that energy/resource conservation and environmental/social justice issues play a role as well. This guide also includes tips on what you can do to promote human and environmental health and resources to learn more and take action.

Air

Health and Environmental Facts

Although the Bay Area has remained one of the cleanest of the five major urban California air basins in recent years, there are still several days annually when air pollution exceeds the federal and state air quality standards. When these standards are not met, the air quality is poor enough to affect health. As we know, air pollution can be a serious threat to our health – it is linked to an increase in asthma, respiratory ailments, cancers, cardiopulmonary disease, and even premature death. www.teleosis.org/alameda/sierraclub-highwayhealth

As the population in Alameda County continues to grow, there is an increase in driving, building, and urban sprawl – air pollution becomes an increasingly important issue. Industry, wood burning stoves, power plants, and refineries also contribute to air pollution in the county. To promote good air quality, we must be proactive, encouraging public transportation and other alternatives to driving.

Motor Vehicles

·          The single largest source of pollution in the Bay Area is the motor vehicle – contributing to tons of nitrogen oxides, reactive organic gases, and particulate matter. www.sparetheair.org

·          In West Oakland, there are 90 times more diesel particulates per square mile than for the entire state.   Pacific Institute. 2003. Clearing the Air: Reducing Diesel Pollution in West Oakland, www.teleosis.org/alameda/pacinst-diesel

·          In 1999, the health impacts of diesel soot on adults in Alameda County included: 106 premature deaths, 130 non-fatal heart attacks, 2,772 asthma attacks, 80 chronic bronchitis, and 17,172 work loss days. www.teleosis.org/alameda/catf-diesel    

·          West Oakland children are 7 times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma than the average child in California. www.teleosis.org/alameda/pacinst-oakland

Ground Ozone

·          In 2003, Alameda County ranked in the bottom 10% of all U.S. counties for ground ozone pollution. www.teleosis.org/alameda/scorecard-ozone

·          The Bay Area has exceeded the state health based air quality standards for ground ozone concentration on 22 days thus far in 2006.  www.sparetheair.org

·          Ground ozone is formed when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources chemically react in the presence of sunlight.  www.sparetheair.org

·          High levels of ground ozone can reduce lung function, aggravate asthma, inflame and damage the lining of the lung, and can contribute to long-term health problems as well.  www.airnow.gov

Other Forms of Outdoor Air Pollution

·        The second largest source of dioxin in the San Francisco Bay Area is from wood smoke, which produces about 30 percent of the particulate pollution on a typical winter night.  http://burningissues.org/fact-sheet.htm  &  www.sparetheair.org

o       Did you know that burning two cords of wood is equivalent to driving 2 diesel powered cars 10,000 miles each @ 30 miles/gallon?

·        The average American generates about 15,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, a significant greenhouse gas, annually from personal transportation and energy use in the home and to produce all of the products and services consumed.

·        Toxic Releases:  Due to new legislation, over 198,000 pounds of toxic chemicals in the San Francisco Bay Area may soon go unreported (most are released into our air & water) and are extremely hazardous to human health. www.teleosis.org/alameda/ewg-chemicals

Indoor Air Quality

·        The EPA’s Science Advisory Board recently ranked indoor pollution in the top five environmental risks to public health. This is a serious concern, as Americans are now estimated to spend as much as 90% of their time indoors.  www.teleosis.org/alameda/ucb-sustainability

·        Sources of indoor air pollution are many and include: combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products; asbestos-containing insulation; wet or damp carpet; lead paint; products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies; molds; and outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution.

·        According to the American Lung Association, poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma. In addition, it can cause headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue. www.lungusa.org

·        Motor vehicle toxins affect indoor air quality, too.  Studies show that residents of West Oakland Port are exposed indoor to 5 times the level of diesel particulates that people are exposed to outdoor in other parts of Oakland.  www.teleosis.org/alameda/sierraclub-sprawl

What Can I Do?

By making personal choices to help reduce air pollution, we can all make a difference in the quality of air we breathe. Be a role model. Share these tips. Encourage your patients and peers to think about their personal choices.

·         Drive less. Take public transportation. Ride a bike. Walk.

o       Avoiding just 10 miles of driving every week would eliminate about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year!

·         Carpool. Ride to work with a friend.

o       Sharing a ride with someone just 2 days a week will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 1,590 pounds a year.

·         If you do drive, consider using cleaner burning bioethanol fuel, biodiesel, or hybrid vehicle technologies.

·         Cut back on other activities that cause air pollution, such as using oil-based paints, gasoline-powered lawn mowers, or household aerosol products like hair sprays. 

o       Did you know that on an hour-for-hour basis, a gasoline-powered lawn mower produces as much pollution as 40 new cars? Consider doing your gardening by hand and enjoy the physical exercise!

