By Syann Cadogan
May 1, 2019
In 2017, Trinidad was ranked the 10th most toxic country in the world.[1] The island of Trinidad and Tobago is the Caribbean’s largest economy with a Gross Domestic Product of approximately $30.12 billion.[2] Trinidad and Tobago has continued its focus on industrialization and is considered to be one of the most industrialized countries in the Commonwealth Caribbean. Some of the major industries in the country are energy, agriculture, and manufacturing. The main sources of pollution in Trinidad and Tobago are caused by manufacturing, transportation, fuel trade, electrical power generation, and oil refineries. These industrial sites are often located in populated areas due to the size of the island. Unlike most Caribbean countries that emphasize tourism as a means of economic gain, Trinidad and Tobago’s industrial base is creating excessive pollution that is taking a toll on its populations health.
Trinidad is unique in that the economy is mainly reliant on its natural resources, as the country holds the Caribbean’s largest reserves of petroleum and natural gas. The first well drilled for oil in Trinidad was in 1857.[3] In 1971, natural gas was discovered off the north coast of Trinidad.[4] Trinidad’s young oil industry was initially controlled by large foreign companies, however in the 1980’s, the government purchased almost all operations. After a while, it was difficult for Trinidad to maintain the level of oil production that the foreign companies were capable of. This forced the government to consider inviting foreign companies back to help with the search for oil. Significant natural gas production began in the 1950’s and it expanded rapidly.[5] Trinidadians believed this product could be as economically beneficial as oil and its high prices resulted in a large increase in salaries and standards of living. Years later, light manufacturing declined and Trinidad began to focus more on food processing.
Petroleum and its products are Trinidad’s leading export items and represent approximately 22% of the annual government revenue.[6] The county’s oil production peaked in the 1970’s but has fallen by almost half since then.[7] Natural gas is involved in the manufacture of ammonia and methanol, used to generate the country’s electricity. Most of the electricity is generated on the island of Trinidad and then connected to Tobago through a submarine cable.[8] Agriculture is also an important part of Trinidad’s Global Domestic Product. Some of the major products are cocoa, sugar, citrus fruits, and coffee which are popular export items form the country. In recent years, the presence of the energy industry has led to a decline in agricultural production. Trinidad’s manufacturing industry is famous for its production of steel and iron. Because of the recent construction activity in the country, the demand for steel in the domestic market has increased making it a vital component of the economy. Trinidad’s abundance of raw materials has also lead it to become the world’s top producer of many petrochemicals including methanol, ammonia, and urea.[9]
According to Trinidad and Tobago’s “State of the Environment Report,” an “air pollutant is a substance whose presence in the atmosphere is determined to cause or likely to cause harm to human, plant or animal life; to damage man-made materials and structures; to bring about changes in weather or climate; or to interfere with the enjoyment of life or property.”[10] The main anthropogenic sources (originating in human activity) of primary particulate matter are fossil fuel-based power plants, cement manufacturing, mining, stone crushing, burning of fossil fuels, agricultural field burning, and vehicular traffic.[11] These sources are all present in Trinidad. There are several different air pollutants being released due to these industrial activities that are directly affecting the health of the Trinidadian population. Suspended Particulate Matter comes from the combustion of fossil fuels. This includes the fuel in motor vehicles, agro-industrial processes, and fumes from road traffic. These particles lead to respiratory complications such as coughing, runny nose, and sore throat. They are also associated with respiratory diseases like pneumonia, asthma, and bronchitis.[12] Sulfur dioxide is another pollutant that comes from the combustion of fuels containing Sulphur. These air particles are associated with reduced lung function leading to an increased risk for lung disease. Sulphur dioxide acid depositions can also damage water ecosystems by lowering the pH of the water which can destroy animals and plant life. Nitrogen dioxide particles are released during the combustion of fossil fuels from stationary sources like heating and power generation, transport sources, and other industrial processes. Nitrogen dioxide leads to increased susceptibility to respiratory infections and decreased lung function. In terms of the environment, nitrogen dioxide is involved in a series of reactions that produce smog. Carbon monoxide comes from incomplete combustion of fuels used during industrial processes and from motor vehicles. These particles in the air lower dioxide in the blood. This can impair one’s learning ability and mental judgment, as well as result in a coma or death.
Lead is another particle polluting Trinidad’s air. Lead comes from gasoline and the disposal of lead-acid batteries.[13] Increased lead in one’s body affects the nervous system, the blood forming system, the kidneys, the cardiovascular system, and the reproductive system. Exposure to lead can be especially harmful to pregnant women because as their lead levels increase, the newborn’s do as well which can be detrimental to the child’s prenatal health.
