Long Beach Air: What's Polluting The Air?

Long Beach, California, has been dubbed Asthma Alley due to its poor air quality, which ranks among the worst in the United States. The city's proximity to two of the country's largest seaports, a prominent oil industry, and a busy seaport contribute to its high levels of air pollution. The American Fitness Index study cites geography, weather, automobile use, and industrial emissions as factors influencing Long Beach's air quality. The city's low rainfall and lack of atmospheric purging during certain months allow emissions to accumulate and form pollutants, impacting the health of its citizens, particularly those with asthma and pregnant mothers.

Proximity to seaports and the oil industry

Long Beach is a coastal city in California facing the North Pacific Ocean. It is the 43rd most populous city in the country, with over 463,000 residents. The city has a prominent presence in the oil industry and is home to one of the busiest and largest seaports in the world. These factors have a significant impact on the air quality in Long Beach.

The seaport in Long Beach handles millions of tons of cargo each year, contributing to 40% of the nation's imports and exports. This massive operation results in the emission of various pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, fine particles, and sulfur. The equipment, trucks, rail yards, and ships involved in port activities release these pollutants into the air, affecting the neighbouring communities.

The presence of the oil industry in Long Beach also influences the air quality. Oil refineries and other heavy industries are typically located near ports due to their reliance on shipping and energy. The nearby Wilmington oil field, for example, produced 36,000 barrels per day in 2015. The combination of port activities and the oil industry contributes to the region's air pollution.

Additionally, the heavy traffic associated with the seaport and the oil industry exacerbates the air quality issues in Long Beach. Heavy-duty diesel trucks are commonly used to transport containers and cargo, releasing diesel particulate matter and volatile organic compounds. The high volume of vehicle traffic, including cars, motorbikes, and heavy-duty vehicles, leads to substantial exhaust emissions, further degrading the air quality in the area.

The impact of the seaport and the oil industry on air quality has significant health implications for the residents of Long Beach. Fine particles emitted from port activities can trigger asthma and heart attacks. Nitrogen oxides combine with other pollutants to form smog, causing respiratory problems. The pollutants released from vehicle and ship exhausts, such as nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, contribute to acid rain and can cause inflammation of the respiratory tract and damage to lung tissue.

High levels of vehicle and ship exhaust fumes

Long Beach, California, is home to one of the world's largest seaports, which has a substantial impact on the local economy and air quality. The port of Long Beach is responsible for a large amount of air pollution, with numerous ships docking and releasing pollutants, as well as the movement of thousands of tons of cargo requiring the use of heavy-duty vehicles.

One of the main issues is that ships must keep their engines and boilers running while docked unless they are plugged into shore power. A single cruise ship can burn enough fuel oil in 24 hours to equal the pollution from 10,000 cars. In addition, the growth in shipping activity has led to increased congestion at the port, with a record backlog of cargo ships waiting to unload, further contributing to air pollution.

Ship emissions contain pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide are released in large quantities from ship engines and contribute to acid rain and inflammation of the respiratory tract. Sulfur dioxide is more prevalent in ship fumes due to the larger amounts of sulfur in ship fuels.

Vehicular pollution is also a significant contributor to air pollution in Long Beach. The city has a sizeable population, and many people commute in and out, leading to a large number of cars and motorbikes on the road at any given time. In addition, the import and export of industrial and food products require the use of heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and lorries, which run on diesel fuel and emit larger amounts of pollutants.

Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are two pollutants commonly associated with industrial emissions. In Long Beach, California, these gases are present in large quantities, often emanating from vehicle and ship exhausts, as well as other combustion sites. Nitrogen dioxide is released in significant amounts from vehicle engines, while sulfur dioxide is more prevalent in fumes from ships due to the higher sulfur content in ship fuels.

Long Beach, with its substantial maritime industry, is particularly susceptible to emissions from ships. The city's busy seaport, one of the largest in the world, contributes to the region's economic prosperity but also negatively impacts air quality. Ship emissions contain various pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, which is known to have detrimental effects on human health and the environment.

Sulfur dioxide emissions contribute to acid rain and can cause respiratory issues and lung damage. Long-term exposure to high levels of sulfur dioxide increases respiratory symptoms and impairs lung function. Even short-term exposure to peak levels can trigger breathing difficulties, especially for individuals with asthma. Additionally, high concentrations of sulfur dioxide near emission sources put nearby residents and workers at an elevated risk of exposure.

