Project Title: Residential Behavior and Environmental Hazards in Arizona-Sonora Colonias

SCERP Project Number: EH99-2

Principal Investigator: Edward Sadalla

Task Manager's affiliation: Arizona State University

Goal: The proposed research describes the second year of a two year project designed to describe, quantify, and attenuate the environmental pollution produced by residential behavior if inhabitants of colonias marginales in Mexico along the Arizona-Sonora border. The project is based on the assumption that studies of the environmental impact of industrial practices in this region should include data pertaining to the pollution produced by industrial workers in their residential environment. In 1994 Mexico’s maquilla program was composed of 2173 manufacturing plants employing 544,500 workers. Because of their living conditions, workers in the maquila industry may well produce a greater environmental impact in their residential communities than they do in the workplace.

The growth of population along Mexico’s northern border in response to the development of the maquila industry has resulted in the establishment of colonias marginales, communities that are generally characterized by substandard housing and inadequate infrastructure. The present project is the first to attempt to quantify the environmental pollution maquiladoras. Our focus is on air pollution, water pollution, and waste disposal. Practices such as the burning of garbage, and the burning of hazardous materials for heating and cooking contribute substantially to air pollution. The absence of sewers combined with substandard latrine construction causes waste to pollute the local area and eventually drain into local aquifers. Residents of these communities consequently produce, and are at increased risk from, environmental hazards associated with air pollution, inadequate plumbing, poor access to clean water, and makeshift sewage disposal systems.

The environmental hazards generated by substandard living conditions in colonias are not limited to the residents of colonias. Since residents on both sides of the border share ecosystems, air sheds, and watersheds, the pollution generated in colonias may impact a much larger population on both sides of the border.

This project has three interrelated objectives. The first objective involves the assessment of environmentally relevant behaviors of colonia residents. In year one of the current project we conducted a detailed survey of behaviors in 400 households related to environmental degradation from such practices as trash burning, residential burns for heating and cooking, and waste disposal practices. During year 2 we propose to use the obtained date to generate quantitative estimates of the amounts of various categories of pollutants produced in the colonias.

The second objective involved exploration of residents’ perception of health risks that are associated with hazardous behavioral practices. We have collected data designed to reveal whether residents have a reasonably accurate perception of the hazards in their environment, and of how their behavior may affect their health. In year 2 of the project we propose to conduct a detailed analysis of the relationship between hazard perception and behavior. Assessment of the relationship between belief and behavior is a necessary antecedent to the development of educational an intervention programs.

In year 2 of the project we also propose to gather additional information and develop guidelines for educational interventions designed to modify those behaviors that contribute to environmental pollution and pose hazards to the health of colonia residents. Since previous studies have shown that colonia residents are willing to modify their behavior when provided with relevant information, this part of the project is anticipated to have an impact on the health of residents and on the level of environmental pollution produced by these communities.

Last updated 3/8/00