Multiple pollutants combine in unknown ways to produce detrimental health effects. Kerolyn Shairsingh, a Trinidadian studying at the University of Toronto, went to Trinidad and used her air quality monitor equipment on areas that are known to have high rates of pollution. These areas were highly populated, residential areas. She found that the degree of pollution in sed areas can cause major respiratory health issues. The long-term exposure to these pollutants “is associated with reduced survival, and a reduction of life expectancy in the order of 2 to 3 years.”[14]
Trinidad has one of the highest cancer rates in the Caribbean and in America.[15] Over the past years, Trinidad has experienced a drastic increase in air pollution and non-communicable diseases, like cancer. The highest rates of lung cancer are found in Sangre Grande and Rio Claro-Mayaro. Although these areas are on the east coast of Trinidad, which is generally associated with lower levels of pollution, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) are very strong here.[16] PAH’s are highly associated with lung cancer and are emitted by waste sites and oil refineries. Outdoor air pollution contains many carcinogens which are another key factor in the link between Trinidad’s air pollution and lung cancer.
The issues regarding air pollution are extremely important to focus on because of the minimal consideration that the Trinidadian government places on the effects of the environment on lung cancer. People are often worried about water and soil pollution, however, there are feasible alternatives to combat this. On the other hand, once the air becomes polluted, it is difficult to intervene because of the physical and social barriers that are apparent in Trinidad. Even though Trinidad’s citizens vocalize their concerns regarding the amount of air pollution, it took the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) of Trinidad fifteen years to even address air pollution. They finally released “Air Pollution Rules.” In this “rule book” the EMA seeks to, “manage the levels of specific air pollutants known to cause harm to human health and the environment, thereby improving overall air quality.”[17] However, residents of Trinidad explain that the EMA helps resolve “air pollution” (noise complaints) which seems to divert the focus away from actual health problems. There are also few chemicals that are regulated by their laws and permits are easily distributed to manufactures and other chemical producing companies. Understanding Trinidadians air pollution and lung cancer data is difficult because the government does not want data, that could potentially be harmful to the economy, being released to the public. However, the pathway to solving this air pollutant issue is understandable because developing countries, like Trinidad, feel pressure to industrialize so they can boost their economies. Not only are these pollutant-caused health hazards overlooked, but the infrastructure needed to counteract the hazards is absent. This makes Trinidad susceptible to new health issues that will continue to go unstudied.
In the future, Trinidad’s government needs to emphasize preventative measures rather than short-term treatment. Solely focusing on treatment will reduce the mortality rates from lung cancer but preventative measures will stop the progression of lung cancer at an early stage. There also need to be preventative measures in regard to air quality because a short-term solution will be insufficient. It is important that Trinidad’s EMA produces a more comprehensive air quality monitoring data set. The current air quality reports are often vague and do not focus on any specific chemicals that could be causing these health issues.
Since traffic is one of the main pollutants of Trinidad, it is important that the public is aware of their own pollution. This could be public media that includes general information on the pollution issues and offers easy ways to cut down on pollution. Shairsingh, an air pollution researcher in Trinidad, has been working on a documentary called “Clearing the Air” in hopes to “further spread awareness of the issue among the residents of Trinidad and Tobago and beyond.”[18] Making the public aware of the problem is a crucial step in the path for a solution. Another possible way to decrease air pollution from vehicles is creating alternative fuel sources or by retrofitting large vehicles. Since manufacturing is a huge industry, there are constantly massive trucks driving around the island emitting enormous amounts of chemicals into the air.
Trinidad’s air pollution rules leave out several activities that produce pollution. This includes planned outdoor fires. Since agriculture is a popular economic opportunity in Trinidad, burning for agricultural purposes happens frequently. There should be harsher laws regarding this because as I discussed above, there are several harmful chemicals that increase susceptibility to lung cancer when people inhale fire smoke, especially when burning random agricultural items.
It is also necessary for researchers to address how these pollutants are entering people’s bodies. Trinidadians can be contaminated in several ways including the air, food, and water. Addressing the various routes of transmission of the pollutant is an important step that should be taken to preserve the health of Trinidadians. Another significant issue in the path towards reducing cancer is Trinidad’s lack of funding. Although Trinidad is the third wealthiest country in the Caribbean, cancer research and prevention strategies are difficult to obtain. The Trinidadian Government should recruit health organizations like WHO or Doctors Without Borders, should develop an intervention program that focuses on ways to reduce air pollution by supplying air monitors and providing medical supplies for the population at-risk of lung diseases. In the future, Trinidad should work towards building an economy on alternative energy sources and banning harmful chemicals. This would not only cut costs, but significantly improve the health of the future generations in Trinidad.
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References:
Admin. “T&T Ranked 10th Most ‘Toxic’ Country in the World.” Home, 4 Feb. 2017, www.looptt.com/content/tt-ranked-10th-most-toxic-country-world.
Environmental Management Authority. “Trinidad and Tobago: State of the Environment Report 2000.” UN Environment Document Repository Home, 1 Jan. 1970, wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/9197.
