Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116697

Denny Larson, BS, Global Community Monitor, project of Tides, 222 Richland, San Francisco, CA 94110, 4156431870, dennylarson@earthlink.net

Global Community Monitor (GCM) works globally with disempowered "fenceline" communities harmed by serious pollution from industrial sources and whose concerns are being ignored by agencies and responsible corporations. GCM links fenceline communities together to share successful strategies and seek fundamental change. GCM is also part of a national collaborative, Bucket Brigade, that empowers people to monitor their environment for themselves, take action to protect their health and achieve environmental justice.

Many forgotten industrial communities are living under a cloud of hazardous air pollution. Their air is not being tested routinely, yet agencies and polluters reassure them “the air is safe.” These communities suffer high levels of asthma, respiratory problems and illnesses related to toxic exposure. No health studies are done to determine the effects of pollution, yet health officials and polluters agree, “industry is not the cause of health complaints.”

Industry and government traditionally control monitoring and play the “data game” in order to downplay community concerns. The game is played by monitoring at the wrong locations, at the wrong times, for the wrong chemicals, with the wrong equipment. The predictable result is a finding of “no harmful chemicals” that misleads the exposed population.

Lasting change in these situations is possible when communities generate and control the data which defines the debate. In a great turning of the tables, industry and government are trapped in a game they constructed with community suddenly in charge. When this strategy is globalized, communities can benefit from the collective effort locally and globally.

Learning Objectives:

• -Discuss how environmental monitoring conducted by impacted communities alters the public health debate
• -Analyze the current system of toxic air pollution monitoring used by most companies and agencies

Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Environmental Justice

Related Web page: www.gcmonitor.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation