Using scientific research findings to inform public policy decisionmaking on health impacts of global trade and Ports

In 2001, the NIEHS Environmental Health Sciences Center at University of Southern California/UCLA sponsored a Town Meeting at which numerous community residents raised concerns about increasing pollution from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, stating that ship and locomotive emissions were virtually unregulated. These two adjacent ports together now comprise the largest port complex in the U.S. and the 5th largest port in the world -- and they keep expanding. Input from community residents propelled our Center to begin investigating this emerging public health issue, and our Center members are now actively engaged in using scientific research findings on air pollution's health effects to inform public policy on the health impacts of global trade. We have been engaged in: (1) speaking to local and regional planning authorities about the health impacts of Port expansion and goods movement (the movement of containers; (2) testifying at public hearings; (3) serving as appointees to key local and state committees on the topic; (4) presenting research findings at government, industry, public health, legislative and community conferences; and (5) working closely in partnership with impacted community-based organizations. We also have addressed concerns of longshore workers whose members are exposed to bunker fuel exhaust (from ocean-going ships) and to diesel exhaust from harborcraft, trucks and trains. We have engaged in community-based initiatives (such as counting ultrafine particles) and used research findings to argue for better emission controls and for implementation of land use guidelines in siting new projects.