“Historical Facts on the Petroleum Industry of Trinidad and Tobago.” Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, www.energy.gov.tt/historical-facts-petroleum/.
Kiprop, Joseph. “The Major Industries In Trinidad And Tobago.” WorldAtlas, 16 May 2018, www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-major-industries-in-trinidad-and-tobago.html.
Mohammed, Terry I., et al. “Lead Pollution in East Trinidad Resulting from Lead Recycling and Smelting Activities.” Environmental Geochemistry and Health, vol. 18, no. 3, 1996, pp. 123–128., doi:10.1007/bf01771288.
“‘Nobody Monitors Air Quality Here’: U of T Researcher Returns Home To.” University of Toronto News, www.utoronto.ca/news/nobody-monitors-air-quality-here-u-t-researcher-returns-home-study-trinidad-and-tobago.
The World Factbook: Trinidad and Tobago.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/print_td.html.
Topey, Mikela M. “The Association Between Lung Cancer and Air Pollution in Trinidad: A Mixed Methods Literature Review.” Lung Cancer and Air Pollution in Trinidad, 2016, nature.berkeley.edu/classes/es196/projects/2016final/TopeyM_2016.pdf.
[1] Admin. “T&T Ranked 10th Most ‘Toxic’ Country in the World.” Home, 4 Feb. 2017, www.looptt.com/content/tt-ranked-10th-most-toxic-country-world.
[2] Kiprop, Joseph. “The Major Industries In Trinidad And Tobago.” WorldAtlas, 16 May 2018, www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-major-industries-in-trinidad-and-tobago.html.
[3] “Historical Facts on the Petroleum Industry of Trinidad and Tobago.” Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, www.energy.gov.tt/historical-facts-petroleum/.
[4] “Historical Facts on the Petroleum Industry of Trinidad and Tobago.” Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, www.energy.gov.tt/historical-facts-petroleum/.
[5] Kiprop, Joseph. “The Major Industries In Trinidad And Tobago.” WorldAtlas, 16 May 2018, www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-major-industries-in-trinidad-and-tobago.html.
[6] “The World Factbook: Trinidad and Tobago.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/print_td.html.
[7] Kiprop, Joseph. “The Major Industries In Trinidad And Tobago.” WorldAtlas, 16 May 2018, www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-major-industries-in-trinidad-and-tobago.html.
[8] Kiprop, Joseph. “The Major Industries In Trinidad And Tobago.” WorldAtlas, 16 May 2018, www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-major-industries-in-trinidad-and-tobago.html.
[9] Kiprop, Joseph. “The Major Industries In Trinidad And Tobago.” WorldAtlas, 16 May 2018, www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-major-industries-in-trinidad-and-tobago.html.
[10] Environmental Management Authority. “Trinidad and Tobago: State of the Environment Report 2000.” UN Environment Document Repository Home, 1 Jan. 1970, wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/9197.
[11] Environmental Management Authority. “Trinidad and Tobago: State of the Environment Report 2000.” UN Environment Document Repository Home, 1 Jan. 1970, wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/9197
[12] Environmental Management Authority. “Trinidad and Tobago: State of the Environment Report 2000.” UN Environment Document Repository Home, 1 Jan. 1970, wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/9197.
[13] Mohammed, Terry I., et al. “Lead Pollution in East Trinidad Resulting from Lead Recycling and Smelting Activities.” Environmental Geochemistry and Health, vol. 18, no. 3, 1996, pp. 123–128., doi:10.1007/bf01771288.
[14] “‘Nobody Monitors Air Quality Here’: U of T Researcher Returns Home To.” University of Toronto News, www.utoronto.ca/news/nobody-monitors-air-quality-here-u-t-researcher-returns-home-study-trinidad-and-tobago.
[15] Topey, Mikela M. “The Association Between Lung Cancer and Air Pollution in Trinidad: A Mixed Methods Literature Review.” Lung Cancer and Air Pollution in Trinidad, 2016, nature.berkeley.edu/classes/es196/projects/2016final/TopeyM_2016.pdf.
[16] Topey, Mikela M. “The Association Between Lung Cancer and Air Pollution in Trinidad: A Mixed Methods Literature Review.” Lung Cancer and Air Pollution in Trinidad, 2016, nature.berkeley.edu/classes/es196/projects/2016final/TopeyM_2016.pdf.
[17] Environmental Management Authority. “Trinidad and Tobago: State of the Environment Report 2000.” UN Environment Document Repository Home, 1 Jan. 1970, wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/9197.
[18] “‘Nobody Monitors Air Quality Here’: U of T Researcher Returns Home To.” University of Toronto News, www.utoronto.ca/news/nobody-monitors-air-quality-here-u-t-researcher-returns-home-study-trinidad-and-tobago.