·         Have good ventilation in your home and office to protect the quality of your indoor air.

·         Protect your health. Be aware of common contaminants and their health effects. See Appendix.

·         Do not use your fireplace or wood stove on nights when the air quality is forecasted to be unhealthy.

·         Calculate the amount of carbon dioxide you produce and find ways to reduce your emissions. Visit www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/carboncalculator

·         Make your home energy efficient.

·         Report a smoking vehicle. Call 1-800-EXHAUST and be prepared to give the license number and the date, time and place the vehicle was spotted.

·         Ask your local representatives to insist on legislation that requires stricter clean air standards for automobiles, big industries, and power plants.

Water

Health and Environmental Facts

Although the Alameda County Water District’s 2005 water quality report shows that Alameda’s water quality has met or surpassed all federal and state drinking water standards (www.teleosis.org/alameda/acwd-report, a number of pollutants still exist in our water that may potentially affect human health.

Pollution that reaches our lakes, streams, rivers, and oceans can end up harming fish and wildlife populations, killing native vegetation, fouling drinking water supplies, and making recreational areas unsafe. For example, two common pollutants – mercury and PCBs – are linked to learning and memory problems in children, heart problems, and possibly cancer.

Storm water and pollution from runoff are major sources of water pollution in Alameda County. Improper disposal of hazardous chemicals and medications down the drain; oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from automobiles; fertilizers and pesticides; road salts; and construction are all sources of potential water contamination.

San Francisco Bay

·          Common pollutants of concern in Bay Area water are: mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s), dioxins, pesticides and insecticides, lead, and copper. www.cleanwaterprogram.org

·          In an analysis of six species of Bay fish, a common flame-retardant chemical (PBDE), extremely toxin to our nervous systems, was detected in every fish sampled.  www.teleosis.org/alameda/ewg-taintedcatch 

·          Although the use of PBDEs is banned in California, the ban will not take effect until 2008. In the meanwhile, studies show that PBDEs in the blood and breast tissue of Bay Area women and of harbor seals are 3 to 60 times higher than levels measured in people and animals in Europe. www.teleosis.org/alameda/ewg-taintedcatch

Tap Water

·          An Environmental Working Group analysis of tap water tests from 1998 through 2003 shows that customers of East Bay Municipal Utility District drank water containing up to 18 pollutants, including 3 unregulated contaminants. Of these 18 pollutants, 5 were found to be within legal limits, but above health based limits www.teleosis.org/alameda/ewg-tapwater 

·          Boys who drink water with levels of fluoride considered safe by federal guidelines are five times more likely to have a rare bone cancer than boys who drink unfluoridated water, according to a 2006 Harvard University study. www.teleosis.org/alameda/ewg-fluoride 

·          In the Bay Area as well as the rest of the United States, municipal drinking water typically has 100 or so pharmaceutical medicines and personal care products in significant concentrations.    Emerging Contaminants Workgroup of the Santa Clara Watershed Management Initiative. White Paper: Discussion paper on pharmaceutical disposal to sewer systems. February 2005.  www.teleosis.org/alameda/santaclara-pharm  http://www.city.palo-alto.ca.us/public-works/documents/cb-PharmWhitePaper.pdf  

What Can I Do?

The following are some of the things you can do to protect our ground and drinking water supplies.  Be a role model. Share these tips. Encourage your patients and peers to think about their personal choices.

·          Choose the seafood you eat wisely. Visit: www.teleosis.org/alameda/oceansalive

·          Use non-toxic cleaning agents in your home and office.

·          Dispose of household and workplace chemicals properly. 

·          Do not dispose of your old or unwanted medicine down the toilet or drain. EBMUD collects everything from pills to bottles to prescription or over the counter meds. Contact EBMUD to find out how to dispose of your pharmaceuticals properly: www.teleosis.org/alameda/ebmud-pharmprogram

·          Take used motor oil to a recycling center.

·          Limit the amount of fertilizer used on plants. If possible, eliminate pesticide use entirely.

·          Report a spill or other pollution that could runoff into creeks. Call 510-670-5500.

·          Look for stains on porcelain fixtures in plumbing. Blue-green stains indicate copper, which is toxic. Older homes were often built with copper plumbing.

·          Be knowledgeable of common contaminants and their health effects. See Appendix.

·          Conserve water!

·          Take short showers.

·          Install a low-flush toilet.

·          Turn off the water while brushing teeth, shaving, and washing your face and hands.

·          Run full loads of dishes and laundry.

·          Check for leaky faucets and have them fixed.

·          Landscape with native, drought resistant plants, trees and shrubs.

