ST. LAWRENCE

COUNTY, NEW YORK

AN ENVIRONMENTAL

HEALTH DIAGNOSIS

10th grade Guilderland High School

By Katie Yang

ABSTRACT

This research paper includes an assessment of Saint Lawrence County in upstate New York. It identifies numerous environmental health problems in the county, stakeholders who play a part in these problems, and ways to prevent or help solve these problems. The research comes from a number of different sources from the media to government websites.

BACKGROUND

St. Lawrence County is located in upstate New York

Surrounded by the Adirondack Mountains to the east, St. Lawrence River to the NW,

Population: 111,944 Geographic Size: 2685 sq miles

Largest county in New York State

RATIONALE & METHODS

It is important to study counties because they have jurisdiction over many of the laws

and rules set to protect the environment within the county. The environment in the county affects the health of its residents;

living in an area with poor water and poor air quality will can negatively affect your heath. Counties play an important role, however

there is limited data for counties.

ABOUT ECOED AND MENTORS

Krista Glanville, 5th year student at RPI EcoEd is a secondary program for upper

elementary grades

ENVIROINDICATORS CONTINUED

SuperfundsSuperfund site- a hazardous waste site that poses as a threat to the health of the environment and humans that the government has put onto a list to remediate.

• Massena, New York- 1984

• This Area of Concern around the river has been contaminated by numerous companies who have dumped chemicals and hazardous waste into the St. Lawrence River.

• Lisbon, New York- 1990

• This superfund site was originally a disposal site for hazardous wastes such as petroleum.

Energy

Type of Energy % of County

Energy

Composition

% of National

Energy

Composition

Renewable 4.3 4

Hydroelectric 28.2 6.2

Nuclear 28.9 19.6

Oil 0.8 1

Gas 22.2 24

Coal 15.3 44.8

COUNTY HEALTH INDICATORS CONT.Watershed Health

St. Lawrence County is located in the St. Lawrence River Watershed.

Major Problems in this county include: • Acid Rain• Atmospheric deposition of Mercury• Agricultural Activities and Associated Runoff

• Hazardous Wastes in the Massena Area of Concern

Air QualitySt. Lawrence County did not have recent data

available for the quality of air in the county.

This indicates that the county government has not spent resources or does not have not the

resources to monitor the air quality.

Included is data from surrounding counties of St. Lawrence County.

St. Lawrence River Watershed

County Unhealthy Air Days for general population in 2012

Unhealthy air days for people with asthma in 2012

Since 2003, has air for asthmatics improved or gotten worse?

Franklin County

0 5 Improved

Jefferson County

0 0 Improved

Herkimer County

0 0 improved

ENVIROINDICATORS CONTINUED

Climate Smart CommunitiesClimate smart community- a place

that the state and local government have partnered up in to change it

economically, socially, and environmentally.

Climate smart communities in St. Lawrence County include:

•the city of Ogdensburg •the village of Norwood

Climate Smart Communities:•reduce greenhouse gas emissions •clean up local air pollution •improving infrastructure•increases economic growth

Envirothon Competitions

The Envirothon competition is an annual competition for high school

students where the students compete for scholarships and recognition by

showing their knowledge of environmental science and natural

resource managements.

Environmental Education helps the community by making more people

aware about problems in their surrounding environment in their

community.

CASE STUDY #1: LEAD POISONING

Caused when an object that contains lead is consumed or when lead dust is inhaled.

Affects the nervous system, organs and other systems in the body.

47.1% of houses in St. Lawrence County were built before 1950.

CASE STUDY #1: LEAD POISONING

In New York State it is mandatory to test all children for lead poisoning

Between the years of 2004 and 2007, 1% of children tested positive for lead poisoning

Between 2001 and 2004, only 43.7 percent of 1 yr. olds were tested. Only 20.5% of children at 2 yrs. old were tested.

CASE STUDY #2: AGRICULTURE 200+ types of Soil, 3 most uniqure are:

St. Lawrence River- Heavy clays & wet soils

Uplands- Mix of clays Adirondack Mountains- Glacial till

Challenges in keeping the soil healthy: Nutrient management Drainage of Water in places with low

elevation

CASE STUDY #3: ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Industries built factories along the river side

and dumped their hazardous waste into the river.

Chemicals dumped in the river include: PCB’s Mercury DDE Mirex Nutrients Metals

CASE STUDY #3: ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Effects of the pollution include:

Loss of fish and wildlife habitat Contaminated sediments Deformities in birds, fish, other animals

Solutions in restoring the river include: Remedial Action Plan between 3

governments Large area remedial projects by private

companies like General Motors

RECOMMENDATIONS

SOURCES