UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES - UCLA FIELDING

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

To: Re:

Los Angeles City Council members Failure of the Port of Los Angeles to consider the latest research findings on health effects of traffic-related air pollution in its Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the BNSF Southern California International Gateways (SCIG) rail yard project

Date: May 7, 2013 The undersigned are professors at USC, UCLA, and UC Irvine where we conduct scientific research studies relating health outcomes to environmental exposures. We are concerned about the inadequacy of the FEIR for the proposed BNSF SCIG rail yard, in part because it fails to consider or even to provide citations for the latest research findings on the health effects of traffic-related air pollution, including results and conclusions from papers that the signatories below have authored. This letter is written with a request to the Los Angeles City Council: if the Council decides to send the FEIR back to the Port of Los Angeles for revision, in response to various appeals, please instruct the Port staff and consultants to review and discuss the key research findings in the revised FEIR in light of the very close proximity of homes, schools, parks and playgrounds to the proposed rail yard. See sketch of proposed location in Appendix A, a list of selected research findings by the signatories in Appendix B, citations to key findings in Appendix C and copies of key studies in Appendix D. The Port of Los Angeless Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations (FFSOC) admits that the proposed BNSF SCIG would create disproportionate air quality impacts on nearby communities with a high proportion of low-income and minority populations.1 The FEIR calculates that more than 5,500 trucks per day will travel to and from the rail yard and the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.2 The rail yard, if approved, would operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and be located in close proximity to homes, schools, daycare centers and parks, as the sketch in Appendix A indicates. The SCIG would have at least 8 trains inbound and outbound per day,3 each pulled by 3-4 diesel locomotives.

1 2

FFSOC, page 94. FFSOC, page 6. 3 FFSOC, page 6.

The decision to expand, modify, or change the location, nature, or volumes of cargo processing underway in or near already-impacted communities is worthy of careful review. Such review should take advantage of the available scientific information so that decisions and alternatives can be carefully considered. The current FEIR has not fully considered the available scientific research findings on air pollution and its health impacts. Given the importance of the decision at hand, we suggest that the available and relevant science needs to be available to policy makers responsible for decisions on the future of the port. Sincerely yours,

Frank Gilliland, MD, PhD Professor Director, Environmental Health Department Department of Preventive Medicine USC Keck School of Medicine

Duncan Thomas, PhD Verna Richter Chair of Research Department of Preventive Medicine USC Keck School of Medicine

Rob McConnell, MD Professor Department of Preventive Medicine USC Keck School of Medicine

Kiros Berhane, PhD Professor Department of Preventive Medicine USC Keck School of Medicine

W. James Gauderman, PhD Professor Division Head, Division of Biostatistics Department of Preventive Medicine USC Keck School of Medicine

Heather Volk, PhD Assistant Professor Department of Preventive Medicine USC Keck School of Medicine

Ed Avol, MS Professor Department of Preventive Medicine USC Keck School of Medicine

Scott Fruin, D. Env. Assistant Professor Department of Preventive Medicine USC Keck School of Medicine

Myles Cockburn, PhD Associate Professor Department of Preventive Medicine USC Keck School of Medicine

Ralph Delfino, MD, PhD Professor Vice Chair for Research and Graduate Studies Department of Epidemiology University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine Agreed, to be added in final submission Beate Ritz, MD Professor and Chair Department of Epidemiology UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Agreed, to be added in final submission Jun Wu, PhD Assistant Professor Program in Public Health & Department of Epidemiology University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine

Manuel Pastor, PhD Professor of Sociology / American Studies & Ethnicity USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Andrea Hricko, MPH Professor Department of Preventive Medicine USC Keck School of Medicine

Appendix A. Sketch showing location of the proposed BNSF SCIG rail yard

Proposed location of new BNSF SCIG rail yard near homes and schools in West Long Beach

Hudson School K-8 Cabrillo H.S. fields Park

Daycare & Bethune Transitional School

Villages at Cabrillo (Homes)

