West Oakland and the Red Star Yeast Factory

1. West Oakland and the Red Star Yeast Factory This is a presentation showing how Red Star Yeast chose the �path of least resistance� when it set up shop in West Oakland, and how the people of the community fought back against environmental racism

2. West Oakland and the Red Star Yeast Factory Koutoulas, Penelope Urbs/Geog 515: Race, Poverty and the Environment Professor Raquel Pinderhughes, Urban Studies & Environmental Studies Programs, San Francisco State University, Spring 2004 Public has permission to use the material herein, but only if the author(s), course, university, and professor are credited.

3. INTRODUCTION This presentation focuses on toxic exposures. It is designed to make you aware of the consequences of toxic exposures emitted by factories. It analyzes and describes a case study of the Red Star Yeast factory in West Oakland, California, paying particular attention to the social, environmental and public health impacts of the processes associated with toxic exposures.

4. INTRODUCTION I start by describing the community of West Oakland, then explaining the kind of corporation Red Star Yeast factory is. Then I address the health and environmental problems associated with the release of chemicals from the Red Star Yeast factory.

5. INTRODUCTION This is followed by a description of the four main chemicals that cause negative health and environmental effects released by Red Star Yeast. I then present how the community was able to mobilize itself against Red Star Yeast and its success in shutting down the polluting factory. The end of the presentation includes a list of all the resources used for and in this presentation.

6. WEST OAKLAND 23,475 residents (2000 US Census) African Americans are the most prominent ethnic group making up 35.7% of the total population Oldest district in Oakland After World War II, the economy began to decline As of the year 2000, the median household income is $41,994 a year

7. WEST OAKLAND Located in the San Francisco Bay

8. WEST OAKLAND The Port of Oakland and the Army base activities dominate the area West Oakland is a community where freeways and truck traffic define its boundaries Residential and industrial areas intertwine

9. WEST OAKLAND Due to industrial activities, residents of West Oakland experience high levels of lead contamination and illegal dumping

10. WEST OAKLAND As a result of nearly 82% of West Oakland residents living within 1/8 of a mile of an industrial area, in 1998 children were seven times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma than other children living in California

11. TOXIC CHEMICALS �In 1998, West Oakland registered 34,107 pounds of toxic air releases by TRI (toxic release inventory) permitted facilities; this was nearly as much as the rest of Oakland combined� http://www.pacinst.org/eip/IndicatorsPDF/amountair.pdf

12. RED STAR YEAST & TOXIC CHEMICALS The Red Star Yeast facility in West Oakland released four major toxic chemicals into the community�s air It was located at 5th and Mandela Streets in Oakland

13. RED STAR YEAST FACTORY Red Star Yeast is owned by Lesaffre, a corporate division of Universal Foods Corporation Red Star Yeast produces various types of yeast: active dry, quick-rise, bread machine, cake, and gluten-free yeast

14. Lesaffre Corporation Along with producing yeast, Lesaffre is also involved in: malt production, bioconversion and technology, production of bakery ingredients, production of yeast extracts, and the trading of yeast extracts, flavor enhancers, dried food yeast, and wine yeasts. Lesaffre operates in 5 of the 7 continents and in over 180 countries

15. CHEMICALS Chemicals released by the Red Star Yeast into the community of West Oakland include: ACETALDEHYDE CARBON MONOXIDE NITROGEN OXIDES SULFUR DIOXIDE

16. ACETALDEHYDE (CH3CHO) It is a colorless volatile gas with a pungent suffocating odor It is highly flammable Being a gas, it can travel through air and in water It is used in flavorings, foods, beverages, perfumes, plastics, dyes, synthetic rubber manufacturing, and in the silvering of mirrors

17. EXPOSURES OF ACETALDEHYDE (CH3CHO) In the production of alcohol fermentation In food Beverages Cigarette smoke Vehicle exhaust Wastes from various industries Open burning and incineration of gas, fuel, oil and coal

18. INHALATION OF ACETALDEHYDE (CH3CHO) Inhalation can prove to be highly toxic It is absorbed through the lungs and distributed to the blood, liver, kidney, spleen, heart, and other muscles Long term exposure to this chemical may result in liver damage, lung damage and cancer

19. ACETALDEHYDE (CH3CHO) According to Green Action Network, Red Star Yeast released �27,400 pounds of acetaldehyde into West Oakland�s air each year� This chemical is CARCINOGENIC in high exposures, meaning that it can cause cancer

20. CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) Another chemical released into the community of West Oakland by the Red Star Yeast factory was CARBON MONOXIDE According to www.carbonmonoxidekills.com, this chemical is �the most toxic substance you�ll come into contact with in your daily life�

21. CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) It is colorless It takes on gas or liquid forms It is practically odorless It is a POISONOUS gas

22. CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) This chemical is produced by the incomplete burning of solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels such as: Coal Wood Kerosene Oil

23. CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) Breathing low levels of carbon monoxide can cause fatigue and chest pain Other symptoms include: dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea, and vomiting This chemical contributes to air pollution, which reduces air quality High levels of exposure to carbon monoxide may result in DEATH

24. NITROGEN OXIDES (NOx) Other chemicals Red Star Yeast released into the community of West Oakland were nitrogen oxides Nitrogen oxides are air pollutants These chemicals are also toxic to humans

25. NITROGEN OXIDES (NOx) Nitrogen oxides are gases composed of nitrogen and oxygen, including: nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide They are nonflammable and colorless gases Some of these gases have a sweet smell or a strong, harsh odor They are released into the air from the exhaust of vehicles and from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas

26. NITROGEN OXIDES (NOx) Nitrogen oxides lead to the generation of ozone; reacting with sunlight it produces smog These chemicals also cause ACID RAIN

27. NITROGEN OXIDES (NOx) Acid rain affects life on ground and in water

28. NITROGEN OXIDES (NOx) Nitrogen oxides cause direct damage to plants and animals In plants, nitrogen oxides cause bleaching of plant tissue, loss of leaves and even reduce a plant�s growth rate These chemicals can even reduce the growth rate in animals

29. NITROGEN OXIDES (NOx) Low levels of exposure irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs Other effects are: shortness of breath, tiredness, and nausea

30. NITROGEN OXIDES (NOx) Breathing high levels of nitrogen oxides can cause rapid burning, spasms, swelling of the tissues in the throat and upper respiratory tract, reduced oxygenation of body tissues, a build-up of fluid in the lungs and even DEATH

31. SULFUR DIOXIDE (SO2) Yet another toxic chemical released by Red Star Yeast into the community of West Oakland was sulfur dioxide It is a non-flammable gas with a strong suffocating odor Sulfur dioxide is harmful to humans and to the environment

32. SULFUR DIOXIDE (SO2) Sulfur Dioxide is a pollutant According to the EPA, this gas is formed when fuel containing sulfur, mainly coal and oil, is burned Peak concentrations of sulfur dioxide occur near industrial sources, such as manufacturing facilities which burn fossil fuels

33. SULFUR DIOXIDE (SO2) This chemical is a food preservative and can be used as an additive It is used in the manufacture of paper, the bleaching of textile fibers, and it is also a disinfectant in breweries and food factories

34. SULFUR DIOXIDE (SO2) This chemical is also a contributor to ACID RAIN

35. SULFUR DIOXIDE (SO2) According to the EPA, peak levels of sulfur dioxide in the air negatively affects the lungs, contributing to asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory infections

36. RED STAR YEAST�S RANKING Red Star Yeast was one of the largest sources of toxic air pollution in Oakland It ranked 8th of all Bay Area facilities for cancer health risks It ranked 2nd in Oakland for air pollution health risks info taken from greenaction.org

37. AIR QUALITY AND POLLUTION For decades Red Star Yeast polluted the air, until finally, by the demands of the community, the district of West Oakland would not grant Red Star Yeast the permit they needed to continue operating Tests indicated that Red Star Yeast needed to comply with air quality regulations, which it indicated it would not do

38. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT On June 18th, 2003, West Oakland residents protested outside of the Red Star Yeast factory The protestors demanded that the factory stop emitting toxic pollution and foul odors into their community They wanted Red Star Yeast OUT of their neighborhood

39. VICTORY Through community efforts, Red Star Yeast announced on 1 April, 2003, that they would close their facility in West Oakland The facility would be shut down by the 15th of April of 2003 Red Star Yeast announced in a press release they would be closing due to �market conditions� and �challenging California environmental conditions�

40. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT West Oakland community members and activist groups such as: the Chester Street Block Club Association, Citizens for West Oakland Revitalization, Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice, Pacific Institute, Environmental Science Institute, and the Youth Empowerment Center all contributed to the closing down of the Red Star Yeast facility in West Oakland

41. ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE The Bay Area Air Quality and Management District had allowed factories such as Red Star to break polluting laws in communities populated mainly by low-income people of color Red Star Yeast chose the West Oakland community based on the idea of the �path of least resistance� This idea is the basis for environmental racism and injustices

42. COMMUNITY EFFORT Through repeated community demonstrations and public outcry, the Bay Area Air Quality and Management District finally decide to not issue a new permit to the Red Star Yeast facility Red Star Yeast, understanding it could no longer operate under such racist and prejudiced ways in the West Oakland community, decided to shut down

43. EMPOWERMENT The story of the West Oakland community against a corporate giant such as Red Star Yeast/Lesaffre shows that communities have the power to end environmental injustice in their neighborhoods

44. RESOURCES Hardcopy resources (general) Beim, Howard J. Rapid Guide to Hazardous Air Pollutants. John Wiley & Sons, 1997. Kokoszka, Leopold C.. Environmental Management Handbook: Toxic Chemical Materials and Waste. Marcel Dekker, 1988. Spicer, Chester W. Hazardous Air Pollutant Handbook: Measurements, Properties, and Fate in Ambient Air. Lewis Publishers, Inc., 2002. Pradyot. Handbook of Environmental Analysis: Chemical Pollutants in Air, Water, Soil, and Solid Wastes. Lewis Publishers, Inc., 1997. Gottlieb, Robert. Environmentalism Unbound: Exploring New Pathways for Change(Urban and Industrial Environments). MIT Press, 2002. Online Resources Community: http://eastbay.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2003/04/07/daily34.html http://www.neip.org/westoakland/woprocess.htm http://www.greenaction.org/ http://www.lumiere.net/pipermail/sustainable-city/2003q2/000062.html http://www.mindfully.org/Air/Red-Star-West-Oakland20feb02.htm http://www.pacinst.org/west_oakland/ http://slingshot.tao.ca/displaybi.php?0078008 http://www.redstaryeast.com/ http://www.umich.edu/ www.lesaffre.com

45. RESOURCES Chemical resources: Acetaldehyde http://www.lungusa.org/im/air.html http://www.chemicalland21.com/arokorhi/petrochemical/Acetaldehyde.htm http://www.inchem.org/documents/hsg/hsg/hsg90_e.htm http://www.headlice.org/lindane/chemicals/acetaldehyde.htm http://www.npi.gov.au/database/substance-info/profiles/1.html http://www.smoke-free.ca/Health/Healtheffectssmoke.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetaldehyde Carbon Monoxide http://www.lungusa.org/air/carbon_factsheet99.html http://www.carbonmonoxidekills.com/ http://www.phymac.med.wayne.edu/FacultyProfile/penney/COHQ/co1.htm http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/carbonmonoxide/default.htm http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/466.html http://www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html Nitrogen Oxides http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts175.html http://www.caa.co.uk/dap/environment/default.asp?page=52 http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/air/air_quality_monitoring/air_pollutants/nitrogen_oxides/ http://www.h2o2.com/applications/industrialwastewater/nox.html http://environet.policy.net/cleanair/health/noxfactsheet.vtml http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/nox/ http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/aw/air/HEALTH/oxides.htm http://www.gtz.de/uvp/publika/English/vol353.htm

46. RESOURCES Sulfur Dioxides http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs116.html http://www.calif-legal.com/Articles/oct_article.html http://www.cleanairtrust.org/sulfurdioxide.html http://www.indoorpollution.com/nitrogen_dioxide_sulfur_dioxide.htm http://www.npi.gov.au/database/substance-info/profiles/77.html http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/air/air_quality_monitoring/air_pollutants/sulfur_dioxide/ http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/sulfur_dioxide.html http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/chemical/sulfur.html http://www.epa.gov/air/aqtrnd95/so2.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_dioxide Image sources http://www.cleanenergynow.org/graphics/asthma.jpg http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/acidrain/origins.gif http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/acidrain/origins.gif http://ess.geology.ufl.edu/ess/Notes/AcidRain/noxpie.gif http://www.exatest.com/prot7.jpg http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/images/acidrn.jpg http://www.gothamgazette.com/graphics/asthma.jpg http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/air_quality/images/acidrain_032.gif http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_asthma_art.htm http://www.oaklandnet.com/government/council/coun_mem/nadel/nadelhp.html http://www.peoplesgrocery.org/phototour.html http://www.usm.maine.edu/~pos/diagram.gif