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Early last month, a story that intrigued me came from the
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and was titled “California’s
Unhealthiest Counties.” You can read this yourself by going to
www.countyhealthrankings.org/california. After checking my own
county (Solano, ranked 28th) I proceeded to the unhealthiest and
found Del Norte, listed at the bottom, number 58, dead last. Del
Norte
borders Oregon to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
“How can this be?” I thought.
I was made to believe that it was us, you know, the owners of
all these killer diesel engines who were responsible for all the
ills
of the world, including but not limited to premature deaths,
asthma,
cancer, reproductive harm and even low IQs in children.
A quick trip to Del Norte County’s website took me to pictures
of their beautiful forests and the “Old Growth Redwoods.” It also
boasted of “no smog.” Further research of their air pollution
readings
showed 0 days for particulate matter and 0 days for ozone.
The Foundation’s report noted that the poorly ranked
counties often had multiple challenges to overcome, including,
Two- and three-fold higher rates of premature death, often from
preventable conditions.
The report also noted that this county had:
• High smoking rates that lead to cancer, heart disease,
bronchitis and emphysema.
• High rates of obesity which can put people at risk for
diabetes, disability and heart disease.
• High unemployment and poverty rates.
• High numbers of liquor stores and fast-food outlets,
but few places to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
So where and when does the diesel-caused dirty air bullet come
into play for this county? The truth is – it doesn’t!
I also searched the results for Contra Costa County (ranked
19), where I grew up. Although Contra Costa only has 5 days of
high particulate matter and 2 high ozone days now, nevertheless,
its
Director of Public Health, Dr. Wendell Brunner made the following
statement, “Neighborhoods near busy freeways still suffer from
diesel emissions.” See how easy it is to skew the cause of
premature
death back to diesel with one inaccurate talking point?
Now, let’s show some other statistics from one of our healthiest
counties, Santa Clara (ranked 4). Santa Clara County has three
interstate freeway, I-280, I-680 and I-880. In addition they have
U.S.
101 and eight expressways. If we are to believe Dr, Brunner, one
lousy
freeway, I-80 and a very short stretch of 580 goes through
Richmond
and San Pablo, and this is what he chooses to capitalize on.
I submit the following to you, Dr. Brunner, and I say this
after growing up in a once very polluted Richmond, CA: you have
much more to worry about than diesel emissions, such as poverty,
unemployment, lack of access to proper health care and even
nutrition, high crime due to joblessness, and the fact that in
2008 this
city of 102,000 had 27 people murdered. But no, you cite freeways
and vehicle emissions as the leading cause of what – suffering?
What in the world are you talking about? You see, folks, these
are
the types of people who are in charge of your future. We all need
to
be scared of them and not the diesel emissions!
This all reminds me of a quote by Albert Einstein, sent to me
by a member, and very appropriate after reading Dr. Brunner’s
comments: “If the facts don’t fit the theory, change the facts.”