Land

Health and Environmental Facts

Many of the environmental problems in Alameda County overlap and are intertwined. This becomes evident as we examine the problems of land pollution, which also affects both air and water quality. As in many urban areas, the issues contributing to land pollution and ill health include: solid and hazardous waste, industry, overuse of pesticides and other toxic household chemicals, motor vehicles, and urban sprawl.

Did you know that the average American generates 4.5 pounds of trash every day? Our continued reliance on convenience products and disposable items generates mass quantities of waste, which also contributes to our dependence on fossil fuels for manufacturing and disposal of products. Although landfills have become more sophisticated, they can potentially release harmful fumes into the air and pollute groundwater when leachate systems fail.

In addition to regular solid waste, hazardous waste disposal is an alarming health issue. Electronic waste (computers, televisions, appliances, cell phones, etc.), batteries, light bulbs, thermometers, toxic household cleaners, pharmaceutical drugs, paints, motor oils, pesticides and many other items are all considered hazardous waste. They contain chemicals, which unless disposed of properly, can be released into the environment causing serious harm to people and local ecosystems. 

Landfills and Waste Disposal

·        While the U.S. accounts for only 5 percent of the world’s population, it is responsible for over 50 percent of the world’s solid waste.

·        In 2000, Alameda County sent 1,552,683 tons of waste to 22 disposal sites across California, three of which are located in Alameda County. www.stopwaste.org

·        Landfill gas constituents are typically found in ambient air at low concentrations unlikely to cause adverse health effects. However, some landfill emissions (such as ammonia) may pose health concerns depending upon the chemical concentrations to which people are exposed and the duration of the exposure.  www.teleosis.org/alameda/atsdr-landfill

Electronic Waste

·        Electronic waste or “E-Waste,” containing various hazardous materials, accounts for 40 percent of the lead and 75 percent of the heavy metals found in landfills. www.teleosis.org/alameda/ewaste 

·        In general, electronic computer equipment is a complicated assembly of more than 1,000 materials, many of which are highly toxic: lead, cadmium, mercury, and brominated flame retardants to name a few.

Industries

·        82% of residents in West Oakland live within 1/8 of a mile from an industrial site. www.teleosis.org/alameda/pacinst-oakland

·        Several facilities and industries in Alameda County release TRI (Toxic Release Inventory) chemicals to the air, land and water, which can have a detrimental impact on our health. Chemicals include: lead, zinc compounds, ammonia, and others. www.scorecard.com

·        Due to new legislation, over 198,000 pounds of toxic chemicals in the San Francisco Bay Area may soon go unreported and are extremely hazardous to human health. www.teleosis.org/alameda/ewg-trireport

What Can I Do?

By making personal choices to help reduce waste and land pollution, we can all make a direct impact on our health and that of the environment. Be a role model. Share these tips. Encourage your patients and peers to think about their personal choices.

·         Reduce, reuse, recycle and recover.

·         Dispose of your hazardous, electronic, chemical, and pharmaceutical wastes properly. To learn about various recycling and disposal programs, visit: www.stopwaste.org

·         Reduce land pollution from cars (e.g. grease, plastics, road salts, brake pads, etc.)

o      Keep your car well maintained. Check for leaks and spills.

o       Drive less. Take public transportation. Carpool. Ride your bike.

·         Buy and use green or eco-friendly cleaning products.

·         Buy organic and local food.

·         Create a “Bay Friendly Garden.” Choose native and drought tolerant varieties of plants; minimize use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers; conserve water and nurture healthy soil by mulching and composting. Sign up for a gardening workshop through www.stopwaste.org.

·         When you build or remodel – do it green! Choose healthy materials and construction methods. Be mindful about using non-renewable resources. Design in an energy efficient manner.

·         Ask your local representatives to insist on legislation that requires stricter standards for big industries and toxic site cleanup.

Resources

Air

Bay Area Air Quality Management District - www.baaqmd.gov 

A public organization responsible for: attaining and maintaining air quality standards; increasing public awareness; and developing and implementing protocol and policies for environmental justice.

California Breathing - www.californiabreathing.org

A program working to address asthma in California from a public health perspective

East Bay Bike Coalition - www.ebbc.org

Promotes using bikes for everyday transportation. A great resource for biking maps of the East Bay.

Environmental Working Group – www.teleosis.org/alameda/ewg-airpollution

A well-researched and informative site about policy, air pollution, and its effects on our health and that of the environment.

An Inconvenient Truth - www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction 

An excellent resource on the facts of global warming and a list of changes you can make to your daily routine to reduce your impact on global warming.

Score Card - www.scorecard.org 

An in-depth resource for information and data on pollution and chemical toxicity in your local area.

