Introduction
If you live near an industrial site, you might worry about how it affects your health. It’s natural to be concerned when you’re exposed to pollutants and other dangers on a daily basis. But there are ways that living near an industrial site can be safe and healthy. Here’s what it’s like to live near industrial land:
What is an industrial site?
An industrial site is a large geographical area set aside for industrial activities, such as manufacturing and research and development. Typical industrial sites can include factories, warehouses, repair and maintenance facilities, storage tanks, loading docks, storage yards, chemical plants, and hazardous waste sites.
Pros of living near industrial plants
There are pros and cons of living near an industrial area. This post will focus mostly on the cons, but let’s discuss a few of the positives.
1. Lower cost of living: Industrial sites often offer lower costs of living, which can be beneficial for those who are on a budget or who are not looking to spend a lot of money on rent.
2. Jobs: Living close to an industrial site can mean easy access to jobs, as many of them provide employment to local communities.
3. Convenience: Living close to an industrial site can mean easy access to basic goods and services such as grocery stores and public transportation.
4. Accessibility: Industrial sites often have excellent transportation links to local areas and major cities, which can make getting around easier.
Cons of living near industrial plants
It’s noisy.
Noise is a frequent issue for people living near industrial sites. It can be hard to sleep, hear the TV, talk on the phone, or hear your kids when they’re in the backyard.
There are mechanisms in place to help with this problem. If you live next to an industrial site that’s causing problems with noise levels (like at night), there are government agencies that will help you get better noise reduction tools installed on your property. However, not everyone qualifies for these services.
The site may generate a lot of dust, odors, and smoke.
You should be aware that the site may generate a lot of dust, odors, and smoke. Dust can be generated as a result of digging and/or construction work, as well as by industrial pollution from equipment used at the site. Odors can also come from sources such as onsite raw materials or byproducts from industrial processes.
It can be hard to keep your property neat.
When you live near an industrial site, it’s hard to keep your property neat and tidy. Dust from the air is a constant problem, and there are other issues too:
Odors can waft through your windows on hot summer days, or even blow into your house when the wind is blowing just right.
Smoking is allowed next door at the factory, so there’s always a chance that you’ll smell cigarettes in your home and see cigarette butts littering out on the street near their property line.
Your health can be affected by toxic fumes.
You may be wondering if the health of residents near an industrial site is affected by emissions. In fact, it is. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), hazardous chemicals from industrial sites can cause illness in people nearby. The ATSDR has found that some chemical substances in air pollution are linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, and even death.
However, there are ways to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals released into the air from nearby industrial facilities:
Wear a mask when you go outside during bad air days (you can find out what they are by calling your local county health department). This will help keep you safe from harmful particulates in the air. If possible, stay indoors on these days—it’s still better than being outside!
Keep windows closed as much as possible when it’s bad out there; this will prevent indoor pollutants from getting inside your house or apartment building where they can be breathed in more easily by those inside during bad weather conditions such as high wind speeds or heavy precipitation events like snowstorms or hurricanes (or even just regular rainstorms!) which tend to increase pollutant levels due their impact on soil runoff rates following rainfall events like those mentioned above.
Your children and grandchildren may be more at risk than you are.
But, you might ask: What about my children and grandchildren? Aren’t they at risk too?
In some cases, yes. The EPA has identified a handful of industrial facilities where the risk to people living nearby is greater than average—but these sites are not necessarily associated with oil refineries or chemical plants. For example, one such facility is a Coal-fired power plant that’s located near a school in Virginia. Children who attend this school may be exposed to air pollutants from the plant on days when winds blow toward the school campus; if those winds carry particles containing heavy metals or toxic chemicals (like mercury), students will breathe them in.
Spills and accidents can happen near industrial sites.
Spills and accidents can happen near industrial areas. Here’s what to do if you see a spill or accident:
First, make sure everyone is safe. If you have any information about the industrial accident, report it immediately by calling 311 or your local emergency number (911).
Keep yourself and others away from the area until it’s been cleaned up by trained professionals.
Living near an industrial site has challenges, but you can manage them.
Living near an industrial site has challenges, but you can manage them. Managing your environment means understanding what is happening at the site and how it affects you, knowing your rights and responsibilities as a community member, knowing who to contact if you have a problem or question, and most importantly: not being afraid to speak up when something doesn’t feel right.
Living near an industrial site has both challenges but also benefits for people who live there too because if you know how best practices impact people’s health then hopefully they will become better citizens of our planet while helping others achieve their goals too!
Conclusion
Living near an industrial site can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. You can learn about the risks and take steps to protect your family and yourself.
Overall, living near an industrial site can create a dynamic environment that can be both positive and negative depending on the residential development and the people affected. While there can be potential health risks related to living close to an industrial site, often there are financial gains that can benefit the community surrounding it. In the end, it’s important to weigh all of the pros and cons before making a decision whether or not to live near an industrial site.
Leave a Reply