A Case Study of the Point Lisas Industrial Estate in Trinidad Nellie M
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Opportunities for Environmental Health Risk Management: A Case Study of the Point Lisas Industrial Estate in Trinidad Nellie M. Roest Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Environmental Studies Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia December 7,1999 O Copyright by Nellie M. Roest, 1999 National Library Bibliothèque nationale ($1) of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions el Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wetlingîon Sbeet 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON KIA ON4 OriawaON K1AW Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, Ioan, distribute or sel reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thése sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................iv LIST OF TABLES. FIGURES AND APPENDICES ....................................................... vi.. AB STMCT.................................................................................................................... vil... LIST OF ACRONYMS ....................................... -............................................... viii ACKNO WLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................. ix 1 .O INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................................... 4 3.1 Health and the Environment .................................................................................. 4 2.2 Environmental Pollution ........................................................................................ 5 1.2 Health Risk Management ...................................................................................... 8 2.3.1 Developing Countries ................................................................................ 13 2.3.2 Industrial Estates ........................................................................................... 15 3 .0 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................. 17 3.1 Trinidad and Tobago ............................................................................................. 77 3 2 Point Lisas Industrial Estate .................................................................................. 19 3.3 Surrounding Area and Communities ............................................................. 27 3 A Institutional / Regulatory Context .................................................................... 33 3.4.1 Environmental Protection ............................................................................ 33 3-42 Health and Safety Protection ..................................................................... 40 3 .4.3 Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response ......................................... 43 3.5 Background Sumrnary ......................................................................................... 46 4.0 LMETHODOLOGY........................................................................................... 47 4.1 Research Approach / Design ............................................................................ 47 4.1.1 Research Philosophy ..................................................................................... 47 4.1.2 Qualitative Research ..................................................................................... 48 4.1.3 Case Study Approach .................................................................................... 49 4.1.4 Environmental Risk Management Framework ............................................. 50 4.2 Study Boundaries ................................................................................................. 51 4.5 Field Research Component.................................................................................. 53 4.4 Detailed Methodology ......................................................................................... 54 4.4.1 Define the Problem and Put it lnto Context ................................................. 54 4.4.3 .4 nalyze Risks Associated with Problem in Context .................................... 62 4.3 Examine Options for Addressing the Risks ................................................. 64 4.3 E thical Considerations ......................................................................................... 64 4.6 Limitations of the Research ............................................................................... 65 4.7 Dissemination of Results .................................................................................... 67 5.0 RESULTS ............................................................................................................... 68 5.1 Define the Problem and Put It Into Context ....................................................... 68 5.1.1 Characterization of the Physical Environment ............................................. 68 5 1.2 Perception of the Surrounding Environment ............................................. 69 5.1.3 Characterization of Environmental Pollutants ......................................., . 74 5.1 3 Characterization of Industrial Poliutants ................................................ 78 5.14 Characterization of Industrial Awareness and Initiatives ...................... .... ... 80 5.1 .5 Characterization of Community Education and Awareness ......................... 84 5.1.6 Hurnan Receptors .......................................................................................... 87 5.1.7 Human Exposure Pathways ......................................................................... 88 5.1.8 Conceptual Mode1 ......................................................................................... 92 5.2 Analyze Risks and Put into Them Context .......................................................... 95 5.2.1 Information on Pollutant Exposures ............................................................. 93 5 .2.3 Information on Health Effects .................................................................... 100 5 .2.3 Health Risk Analysis ................................................................................. 106 6.0 DISCUSSION ....................................................................................................... 108 6.1 Potential Health Effects ..................................................................................... 108 6.1.1 Nature of Industrial Pollution ..................................................................... 108 6.1.2 Nature of Human Exposure to Industrial Pollutants ................................... 110 6.1.3 Nature and Perception of Health Effects and Concems .............................. Il1 6.1.4 Surnmary ................................. ,, .................................................................. 116 6.2 Options for Health Risk Management ........................................................... 116 6.2.1 Planning and Development ........................................................................ 117 6.2.2 Disaster 1 Safety Management ................................................................. 120 6.2.3 Environmental Management ....................................................................... 172 6.2.4 Cornmunity Health Management ................................................................ 125 6.2.5 Community Education and Awareness ....................................................... 126 6.3 Environmental Health Risk Management Frarnework ...................................... 127 6.3.1 Applicability of the Framework in a Developing Country ......................... 127 6.3.2 Alternatives to the Risk Management Framework ..................................... 129 7.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................... 131 7.1 ConcIusions ....................................................................................................... 131 7.2 Recommendations ............................................................................................ 136 7.3 Closing Thoughts .............................................................................................. 142 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................... 144 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 156 LIST OF TABLES. FIGURES AND APPENDICES TABLES: Table 4.1 Background Information on Community Residents Interviewed ..... 60 Table 4.2 Demographics and Location of School Classrooms ......................... 62 Table 5.1 Industrial Poilutants in Air Emissions