Spare the Air - www.sparetheair.org

Established by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, this program educates people about air pollution and what they can do to prevent it. It includes descriptions of the health effects of air pollution, information about how various communities and employers are working to prevent pollution, clean air tips, and a local air quality forecast.

Water

Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program - www.cleanwaterprogram.org 

A source for tips on what you can do to prevent stormwater runoff pollution to keep the Bay clean and healthy

Bay Area Association of Stormwater Management Agencies Association - www.basmaa.org 

A consortium of eight San Francisco Bay Area municipal stormwater programs – representing more than 90 agencies, including 79 cities and six counties, and the bulk of the watershed immediately surrounding San Francisco Bay).

East Bay Municipal Utility District - www.teleosis.org/alameda/ebmud-pharmprogram

EBMUD’s Residential Pollution Prevention Program.

Environmental Working Group - www.ewg.org/sites/tapwater/

A guide to the safety of your tap water.

Oceans Alive - www.teleosis.org/alameda/oceansalive

A frequently updated guide on which fish you can consume safely and which to avoid.

Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch – www.teleosis.org/alameda/mba-seafoodguide Another great seafood guide.

San Francisco Estuary Project - http://sfep.abag.ca.gov/index.html

A federally funded program created to protect and improve the water quality and natural resources of estuaries.

Save the Bay -  www.savesfbay.org

A great place to volunteer. Learn and educate others about protecting the Bay and our health.

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – www.teleosis.org/alameda/epa-waterpollutants

An in-depth resource on the pollutants found in our waters and their health effects.

Urban Creeks Council - www.urbancreeks.org

An active organization involved in educating and restoring our urban creeks and watersheds, with good tips on what you can do.

Water Education Foundation – www.teleosis.org/alameda/watereduc-foundation

A website illustrating where California’s water comes from.

Land

 East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse - www.east-bay-depot.org

A non-profit devoted to collecting and redistributing reusable materials for education, arts and crafts, and a wide variety of other creative projects.

Electronic Waste Management – www.noewaste.com

A local E-waste Recycling Company.

StopWaste.org  - www.stopwaste.org

Aims to reduce the waste stream for Alameda County by promoting sustainable consumption and disposal patterns. A main focus of their programs is to keep organic and hazardous wastes (electronics, paints, batteries, household cleaners, chemicals, etc.) out of the landfill.

Urban Ore - http://urbanore.citysearch.com/

A great place to purchase or drop-off reusable household goods. Urban Ore accepts and resells building materials, hardware, furniture, sporting equipment, art, and computers.

General

Alameda County Public Health & Environmental Health Department - www.acphd.org

Implements and oversees various programs impacting environmental health such as: clean water and stormwater programs; the investigation and cleanup of soil and groundwater contamination from chemical releases and spills; and hazardous waste programs.

Bay Area Green Business Program – www.greenbiz.abag.ca.gov

Partnership of environmental agencies and utilities that assist, recognize and promote businesses and government agencies that volunteer to operate in a more environmentally responsible way.

Berkeley Ecology Center – www.ecologycenter.org

Environmental advocates and financial sponsors of educational and environmental programs in Alameda County. The Ecology Center is an excellent resource! If you are a teacher or have children, check out the Environmental Educational Resource Guide on their website.

Bio Fuel Oasis - www.biofueloasis.com

Learn the basics about bio-diesel, an alternative and cleaner-burning fuel source.

Chemical Body Burden - www.chemicalbodyburden.org

A well-researched site to learn the specifics about potential chemicals in our bodies and their health effects.

City Carshare - www.citycarshare.org 

A non-profit providing a car-sharing service throughout the Bay Area.

Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) - www.cbecal.org 

Learn about environmental health and justice issues in your area.

GRID Alternatives - www.gridalternatives.org

A non-profit organization providing energy efficiency and renewable energy consulting services to communities in need.

The Pacific Institute - www.pacinst.org

The Pacific Institute provides independent research and policy analysis on environmental, development and security issues.

Appendix

EPA’s List of Common Environmental Contaminants

and Their Health Effects:

Our Mission

The Teleosis Institute is devoted to developing effective, sustainable health care provided by professionals who serve as environmental stewards.

The Institute has three major goals:

• To educate health professionals about the principles and practices of Ecologically Sustainable Medicine
• To build a community-based network for professionals providing Green Health Care
• To provide access to high-quality, cost-effective, sustainable medical services benefiting underserved populations and the environment in which we live

A not-for-profit organization, the Teleosis Institute was founded by Dr. Joel Kreisberg, DC, MA, a health care practitioner and environmental educator.

1521B 5^th Street * Berkeley, California 94710 * 510.558.7285 * info@teleosis.org * www.teleosis.org