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Welcome to Sickoftheport

Our primary goal is to provide an easy way for Southern California residents to get involved in the fight against port pollution. Since we do not raise funds, we rely on the action that each individual can contribute whether it is sending a single e-mail, attending port meetings, or distributing fliers.

"In 2003 alone, diesel pollution will cause an estimated 3,000 premature deaths in California –greater than the estimated 2,300 annual homicides in the state," according to the report, "Sick of Soot: Reducing the health impacts of diesel pollution in Southern California," which went on to note, "Cutting pollution from diesel engines would result in a cumulative savings of $48 billion to $70 billion between 2004 and 2020".

-Random Lengths News, 7-9-04

Check out our favorite website of the momment:

"The Dog Days of Summer" from Environmental Defense

http://actionnetwork.org/ct/8pqdMFp1xQo_/dangerous_days

Port Pollution in the South Bay

Diesel emmissions account for 70% of all health risks in the South Coast Air Basin.

Infants, the elderly, and those who suffer from chronic respiratory diseases are the most at risk.

Health problems from diesel emissions include cancer, respiratory disease, and damage to the central nervous system.

Cargo ships, trains, and cars can all be a source of diesel pollution.

Almost half the trucks comming through the South Bay are over 15 years old.

Trucks often idle for hours to pick up or drop of their loads.

On average over 35,000 trucks come through the ports each day, and 147,590 a day are expected by 2020.

These trucks are responsible for approx. 2/3rds of the air pollution in the South Bay.

According to the EPA, large ships belch 237,000 TONS of smog per year.

On any average day just the trucks comming to the Port of Long Beach emit as much smog as a million cars, and the fuel ocean vessels burn is 50 times dirtier than a diesel truck.

Information compiled from various Random Lengths News, LA Times, and Sierra Club newsletters by Johanna Bradfield.

We Apologize for any errors on this site. This site is run by local asthmatics who have real lives in their spare time. Sickoftheport is currently under construction, and probably will be for some time. If you spot any errors, or simply have a question about what we're up to, tell us about it at

sickoftheport@yahoo.com