Guest Op/Ed: Manatee Air Pollution

Manatee County previously cut the number of air monitoring stations and no longer monitors for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide or particulate matter.

Members of ManaSota-88 are extremely disappointed with these reductions of air quality oversight in Manatee County. The reduction in the monitoring of air pollutants such as ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter in Manatee County is a significant public health issue.

ManaSota-88 recommends the Manatee County Commission reverse this reduction in air quality monitoring for the following reasons:

The public interest has been ignored. This can only be viewed as most unwise and not in the best interests of the public's health.

State regulatory agencies are showing their willingness to lower environmental standards. The state will likely reduce their air monitoring programs due to lack of funding. We cannot count on state or the federal government for protection from air pollution.

Manatee County has a significant number of large polluting industries; less oversight has led to less protection against air pollution. Nitrogen oxide emissions associated with ozone formation in Manatee County are evenly distributed between industrial and vehicular emissions. Manatee County is faced with the dilemma of power plant emissions and increased air pollution from motor vehicles

Manatee County no longer complies with national ambient air standards for ozone. It is likely that the Environmental Protection Agency will designate Manatee County as a 'non-attainment area“.

Reducing the number of air monitoring stations violates Comprehensive Plan Goal: 3.1

Monitor for and Protect the Ambient Air Quality of Manatee County Through Appropriate Management and Land Use Techniques & Policy: 3.1.1.1

Assess the quality of the County's ambient air for compliance with County, State, and National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) through a complete air quality monitoring network and provide an air quality index to the general public.

A large number of residents in Manatee County are in a high-risk category for sensitivity to air pollution. The present health of many residents now living here may hang in the balance.

ManaSota-88 supports the development of an Air Toxics Identification program in Manatee and Sarasota Counties, as well as statewide. A county and state-wide inventory will enable us to determine the amounts of toxic pollutants emitted from pollution sources into our air; to determine what medium they are being deposited in; to adequately monitor and study their possible synergistic effects; and to determine how long-lasting they are in the environment and how harmful their total effect may be.

Toxic substances emitted into the air not only directly affect our health by contaminating the air we breathe but they are also deposited (atmospheric deposition) in our surface waters where they can contaminate our drinking water and marine resources and on the land where they can contaminate our food supply.

Industry representatives, policy makers and individuals have the responsibility of reducing the impacts of air pollution. It is up to all of us to conserve energy, otherwise, the health of our children and of older Floridians will continue to be placed in jeopardy by increased air pollution levels.

Local air quality information can be searched by zip code here.

Glenn Compton is the Chairman ofManasota 88, a non-profit organization that has spent over 30 years fighting to protect the environment of Manatee and Sarasota counties.