Carmichael McKenzie
(In a letter to the Editor)
ALL OVER Jamaica, gullies are packed with debris, shopping centres are littered with garbage and there is ongoing burning of trash on the sidewalks and private properties and the discharge of chemical substances in the rivers. Why must we be so inconsiderate of others since it appears that our own health is of no concern?
The Clean Air, Water & Toxic Standards were developed to set guidelines and laws that are to be followed in an effort to minimise pollution of our environment. The Government, National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and the medical community of this country are not doing enough to minimise air, water and toxic pollution.
I was informed that NEPA has set primary and secondary air and water quality standards for particulates, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons, and lead. Primary air and water standards are those necessary to protect public health. Secondary air and water quality standards guard the public from other adverse air and water pollution effects such as injury to property, vegetation, climate and damage to aesthetic values.
The Government bears the main responsibility for enforcing the Clean Air Water & Toxic Standards. However, NEPA may also participate in enforcement and imposition of stiff penalties on those who are in violation of the laws set by NEPA under the Clean Air, Water & Toxic Standards.
The control of Toxic and Hazardous Substances should rank first on the public's list of where the Government's regulation of industries and residential areas are concerned. Inhaling smoke that is released in the air often affects our ability to breathe, stimulates headaches, coughing, vomiting, nausea, itching of the skin, burning and redness of the eyes and can contribute to anti-social behaviour by disrupting the normal functioning of a person's brain biochemistry.
Smoke nuisance can also contribute to lung cancer. Still today there are many people in Jamaica who are smoking in their office. NEPA's mission is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment air, water, and land upon which life depends. NEPA must provide leadership in the country's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts. The Government has a responsibility to protect the environment and human health.
NEPA is responsible for setting national standards for a variety of environmental programmes and for issuing permits and monitoring and enforcing compliance.
CARMICHAEL McKENZIE, cmck@n5.com.jm
