Marine ports in Brazil are major hubs of economic activity and major sources of pollution. Enormous ships with engines running on diesel fuel, thousands of diesel truck visits per day, long diesel locomotives hauling cargo and other polluting equipment, and activities at marine ports cause an array of environmental impacts that can seriously affect local communities and the environment. These impacts range from increased risk of illness, such as respiratory disease or cancer, to increases in regional smog, degradation of water quality, and the blight of local communities and public lands. The result is that most Brazil ports are heavy polluters, releasing largely unchecked quantities of health endangering air and water pollution, causing noise and light pollution that disrupts nearby communities, while harming marine habitats. Major air pollutants from diesel engines at ports that can affect human health include particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur oxides (SOx). The health effects of pollution from ports may include asthma, other respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and premature death. In children, these pollutants have been linked with asthma and bronchitis, and high levels of the pollutants have been associated with increases in school absenteeism and emergency room visits. In fact, numerous studies have shown that children living near busy diesel trucking routes are more likely to suffer from decreased lung function, wheezing, bronchitis, and allergies.
