Building a Healthy Newport Environment Coalition BHNEC

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Building a Healthy Newport Environment
Coalition(BHNEC)

• January 2009

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Project Goals

• Assess community perceptions of environmental
  health risks.
• Analyze data on environmental health risks.
• Prioritize environmental health risks.
• Seize opportunities for short term action.
• Establish plans for longer term actions.

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Who Was Involved

• City Staff Planner, public works,
  recreation/parks,
• Local Housing Authority, Schools, Chamber of
  Commerce, Energy Environment Commission,
  Visiting Nurse Services
• Advocates Clean Water Action, Ocean Access,
  Save the Bay
• Business Naval Station, URI, Old Port Marine,
  Newport Hospital
• State Dept. of Health (asthma, radon, etc.),
  RIPTA, Dept. Environmental Management

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Perceived Data Driven Risks
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Outdoor Air Quality

• Health Risk Potential respiratory problems
  (asthmatics, children non-whites most affected)
• Hazardous Air Pollutants Newport County may
  have higher levels than most counties data are
  not conclusive. Potential sources diesel,
  industrial emissions, heating oil, cars/trucks
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Carbon
  Monoxide (CO) Newport is average. Sources
  cars/trucks, boats
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Newport is average.
  Sources Residential distillate oil combustion is
  the single greatest contributor (65 homes use
  oil)

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Traffic Congestion Emissions

• Heavy traffic and congestion likely contributes
  to poor air quality
• Parking not sufficient 50,000 people 25,000
  cars visit Newport on average summer day, but
  only 3,000 off-street parking spaces
• Well studied congestion reduction options for
  downtown business area not yet implemented
• Economic Impact Frustrated residents visitors
  adversely effects tourism

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Outdoor Air Emissions Actions
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Beaches Swimming Water Quality

• Health Risk Unknown. The number of people who
  become sick from bacterial contamination on the
  beach is unknown because it is not reported.
  Illnesses from exposure generally dont require
  hospitalization.
• Economic Impact - Eastons Beach was closed 7
  days in 2008 affecting 2,900 people.
• The total number of beach closure days decreased
  over the past few years, but is variable with the
  weather due to storm water runoff.
• Beaches are not monitored in the off-season by
  the city or state.
• The warning system used to indicate that a beach
  is contaminated may be inadequate.

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Beaches Swimming Water Quality Actions
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Residential Air Quality
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Potential Housing Actions
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School Air Quality
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Potential School Actions

• Request RI Dept of Health to evaluate schools for
  asthma triggers
• Incorporate Draw a Breath asthma education
• Renovate schools to improve ventilation and
  heating systems
• Support state funding for school bus retrofits
• Enforce anti idling on school grounds
• Incorporate green cleaning, lawn care and
  maintenance (e.g., painting)
• Implement no spray pest control policy promote
  low toxicity alternatives
• Curriculum to emphasize green health school
  programs

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Short Term Actions
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Longer Term Actions

• Air
• Better document air pollution sources and
  identify strategies to address local sources
• Define congestion reduction plan and seek funding
• Swimming Water Quality
• Undertake enhanced beach and swimming water
  quality monitoring and contaminant reduction
• Promote radon testing and moisture assessment in
  homes
• Retrofit school buses

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For More Information

• Contact
• Diane Vendetti
• Southern RI Area Health Education Center
• 401-841-0007
• dcvendetti_at_southernriahec.org