No Safe Harbor for Pollution

Many thanks for “Finally Tackling L.A.’s Worst Air Polluter” (Feb. 10). While it is stunning enough to realize that the ships calling in the harbor produce as much air pollution as 1 million cars, the health risks of diesel pollution are much greater than those of an equal number of cars.

Diesel exhaust has been declared a toxic air contaminant and carcinogen by the state of California. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s goal for cancer risk being increased due to toxic air contaminants is one part per 1 million of population. According to the multiple air toxics study done by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the risk stands at 1,500 per 1 million in Wilmington and only slightly less in Long Beach and San Pedro.

One of the best commentaries on this issue was in “5 Pollutants Are Listed as Most Toxic to Children” (June 16), which reported that “Diesel exhaust is one of the most damaging pollutants affecting children in California, according to an advisory panel of some of the state’s top scientists.”

The Port of Los Angeles has been aware of this situation for years. It has concealed material facts from the public and sacrificed the public health in its mindless drive to expand. If this pollution continues to grow, many people will become ill, and some will die. Mayor James Hahn appoints the Harbor Commission and has the final say on the policies of the port. The ultimate responsibility is his.

Noel Park

President

San Pedro and Peninsula

Homeowners’ Coalition

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I agree it’s about time we focus on reducing all the ships’ air pollution. I work as an air quality consultant, and when I read your statistic of a whopping four tons of nitrogen oxide per day per cargo ship, I was disgusted.

My recommendation is to implement a thorough annual emissions inventory from each ship coming into the port(s) throughout California and Mexico’s Pacific ports. Tag each inventory report with the existing emission fees and pool all collected money into a fund. This fund will cover cash-back incentives and discounts to individual ship owners and operators who use 50% cleaner-burning bunker fuel. The level of cleaner fuel achieved can be implemented in phases, effective immediately.

Bottom line: The cost to control the emissions can always be developed to be much cheaper than the profit gained from the billions of dollars in imported goods arriving each day. It’s about time and it’s good for all of us.

Mario Delgado

Chino