Appendix B. Summary of selected research findings in peer-reviewed papers authored by the signatories (NOTE: all citations for these findings are located in Appendix C)
USC Childrens Health Study: A number of us who are signatories to this letter (see citations in Appendix C) have authored papers on the USC Children's Health Study, a multi-community study of lung function and respiratory health in school-aged children in the Southern California area which started in 1991. The ultimate goal of that research is to determine whether air pollution, or particular components of air pollution, is associated with reduced lung growth and increased incidence of asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory illnesses. Results of the Childrens Health Study (CHS) show that air pollution impacts childrens lung function growth and is related to an increase in asthma. Of special concern is the impact of near-roadway traffic pollution on childrens health, which is related to an increase in the incidence (that is, new cases) of asthma in children who live or go to school near traffic pollution. (See abstracts below with full papers attached). The EIR with its attachments and appendices is more than 10,000 pages long. Only two papers pertaining to the USC Childrens Health Study are mentioned in the document.4 Although both papers are about near-roadway traffic pollution and its impact on children, the EIR erroneously describes one paper as having to do with cardiovascular mortality5 and the other having to do with onset of asthma from PM exposure, with no reference to nearby traffic-related pollution (the exposure studied).6 NO OTHER REFERENCES to the 20 years of research at USC, including studies of children who go to school in Long Beach, are included in the EIR. In fact, there is no discussion in the entire EIR about the impacts of near-roadway air pollution on childrens respiratory health. An adequately researched and prepared FEIR would have included these very significant papers in the literature and would have included the significant research findings described below: 1. Traffic-related exposure has adverse effects on childrens lung development, independent of regional air quality, which could result in important deficits in attained lung function in later life. 2. Living near a busy road or freeway is associated with significantly increased childhood prevalence and incidence of asthma. 3. Traffic-related pollution exposure at school and homes may both contribute to the development of asthma. 4. Locally generated air pollution near the home affects asthma severity in children. Risk may begin during infancy and continue in later childhood.

Gauderman, W. J. et al. 2007. Effect of exposure to traffic on lung development from 10 to18 years of age: a cohort study. Lancet. 369. pp. 571-577. From Chapter 10, References, of RDEIR.
5

Numerous studies have been published over the past 15 years that have established a strong co rrelation between the inhalation of ambient PM and an increased incidence of premature mortality from heart and/or lung diseases (Pope et al., 1995, 2002; 2004; Jerrett et al. 2005; Krewski et al., 2001; Gauderman et al., 2007). From page 3.2-85 of RDEIR.
6

Jerrett, M. et al. 2008. Traffic-related air pollution and asthma onset in children: a prospective cohort study with individual exposure measurement. Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 116, No. 10, pp. 1433-1438.

USC, UCLA and UCI research on pregnant women and birth outcomes after exposure to trafficrelated pollution: A number of us who are signatories to this letter (see citations in Appendix C) conduct research on the health impacts of traffic-related pollution on pregnant mothers or their babies. The EIR fails to contain any discussion of research findings about the impacts of nearroadway air pollution on health during pregnancy (e.g., high blood pressure, miscarriage, preeclampsia), birth outcomes (e.g., preterm birth and premature birth) or impacts on infants (e.g., birth defects, autism). An adequately researched and prepared FEIR would have included this very significant area of research, in light of the extremely close proximity of the proposed BNSF SCIG rail yard to homes, parks, schools and playgrounds in the area. Research findings include the following conclusions from some of our papers. 1. The number of studies linking exposure to air pollutants to low birthweight, small for gestational age, preterm birth and cardiac birth defects has grown steadily over the past 10 years. 2. Exposure to traffic-related pollution in the prenatal period (during pregnancy) and during the first year of life is associated with autism. 3. Traffic-related pollution is associated with increased C-reactive protein concentrations in early pregnancy, suggesting that exposure contributes to inflammation and thereby possibly to adverse pregnancy outcomes. 4. Traffic-related pollution is associated with a diagnosis of preeclampsia in exposed pregnant women

