Grand Rapids Environmental Issues

In our area, there is a lead poisoning crisis affecting the greater Grand Rapids area, impacting the physical and mental health of people of all ages. Lead poisoning can worsen a person's depression or other mental health conditions as well. Our city has made many efforts to clean the community as well as planning next steps that officials and companies can take to prevent further poisoning of the environment. Those affected by this disaster have resources available, however, the effects are long-lasting.

Food security is lacking in the Grand Rapids area, as many communities do not have access to healthy and clean food. This can lead to medial and developmental issues i children and adults, as well as continuing to contribute to environmental racism. However, people are starting to combat this issue by beginning to encourage things such as locally-grown agriculture. The drastic impact that food has in the Grand Rapids community will be discussed further in the brochure, as well as potential sustainable solutions.

Green space depicts a person’s access to parks and exercise opportunities. Nature sustains life. Thus, having access to green spaces in daily’ life is vital to people's’ physical, psychological, and mental health. Increasing the activity and accessibility of low-income neighborhoods can be very beneficial to their lives. There are 76 parks in Grand Rapids, yet many communities lack access to them. The importance of having many green spaces as well as current solutions will be further explored in this brochure.

The Madison Square neighborhood suffers from vapor intrusion, which occurs when underground chemical pollution or radon penetrates the building foundation and contaminates indoor air. This can cause liver and kidney damage, immunity problems, headaches, and dizziness. The city and EPA are working to fix this problem through spurging which uses pressurized air to get the chemicals out of the soil.

The Baxter and Madison communities suffer from poor air quality; the largest gas emitted from air pollution in Grand Rapids is Nitrogen Dioxide. It is emitted mainly from transportation such as busses and cars, manufacturing businesses, and power plants. This issue affects people of color disproportionately as they live in more industrialized areas in Grand Rapids that receive less care and attention. However, some efforts to maintain air quality are being made, such as heavier monitoring of air quality and attempting to find ways to reduce emissions, such as creating more green spaces.

Works created by the collaboration of local organizations such as West Michigan Environmental Action Council and the Climate Resiliency Framework Initiative of West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum, have brought to light the recent increase of warmer days and increase of precipitation as a result of climate change. In recent years the city has experienced two “100 year storms”, which is extreme weather that exceeds the records in the past 100 years. Lower class neighborhoods will suffer the most due infrastructure that cannot withstand the extreme weather, as well as offer an escape from the hotter summers. Those who are unable to bear these effects will suffer the most. Health implications due to climate change will arise as a result from flooding, runoff, carbon monoxide, extreme heat, and anxiety.

In the Neighborhood Environmental Action report, it highlights the local communities of Grand Rapids that suffer from environmental injustices. The environmental issues such as lead poisoning, air quality, vapor intrusion, and food security are disproportionately affecting lower income areas. Green spaces are actions to reconnect with the Earth and nature, as they are harder to find in lower income areas. Climate change is emerging as a result of the these abuses of the earth . Actions should be done to limit environmental injustices and the dooming effects that climate change will have these communities. As well as actions to limit human pollutants as a whole to save the environment.