Is highway the source of health woes in Middletown?
Blood clots, strokes, lowered immunity, heart problems, lung asthma, bronchitis, and cancer ? all of these can be the result of living within 2000 feet of a highway, according to a scientific study reported in a recent US News and World Report story.
In Middletown we have such a highway: Highway 29, Calistoga Street, which is said to be used by 10,000 autos, trucks, and buses every day. We also have many people living and working very close to what might be called, because of its gaseous odors, “ozone alley” ? Highway 29. Located near the highway are 5 schools and two daycare centers, with many children being heavily exposed to unhealthy air.
During the morning and afternoon commuting hours, the petrochemical toxic gases and odors are particularly strong and overwhelming. People living in East Middletown ? at the bottom of the land basin or bowl in which the town lays ? experience these airborne poisonous gases most acutely, especially on windless days when the polluted air settles down, is trapped, and intensifies. It is not uncommon for people to wake up in the morning coughing because of toxic particulate matter and smelling gaseous odors getting into their lungs.
It would seem that in a modern, civilized society people”s health (our neighbors” and our own) would be a No. 1 priority over all else. People”s health is more precious than profits. We are hopefully long past the attitude of “I”ve got mine and the h*** with you.”
So I believe it is time for our California Air Resources Board and its local agency, the Lake County Air Quality Management District, as well as Caltrans, to come up with workable, permanent solutions to the unhealthy air quality conditions for we who live in Middletown, especially East Middletown, where the air is most poisonous and unhealthy.
What can be done? One possibility is a traffic detour around Middletown, with suitable well-marked off-ramps going into town. Using Dry Creek Road might work. Another idea is to make Highway 29 one way going south during the morning commute from 5 AM to 8 AM and one way going north from 5 PM to 8 PM, with elimination or reduced use of stoplights for through traffic.
This would reduce the vehicle pollutants released into the air while engines are idling. Low emission releasing commuter buses and more ride-sharing might help somewhat. Other solutions for this problem have surely been considered, and hopefully not the bureaucratic one of “file and forget”. Real lives, the health of we human lung breathers, are at stake here in Middletown.
Supervisors, Supervisor-candidates, and our local Air Quality Management people: step up to the plate, we desperately need your help here.
Clare Brady
Middletown
