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North Shore Air Inventory Report (NSAIR)
Executive Summary
Purpose of the North Shore Air Inventory Project
HealthLink, as a community-based non-profit, has been working since 1998 to reduce air toxics from our state’s, and unfortunately our backyard’s, largest single toxics user - the Salem Harbor Generating Station. We have made, and continue to make, great strides towards that goal. This project used HealthLink’s knowledge of air toxics, associated health issues, and strategies of engaging citizens in affecting environmental policy.
There have been several health studies conducted by the MA Department of Public Health (DPH), and there is much data available through both Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and MA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding air toxics and their effect on our health. HealthLink has integrated and compiled information about air pollution and health in Beverly, Salem and Marblehead and has made it available to the public on our website www.healthlink.org.
HealthLink undertook the North Shore Air Inventory project to:
1. increase community knowledge of toxic emissions into the air in three Massachusetts North Shore communities (Beverly, Salem, and Marblehead)
2. increase understanding of the health effects that may be associated with these toxins
3. work with the target communities to develop priorities for air toxics reductions.
Essex County's poor air quality has been well documented by a number of leading public health authorities.
- The American Lung Association gave Essex County failing grades for air quality in both its 2004 and 2005 State of the Air reports.
- The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) most recent data shows Essex County at high risk for both cancer and non-cancerous diseases caused by toxic air pollution. The EPA also showed Essex County was a “non-attainment area” in 2004 and 2005 due to ozone levels. This means the levels of ozone "persistently exceeded the national ambient air quality standards" in those years.
- Washington, DC-based Environmental Defense rates Essex County among the top 10 percent of dirtiest counties in the country.
Authors of Report
The NSAIR project was conducted by members of HealthLink, a Massachusetts North Shore nonprofit group that works to protect and improve public health by reducing and eliminating pollutants and toxic substances from the environment through research, education and community action.
HealthLink began its work in late 1998 by working to clean up the Salem Harbor Power Station, the largest single polluter in the county and one of the so-called “Filthy Five” – the five largest polluting power plants in the State.
HealthLink's goal was to prevent respiratory, cardiac and neurological illnesses endemic in many communities by making the older coal and oil fueled power plants in the State comply with the same pollution standards as all new plants in the U.S. After years of hard work, HealthLink was successful in improving Massachusetts’ air pollution regulations for power plants built before 1978. Changes to the regulations involve controlling emissions of pollutants including: nitrous oxide (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), mercury (Hg), and carbon dioxide (CO2).
Concerned about other sources of pollution that affect both the air quality and health of local residents, HealthLink members next began to look for other sources of air pollution. The NSAIR project originated from this desire to better understand other major local sources of toxic air emissions and to identify opportunities for air pollution reductions.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded the project and data collection began in October 2003.
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