Air has no jurisdictional boundaries. Emissions from one area of the Lowcountry can travel great distances, and pollute the air all of us breathe and the water we rely upon. Charleston has many air quality issues to think about, including particulate air pollution from port, industrial, and mobile sources, indoor air pollution, toxic chemicals inhaled by schoolchildren, and the effects of waste disposal.
In the United States, diesel emissions contribute 80% of the total estimated cancer risk from hazardous air pollutants–in Charleston, the State Ports Authority (SPA) seeks to expand, meaning more cargo ships and trucks running on diesel fuel in our communities. Further, the SPA is making these decisions as a state agency, yet has no environmental or public health representatives on their board.
Across the nation, schools are sited within close proximity of heavy industrial polluters. Based on EPA models, North Charleston has several schools falling within the absolute worst category for toxic air pollution. It is well known that the schools near the old navy base are in close proximity to industrial sites, but this study pinpointed the fact that these schools ranked among the most toxic in the nation. Every school in North Charleston was ranked within the top tenth percentile for dangerous air quality. This siting means citizens are inhaling dangerous substances potentially leading to asthma, chronic bronchitis, heart and kidney problems, neurological difficulties (including mental and emotional problems), and cancer.
These are just a few of the air quality issues the Coastal Conservation League has begun to address through the Clean Air Coalition and other avenues.
