Sponsored Page Pollution and southwest Detroit Omar Abdel-Baqui for The Latino Press Residents of southwest Detroit are forced to deal with heavy pollution emitted from the many fac- tories within Southwest and surrounding areas, automobile and semi-truck traffic and other envi- ronmental stressors affecting the health of those in the community. There are over 150 sites in southwest Detroit releasing chemicals and particles which result in air pollution, including PM2.5, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide and ozone. Zip codes 48217 and 48209, which have high concentrations of Latino population, are home to the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the city of Detroit. These pollutants cause numer- ous health issues, including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, kidney failure and can- cer. Asthma hospitalization rates in southwest Detroit and surrounding areas are nearly triple the state average; cancer rates are also higher than aver- age. “These particles and chemicals can penetrate our body and enter our bloodstream and wreak havoc on health,” said Guy Williams, president & CEO of Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice. “We have only recently realized the serious damage PM2.5 can cause.” Steve Tobocman, director of Global Detroit and former Michigan state representative, cites the Marathon Oil Refinery, The Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal, the Detroit Water and Sewerage facility, Zug Island and traffic as main polluters that have led to these health issues. Marathon Oil, located on Fort Street, produces up to 140,000 barrels of oil a day – the site operates 24 hours a day, all year round. In 2014, the oil refinery emitted 430 tons of nitrous oxide, 83 tons of PM2.5 and 211 tons of sulfur dioxide. Williams said the pollutants emitted by Marathon and other factories in southwest Detroit cause terrible outdoor air quality and can get trapped in homes, resulting in poor indoor air quality as well. Contaminated Air Health issues potentially caused by pollution is prevalent among the youth living in southwest Detroit. At Munger Elementary-Middle School in southwest Detroit, asthma is the number one reason students miss class, according to Charlotte Moss, a Henry Ford nurse stationed at Munger. Another school in southwest Detroit, Harms Elementary, faces similar issues regarding pollu- tion, according to Community Schools Coordinator Ana Martinez. 4 February 8 • 2018 jn “There are so many factories near Harms, there is so much trash on the streets and there are so many nearby houses deteriorating,” Martinez said. Adding that the fact that the government is aware of the issues prevalent in southwest Detroit and is yet unwilling to take action in the area is very frustrating. She said she cannot come to terms with seeing the major develop- ments taking place in midtown and downtown, while southwest Detroit – a community she has been a part of for 25 years – continues to deal with very serious problems. “I am all for the rising up of Detroit and investors investing in our city,” said Martinez. “But, don’t just invest in the property, invest in the people who have been here for a long time… Our chil- dren deserve better than this.” Gordie Howe International Bridge In addition to factories and traffic, the planned Gordie Howe International Bridge is stirring contro- versy and is a potential cause for concern among the southwest Detroit community. If the bridge is built, between 324 and 414 houses would be relocated; up to seven places of worship would be lost; between 685 and 920 jobs would be relocated from the Delray area; the Community Health and Social Services Center (CHASS), a major provider of healthcare to the southwest Detroit community would be relocated; three cultural/historic buildings would be destroyed; three parks/recreation centers would be removed; light pollution would be increased; there would be a potential increase in semi-truck traffic and a change in the way southwest Detroiters get around due to permanent road closures near I-75. Semi-truck traffic, in particular, is already a major issue plaguing southwest Detroit – as trucks con- stantly go through neighborhood streets to reach the Ambassador Bridge. Semi-trucks emit PM2.5 and other harmful pollutants into the air. According to Tobocman, the State of Michigan does not have a role in the development of the new international crossing and it will be up to the Canadian government and whatever operator is chosen to implement policies that mitigate envi- ronmental factors. “Unfortunately, U.S. residents have limited their ability to impact the project when the Michigan Legislature decided it would not be a part of the project,” said Tobocman. “We have far less a voice in this important economic asset and potential environmental threat.” Stephanie Chang, state representative for District 6, said, “While there will no doubt be increased pollution, both noise and air, during construction Marathon Oil refi nery in southwest Detroit of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, once it is constructed, its freeway-to-freeway connectivity may help to ensure shorter idle time.” Chang added, “However, I remain concerned about the pollution because there will be increased traffic due to this bridge.” Government Action Although the government has been criticized for not enacting policies that will reduce air pollution, several attempts have been made. The potential impact of these efforts is unclear. For example, the Detroit City Council imposed reg- ulations that bar certain commercial vehicles from idling their engines for over 5 minutes. Although Williams praises the effort, he said this hard-to- enforce rule ends up having limited impact. Chang has also introduced and supported bills that focus on environmental issues. These bills include HB 4200, which calls for citizen oversight of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and HB 4257, which set requirements for the proper and safe storage of pet coke. Chang said she is working on legislation to “create a fund that requires companies who have violated the Clean Air Act to support air quality improve- ment projects in communities directly impacted by their pollution.” This is in addition to a bill that would “create an ombudsman for air quality who would have the ability to receive and process com- plaints, initiate investigations and request injunc- tive relief and prescribe penalties.” Raquel Castaneda-Lopez, city council member of District 6, said her office is “beginning work on legislation to create necessary buffers between pollution sources and residential areas, and creat- ing ‘complete streets’ to encourage walking and biking.” Her office has also worked with the Delray community to try and secure community benefits for those who will be impacted by the Gordie Howe International Bridge. About this series New Michigan Media (NMM) is the collaboration of the five leading minority media outlets in the region. The New Michigan Media Newspapers have a com- bined estimated reach of over 140,000 weekly, and include The Latino Press, The Michigan Chronicle, The Jewish News, The Michigan Korean Weekly, and The Arab American News. For the past 3 years, NMM has also been a member of the Detroit Journalism Cooperative (DJC), the unique collabora- tion between some of the leading media outlets of the region, which includes The Center for Michigan’s Bridge Magazine, Detroit Public Television, Michigan Public Radio, and WDET. Funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the DJC aims to report about and create community engagement opportu- nities in Detroit and the region. The article you are reading is part of the DJC project of this year, and will appear in all the NMM member newspapers, as well as with the DJC partners.