M3.4 Air Pollution

• Who and what are the top polluters in your zip code?
• Top Polluters
• U.S. Marine Corps Camp Pendleton - 435,964 lbs
• National Steel & Shipbuilding Co. - 160,829 lbs
• Watkins MFG. - 50,406
• Top Pollutants
• Nitrate Compounds - 247,912 lbs
• Lead compounds - 111,504 lbs
• N-Butyl Alcohol - 96,559
• What percent of the homes in your zipcode have lead-based paint?
• 1% of households
• Are there Superfund sites in your zip?  (In your BLOG, make sure to tell us what a Superfund Site is)
• According to the NIH, a "superfund site" is any land identified by the EPA that is a candidate for cleanup due to its hazardous waste contamination and risk for human or environmental health
• In my zip code (92108), only one superfund site has been identified as the U.S. Marine Corps Camp Pendleton. In 2004, my county was ranked in the top 10% cleanest counties in the U.S.
• What can you tell us about the Superfund sites that are near where you live?
• Camp Pendleton is a military base that has generated hazardous wastes such as contaminated fuels, waste oils, cleaning solvents, and pesticide rinsate, among many others. It is currently in the Installation Restoration Program (IRP) where the Department of Defense aims to identify and plan for a contamination clean-up - including but not limited to removing volatile organic compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls and metals from the groundwater and soil.
• What did you learn about the air quality in your zipcode?
• In 2003, San Diego County ranked in the top 10% for dirtiest/poorest air quality in the United States. Currently, my area has reached the non-attainment area for failing to meet national standards for air quality. In the top 5 air pollutants, 3 of the offenders are landfills within close proximity to my home.
• How about the water quality?
• San Diego also ranks poorly in terms of water quality. Almost a quarter of the county's bodies of water are affected by pollutants including sediment, pesticides and pathogens. 
• How did your zip code fair on a social justice / environmental justice basis?
• Most dramatically, the environmental burden through release of toxic chemicals is far greater for people of color, low-income and less educated people. The same holds true for children falling in those categories. However, the burden for underserved populations is less in comparison to the underserved populations for the state of California.