Nitrogen dioxide is another significant contributor to air pollution in Long Beach. Released from vehicle engines and other combustion sources, nitrogen dioxide is a major health concern. It can cause inflammation of the respiratory tract and damage lung tissue. While nitrogen dioxide emissions have decreased in recent years, it remains a pollutant with adverse effects on human health and the environment.

Overall, Long Beach's air quality has shown improvement since the early 1970s, with technological advancements and stricter controls leading to reduced emissions. However, there is still room for progress, as certain months of the year continue to exhibit elevated pollution levels, affecting the health of the city's residents.

Low rainfall and high sunlight

Long Beach, California, is a highly populated city with a prominent oil industry and one of the world's largest seaports, which has a significant impact on the air quality of the city. While rainfall and sunlight do not directly cause air pollution, they are factors that influence the dispersion and concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere.

Low Rainfall

Air pollution is known to severely diminish rainfall, and this effect is more pronounced in mountainous areas, where the orographic effect contributes significantly to precipitation. The presence of aerosols, which are tiny particles resulting from the burning of fossil fuels, can alter the properties of water droplets in clouds, reducing rainfall. This impact of aerosols on rainfall patterns has been observed in various regions, including China, the western United States, and Israel.

The expected increase in rainfall due to greenhouse gas emissions has been offset by the drying effect of aerosols. While greenhouse gases warm the atmosphere and oceans, increasing evaporation and moisture available for rainfall, the presence of aerosols can counteract this effect, leading to reduced precipitation. This dynamic between greenhouse gases and aerosols has been studied to understand the conflicting precipitation trends observed in the 20th century.

High Sunlight

Sunlight interacts with air pollution in a complex manner. While sunlight is essential for Earth's energy balance and renewable energy sources, it also plays a role in the chemical transformations of pollutants. Sunlight can be absorbed and dispersed by air pollution, reducing the amount reaching the Earth's surface. The smaller the pollution particles, the more harmful this impact can be.

Additionally, sunlight can chemically alter pollutants, particularly smaller particles that remain suspended in the air for extended periods. The endless energy from the sun moves electrons in these pollutants, making them more reactive and susceptible to chemical changes over time. This process can lead to the aging of particles and the formation of new compounds with potential health and environmental implications.

In summary, while low rainfall and high sunlight do not directly cause air pollution, they are crucial factors in understanding the dispersion, concentration, and transformation of pollutants. The interaction of sunlight with pollutants and the influence of aerosols on rainfall patterns contribute to the overall air quality challenges faced in regions like Long Beach.

Health impacts on pregnant mothers and children

Long Beach, California, is a highly populous city with a prominent oil industry and one of the world's largest seaports, which contribute to its air pollution levels. In 2019, Long Beach recorded a PM2.5 reading of 15.1 μg/m³, placing it in the moderate' pollution rating bracket. The air quality index (AQI) is a crucial indicator of the health risks posed by air pollution, and Long Beach's AQI reading of 15.1 μg/m³ ranked it 1365th out of all cities worldwide and 167th within the US.

Air pollution has severe impacts on pregnant women, foetuses, and children. Pregnant mothers exposed to excessive pollution are at risk of miscarriage, premature birth, or delivering babies with low birth weight. A study in Beijing, a city with severe air pollution, found that mandated reductions in emissions during the 2008 Olympics resulted in babies being born at a heavier weight than in previous years. This provides a compelling link between air quality and birth weight.

Additionally, a study by the Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York estimated that approximately three million babies are born prematurely each year due to air pollution. Long-term exposure to air pollution also increases the risk of children developing asthma, respiratory infections, and cognitive developmental and lifelong health issues. According to the State of Global Air 2024 report, air pollution was the second leading risk factor for death among children under five years of age in 2021, surpassed only by malnutrition.

Children are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution, and even short-term increases in pollution levels can have detrimental consequences. Fine particulate matter, such as PM2.5 and PM10, is of particular concern, as there is no known safe level of exposure. Despite efforts to reduce emissions, the air quality in many places, including Europe and the US, remains unsafe for children.

To mitigate these health risks, it is crucial to implement measures to improve air quality and protect vulnerable populations. This includes reducing emissions, improving ventilation and filtration systems, and transitioning to cleaner modes of transport and energy. Additionally, pregnant women can take individual precautions, such as using air purifiers, natural household cleaners, and carbon monoxide detectors to reduce their exposure to indoor pollutants.

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