California's Inland Empire : Warehouse Pollution Effects

Warehouses pose a significant public health risk and are of specific importance as an environmental justice issue, as they are a hub of diesel vehicle congregation used for material and goods transportation. Warehouses are becoming increasingly abundant and concentrated in particular areas due to the COVID-19 related e-commerce boom. Diesel and associated pollutants of NOX, ozone, and particulate matter can cause asthma, respiratory diseases, vascular diseases, and other negative impacts. More than 2.4 million people live within half a mile of at least one large warehouse in California, most of whom are Black or Latinx. Warehouse pollution rules were put in place in the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) in 2021, which is a major improvement, however there are still cumulative and disproportionate effects of warehouse vehicles not managed by law. Preventing pollution emissions is critical in preventing fatalities and lowering costs of premature deaths, asthma attacks, and missed days of work. Information on pollutant sources and cumulative health impacts can directly inform public education efforts and regulatory advocacy to mitigate harm.

“We Become a Target”- Real Life Impacts of Warehouse Pollution

Facing the relentless warehouse development of recent years, environmental activists in the Inland Empire are still working to advocate for better air quality and land use in their communities. Here, Gem Montes, a Community Solutions Specialist and current resident of Colton, CA, breaks down all the ways in which predatory warehouse development harms her community. Gem is the founding member of “The Air I Breathe", a community-led project in Colton whose mission is to “research and increase awareness about the air pollution caused by logistical development.” The project was inspired by Gem’s desire to keep her family safe amid a climate crisis and combat the environmental issues in her community. "The Air I Breathe" is one of many community organizations in the Inland Empire, and it is a great example of localized environmental justice at work. Education and awareness are powerful tools that can help residents take control of their community. Colton is a fairly small city in San Bernardino, but Gem has ambitions to scale up her work in Colton to larger cities in the Inland Empire.   

“There's all of these criteria that people look at when they go to choose an area. and we fit right in that category…And knowing this, it's easy to target us. We become a target”

Historically, the Inland Empire, covering portions of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties has been critical in the movement of goods from ports along the coast to the rest of the country. With the increase in e-commerce and the demand for logistics centers, the Inland Empire became a target for warehouse development. Gem acknowledged the Inland Empire, and Colton in particular, as a Hub City. Devalued land in low income, predominantly Spanish speaking communities makes for an easy target for warehouse developers. Gem also identified low civic engagement and a lack of transparency which exacerbates the issue. Residents who have seen the increase in warehouse development over recent years have mixed feelings about the changes in their communities.

“You know that they are seeing the traffic…But they're not realizing that, hey, this money is actually leaving our community”

“You're not going to eat there. You're not going to go to the movies. You're not gonna go hang out at the park. You're not. There's nowhere that you're gonna go for entertainment or recreation”

To most Inland Empire residents, the largest problems are the ones they can see, stifling truck traffic, ugly cement buildings, and poor roads. The struggle is educating people about the dangers that are not as apparent, such as poor air quality. Through her organization, Gem is working on a project that attaches air monitors to children in an effort to show people the harmful pollution they are exposed to everyday. Another hurdle is dismantling all the ways that developers try to convince the community of the benefits of a new warehouse. Estimates of job growth include temporary construction positions and do not account for job displacement by advances in technology, replacing human labor. Gem also stressed that low quality warehouse jobs displace other possible positions and take money out of the community.

“Before we started this program it became a question of how many bad air days do we have? Then it became a matter of how many good air days?”

“When you're ordering online, you're displacing the cashier, the person that puts up the displays…the Security Officer at Target. You're displacing all of those workers”

Gem emphasized that responsibility to protect residents from predatory warehouse development falls on city planners and local governments. At the very least, politicians and planners should be requiring community benefit agreements from developers. These agreements are contracts between developers and the local communities and can help to mitigate some of the warehouse's effects. So far, these agreements have been lacking, but if implemented, community benefit agreements can offset some of the adverse effects from warehouses by mandating certain profits remain in the community. At most [city planners should be making smarter land use decisions]. Local planning commissions also have a responsibility to consider proper land use siting, require community impact reports under CEQA and publish them to the public in both English and Spanish. It’s important residents understand that effects like truck traffic are cumulative and compound as more warehouses move into the area. When residents are properly informed about the effect these businesses will have, they are better equipped to make informed decisions about their communities. 

“We have to rethink what our communities look like and what we're willing to support”

In envisioning a future for the Inland Empire, community advocates are starting small. Even implementing simple strategies like installing double pane windows, keeping windows closed at night, and ensuring proper ventilation over stoves, can help reduce the amount of pollutants people are exposed to. However, sustained change requires more than individual actions. Communication with local governments is crucial for improving communities, and simply showing up can make a significant difference. Unfortunately, many issues such as air pollution and land use are often ignored due to a false assumption that residents do not care.

