Paying With Our Health: The Real Cost of Freight Transport in California

Paying With Our Health: The Real Cost of Freight Transport in California

Published: November 2006

Authors: Meena Palaniappan, Swati Prakash, and Diane Bailey

Pages: 46



Paying With Our Health: The Real Cost of Freight Transport in California

Overview

Pollution from freight transport severely burdens Californians, especiallyt he predominantly low-income people of color living close to freight transport hubs. The cost of using cleaner equipment and safer technology in freight transport is a small fraction of the health costs borne by California residents as a result of current freight transport practices. This report details the health costs of asthma and other illnesses, revenues generated by goods movement activities, and the level of economic opportunity this provides to affected communities. The report finds that implementing state-recommended pollution controls would cost freight importers, exporters, and transporters less than a penny per dollar of their California-dependent revenue.

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