Appendix C. Citations for selected peer-reviewed articles concerning the relationship between exposure to air pollution and respiratory effects by signatories to this letter (most recent first): 1. Perez L, Lurmann F, Wilson J, Pastor M, Brandt SJ, Knzli N, McConnell R. Nearroadway pollution and childhood asthma: implications for developing "win-win" compact urban development and clean vehicle strategies. Environ Health Perspect. 2012 Nov;120(11):1619-26. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1104785. 2. Brandt SJ, Perez L, Knzli N, Lurmann F, McConnell R. Costs of childhood asthma due to traffic-related pollution in two California communities. Eur Respir J. 2012 Aug;40(2):363-70. doi: 10.1183/09031936.00157811. Epub 2012 Jan 20. 3. Perez L, Knzli N, Avol E, Hricko AM, Lurmann F, Nicholas E, Gilliland F, Peters J, McConnell R. Global goods movement and the local burden of childhood asthma in southern California. Am J Public Health. 2009 Nov;99 Suppl 3:S622-8. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.154955. PMID: 19890167 4. Brandt SJ, Perez L, Knzli N, Lurmann F, McConnell R. Costs of childhood asthma due to traffic-related pollution in two California communities. Eur Respir J. 2012 Aug;40(2):363-70. doi: 10.1183/09031936.00157811. Epub 2012 Jan 20. PMID: 22267764 5. McConnell R, Islam T, Shankardass K, Jerrett M, Lurmann F, Gilliland F, Gauderman J, Avol E, Knzli N, Yao L, Peters J, Berhane K. Childhood incident asthma and trafficrelated air pollution at home and school. Environ Health Perspect. 2010 6. Delfino RJ, Chang J, Wu J, Ren C, Tjoa T, Nickerson B, Cooper D, Gillen DL. Repeated hospital encounters for asthma in children and exposure to traffic-related air pollution near the home. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2009 Feb;102(2):138-44. doi: 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60244-X. PMID:19230465 7. Jul;118(7):1021-6. doi: 10.1289/ehp.0901232. Epub 2010 Mar 22. PMID: 20371422. 8. Jerrett M, Shankardass K, Berhane K, Gauderman WJ, Knzli N, Avol E, Gilliland F, Lurmann F, Molitor JN, Molitor JT, Thomas DC, Peters J, McConnell R. Traffic-related air pollution and asthma onset in children: a prospective cohort study with individual exposure measurement. Environ Health Perspect. 2008 Oct;116(10):1433-8. doi: 10.1289/ehp.10968. Epub 2008 Jun 18. PMID: 1894159. 9. Gauderman WJ, Vora H, McConnell R, Berhane K, Gilliland F, Thomas D, Lurmann F, Avol E, Kunzli N, Jerrett M, Peters J. Effect of exposure to traffic on lung development from 10 to 18 years of age: a cohort study. Lancet. 2007 Feb 17;369(9561):571-7. PMID:17307103. 10. McConnell R, Berhane K, Yao L, et al. Traffic, susceptibility, and childhood asthma. Env Health Perspect 2006; 114:766-72. 11. Gauderman WJ, Avol E, Lurmann F, et al. Childhood asthma and exposure to traffic and nitrogen dioxide. Epidemiology 2005; 16:211-220. Selected research findings on the effects of exposure to traffic-related pollution on pregnant women, birth outcomes and other effects such as autism (most recent first): 1. Becerra TA, Wilhelm M, Olsen J, Cockburn M, Ritz B. Ambient air pollution and autism in Los Angeles county, California. Environ Health Perspect. 2013 Mar;121(3):380-6. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1205827. Epub 2012 Dec 17. PMID: 23249813 2. Volk HE, Lurmann F, Penfold B, Hertz-Picciotto I, McConnell R. Traffic-related air pollution, particulate matter, and autism. JAMA Psychiatry. 2013 Jan;70(1):71-7. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.266. PMID: 23404082 7

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Lee PC, Talbott EO, Roberts JM, Catov JM, Bilonick RA, Stone RA, Sharma RK, Ritz B. Ambient air pollution exposure and blood pressure changes during pregnancy. Environ Res. 2012 Aug;117:46-53. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2012.05.011. Epub 2012 Jul 25. PMID: 22835955 Lee PC, Talbott EO, Roberts JM, Catov JM, Sharma RK, Ritz B. Particulate air pollution exposure and C-reactive protein during early pregnancy. Epidemiology. 2011 Jul;22(4):524-31. doi: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e31821c6c58. Erratum in: Epidemiology. 2011 Sep;22(5):752. PMID: 21516040 Volk HE, Hertz-Picciotto I, Delwiche L, Lurmann F, McConnell R. Residential proximity to freeways and autism in the CHARGE study. Environ Health Perspect. 2011 Jun;119(6):873-7. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1002835. Epub 2010 Dec 13. PMID: 21156395. Wu J, Ren C, Delfino R, Chung J, Wilhelm M, Ritz B. 2009. Association between local traffic-generated air pollution and preeclampsia and preterm delivery in the South Coast Air Basin of California. Environmental Health Perspectives 117(11): 1773-1779. Ritz B, Wilhelm M. Ambient air pollution and adverse birth outcomes: methodologic issues in an emerging field. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2008 Feb;102(2):182-90. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-7843.2007.00161.x. Review. PMID: 18226073 Ritz B, Yu F, Fruin S, Chapa G, Shaw GM, Harris JA. Ambient air pollution and risk of birth defects in Southern California. Am J Epidemiol. 2002 Jan 1;155(1):17-25. PMID: 11772780

Appendix D. Selected scientific articles by the signatories To be added as hard copies with submission to the Los Angeles City Council