To counter this, it is vital for those who will be affected to confront decision-makers directly. The Inland Empire suffers from some of the worst air quality in the U.S. and advocates, like Gem, are doing amazing work to bring attention to these issues. Through their efforts, the voices of residents can have a significant impact on the future of their communities.

“It's a matter of who you're going to look at and tell them. No, I'm not going to fix the problem”

As a hub for transportation, warehouses are filled with engines and machinery as well as the pollution they produce. Warehouse facilities in Southern California are built in communities already experiencing disproportionate pollution burdens, resulting in high amounts of air pollution. Some of the most recognized pollutants include benzene, nitrous oxides (NOX), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM) and ozone. Both acute and chronic exposure to these pollutants have been linked to numerous negative health effects. Workers in warehouses routinely underestimate their exposure to hazardous chemicals when handling cargo in often poorly ventilated environments, and attribute symptoms of chemical exposure such as respiratory irritation, malaise, wheezing, and forgetfulness to stress instead of taking precautionary measures. Ultimately, warehouses expose communities to disproportionately negative health outcomes and undue suffering.

Ozone

 ^{Breathing in ozone impacts the respiratory system (1), with short term effects such as shortness of breath and long term effects such as asthma and emphysema. Exposure to ozone also affects the central nervous system (3) by impacting brain function and emotion. Chronic exposure can result in higher rates of Autism Spectrum Disorder and dementia.}  

Nitrous Oxides

 ^{Nitrous oxides may cause respiratory infections (1) at any exposure level. Chronic exposure to high concentrations of nitrous oxide can result in vascular (blood vessel) disease (2), lowered fertility (5), and negative mental health effects (3).}  

Carbon Monoxide

 ^{Inhaling CO causes it to enter the bloodstream (2) and bind to red blood cells, acting as a neurotoxin (harmful to the nervous system) by preventing the cell from delivering oxygen. Acute and sudden exposure to high concentrations can result in unconsciousness and death. At lower doses, exposure to CO can result in headaches, dizziness, weakness, vomiting, or disorientation. Chronic exposure to any level of CO can lead to neurological problems including brain damage and memory loss (3).}  

PM 2.5/ PM 10

 ^{Particulate matter is designated by particle size (2.5 or 10 microns) in health analysis. The smaller the molecule, the greater its ability to penetrate the respiratory system (1) and cause respiratory irritation, chronic respiratory disease, decreased lung function, and premature mortality. Globally, 3 percent of cardiopulmonary (heart and lung) (1, 2) and 5 percent of lung cancer deaths are attributed to PM exposure, reducing life expectancy by 8.6 months on average.} 

Diesel PM  ^{More than 90 percent of DPM is under 1 microns, and carries carbon in the form of soot, mutagens, and carcinogens that penetrate deeply into the lungs (1). DPM in particular has been linked to lung cancer.}  Benzene  ^{Exposure to this pollutant has been linked to blood related cancers such as Acute Myelogenous Leukemia . It also affects the respiratory (1), nervous, immune (6), kidney (4), cardiovascular (2) and reproductive systems (5). Benzene is linked to childhood leukemia due to children's higher unit body weight exposure and developing blood cell populations.}  

As we can see, there is a long history of air regulation in the US, spearheaded by California. These complex legal processes do not always keep people safe as production of goods is still necessary.

An increased interest in this subject also comes from the enforcement of contemporary and groundbreaking legislation. There is a new rule implemented by the South Coast Air Quality Management District in May 2021 with the first deadline set to March 2nd 2023 which is the first of its kind in the nation. Rule 2305 acknowledges trucks visiting warehouses as indirect pollution sources from the warehouses themselves who must now take measures to reduce nitrogen oxide and diesel PM emissions. Usually, indirect source responsibility rules are not allowed but this allows for the regulation of tailpipe emissions which is critical for air quality maintenance. Operators must earn a minimum amount of points in the WAIRE Points Compliance Obligation by increasing visits from near-zero- or zero-emission trucks, yard trucks. This may include installing onsite energy systems (such as solar panels), particulate filters, or charging and fueling infrastructure for cars or TRUs. Noncompliance without an individual plan results in fees. These fees fund Rule 2305 compliance activities and local air quality improvement projects.

Get Involved: Community-Based Organizations. Hover over to learn more.

Read More on Environmental Justice Movements and Warehouses in the Inland Empire

 Art and Air Quality Project Resources 

 Bloomington Report: Community-Based Research Report 

 CCAEJ Advocacy in Inland Empire on Warehouses 

 Communities for a Better Environment 710 Advocacy 

 Environmental Justice and community involvement in the IE 

 Legacies of Environmental Justice in Inland Southern California and their connections to modern organizing 

 Robert Redford Conservancy: Warehouse CiTY project