One of the most polluted cities in the United States is Bakersfield, California. The 142-square miles city is located near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Valley region with a population of over 365,000. Emissions from industries coupled with geographical and climatic conditions make the city a hard place to breathe due to its highly polluted air. The polluted air has had adverse effects on the residents. Of the total population, 70,000 have asthma, 40,000 cardiovascular diseases, and 27,000 chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (Ostro et al. 2007). In general, the air pollution effect has cost the region about $3 billion in a year. Polluted air plays a part in global climate changes such as warmer temperatures and rising sea levels. The water in the city is also not spared by the industrial effluents. The water has been found to contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which are chemicals from industrial discharges. The residents, therefore, are prone to health hazards associated with the toxic chemicals which may even lead to death. The cost of getting purified water is also high. Water pollution is a global concern that is on the rise and requires quick intervention (Viessman et al. 2009). Each polluted water source in any part of the continent reduces the total amount available for human consumption. There are some industries in the city that include natural gas, food processing, petroleum refining, and mining among others. Although the sectors sustain the place economically, it brings with them both air and water pollution. The American Lung Association (ALA) report stated that the city has the most polluted air in the United States. Another indicator of the menace is the number of fine particles in the air. Bakersfield’s has been on a high and World Health Organization (WHO) report shows that it reaches an average of 40.5 micrograms per cubic meter annually (Zanobetti et al. 2009). Pollution is so high in the region that it can even be seen in the air appearing as a fog. An analysis of the water has also indicated that it has an arsenic concentration of 2.28 parts per billion (Welch et al. 2007). Arsenic is a toxic element that is also carcinogenic and can cause other effects such as liver damage, skin problems, and vascular diseases. The conditions experienced in the Bakersfield region need to be addressed fast and efficiently because they could get worse shortly. Most of the solutions have to be directed to the industries which are the leading causes of pollution. The adoption of advanced technology in the sectors is one such solution. Cleaner burning engines and efficient industrial machinery should be used to reduce pollution. The government should facilitate the relocation of some industries out of the city to avoid too much contamination in a single area. There is also a need to offer education and training to factory workers on the best way of emitting effluents into the environment. A treatment plant has to be established in the region to analyze the quality of drinking water and remove contaminants to consumable levels. Before coming up with environmental safety regulations, the US Environmental Protection Agency should involve the public. Enacting stringent air quality regulations on the people may lead to a backlash and hence inefficiency. If the problem persists, then a choice has to be made to sacrifice at least one economic component to protect human life. One highly polluting industry can be closed to ensure that people in the region get access to clean water and non-polluted air.
References
Ostro, B., Feng, W. Y., Broadwin, R., Green, S., & Lipsett, M. (2007). The effects of components of fine particulate air pollution on mortality in California: results from CALFINE. Environmental health perspectives, 115(1), 13.
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Viessman, W., Hammer, M. J., Perez, E. M., & Chadik, P. (2009). Water supply and pollution control. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Welch, A. H., Helsel, D. R., Focazio, M. J., & Watkins, S. A. (1999). Arsenic in groundwater supplies of the United States. In Arsenic Exposure and Health Effects III (pp. 9-17
Zanobetti, A., Franklin, M., Koutrakis, P., & Schwartz, J. (2009). Fine particulate air pollution and its components in association with cause-specific emergency admissions. Environmental Health, 8(1), 58.
