Jacqueline Ngo

Professor Tessler
02122, Fields Corner
Urban Density | Mix of Residential, Industry, & Commercial | Vehicle Density

Occupational & Environmental Health

Environmental Health Field Walk

a. What was the loudest location and the noise source? Where is the quietest location?
The loudest location was along the train tracks/bridges. Other loud locations include areas with auto-repair
shops and areas along the highway. The quietest location was east of Fields Corner in a residential home
area surrounding a community playground.
b. What types of unpleasant odors (e.g. chemical or biological hazards) do you detect in this
area? What is the source of these odors? Take photos if you can.
The smell of gasoline and smoke was present from auto repair shops. The smell of garbage was present
(especially in the pedestrian alley between two main streets) from littered waste and actual garbage cans
along the sidewalk. The smell of oils and foods was present from restaurant vents. There were also pollutant
smells by Morrissey Boulevard and Malibu Beach (by the water).
c. How dense is the pedestrian activity? Where did you see the greatest safety hazard for
pedestrians? How would you rate this area in terms of pedestrian safety? Bicycle safety?
Pedestrian activity is dense. Fields Corner intersects major areas of Boston and Quincy. It also is a stop on
the Red Line, which results in more cars and pedestrians. The greatest safety hazard for pedestrians was in
apartment-residential areas. The majority of these streets are narrow and have parked cars on both sides,
which is a safety hazard for both drivers and pedestrians due to scarce cross walks or worn out pavement
signage. In terms of the area as a whole, I would rate it as often unsafe. The streets are relatively narrow, and
although bicycle lanes are gradually being incorporated, there is a lack of safety measures.
d. What types of industries are located here that you were able to OBSERVE?
Industries located in this area include natural gas distribution industries, electric power distribution industries,
auto and motor parts shops, supply warehouses, and gas stations.
e. Speculation: What do you think the local residents of this area are most concerned about
(re: Environmental Health)?
One major concern may be air pollution due to hazardous wastes and gas emissions. Fields corner is a very
dense and mobile areamany cars pass through it, it is right beside the I-93 highway, and the Red Line runs
right through it. Another concern may be the infrastructure. With new development of buildings, there may be
less attention on renewing or maintaining bridges, roads, and sidewalks. These factors also contribute to
waste production and pollutionthe air local residents live and breath in.
f. How many green spaces/recreation areas did you encounter on your walk? Were they
well-utilized? Were there barriers to their use and enjoyment by the community?
There were 3 green spaces/recreation areas I encountered. There was a playground with a tennis court,
basketball courts, and walking pathways in a residential area east side of Fields Corner, which was
surrounded by large single homes. On the other side of Fields Corner, there was a small playground, a grass
field, and basketball courts, which was surrounded by local restaurants, shops, and markets. There was also
a walking area at Malibu Beach, which had benches and parking spaces. These spaces were well-utilized by
communities surrounding them. The grass field on the west side of Fields Corner did have some barriers in
terms of the populations occupying these spaceslocal individuals who gather there to smoke, homeless
groups, etc.

#2
local UPS

#3
construction
site

#4
nail supply
store

manager

acetate,
nitrocellu
lose

If you observed a facility or site that is an emitter of water, air or other contaminants,
look it up on the EPA ENVIROFACTS website. What do they release? Have they had
any recent violations?
National Grid Liquefied Natural Gas Tank: In compliance with pollutant regulations, no recent violations.

OTHER:

gas
smoke

OTHER:

Job Stress

Volatile Organic Chemicals

Other Chemical:
_________

Pesticide/Herbicides

Environmental Tobacco
Smoke

fungal contamination

Indoor Air pollution

Infectious agents

Outdoor air pollution

Radiation

cuts or lacerations

motor vehicle injury

construction
worker

Risk of robbery or assault

package
deliverer

Cold temperature

Heat stress

Noise

mechanic

Vibration

#1
autoshop

Job Title

Heavy Lifting

Worker #
Location

Manual Material Handling

(additional
notes are
included
at the end
of the
document
)

Finally, please share a few of your own perceptions about the built environment you
observed, your experience as an observer, and any reflections about this experience
within the context of the PH-204 course content.
As a whole, the built environment of Fields Corner is improvingfrom housing development, community
centers, and train stations. It definitely looks cleaner and feels safer than it did ten years ago. However,
there still needs to be more attention towards the maintenance of infrastructurefrom train bridges, to
pavements, to streetlights. As Boston expands in population and advancement, Dorchester will become
more and more developed. One of my personal concerns is the lack of balance in community
progressionas new homes and businesses are put into construction, I am worried the old ones will be
either pushed to the margins or replaced. I am worried that more priority will be given to these
developmental projects, and less on the improvement of infrastructure or social needs, which ultimately
influences economic costs and health outcomes for vulnerable populations. Being in the midst of all the
development and construction was chaotic in that main streets were narrow, traffic was jammed, and
hazards were present. There was no police guard to direct traffic around this construction site, which
makes me question how much occupational safety measures were taken for the construction workers
themselves. Overall, this field walk made me think about power dynamics, community responsibility, and
health inequities. To what extent does community collaboration have on the environment and safety of the
location? Is it more about advocacy and direct action to make sure stakeholders take safety measures?
Or is it about having a high socioeconomic status and income to avoid hazardous locations in the first
place?

Photographs

Notes
- broken, cracked pavements and walls
- lack of maintenance of roads and bridges (netting to prevent pigeons from staying under the bridge backfired
due to tall trucks)
- narrow roads, safety hazards for drivers and pedestrians
- lack of visible signage for pedestrians, especially around construction sites
- tobacco smoke in environment
- littering, waste on streets and around public fences
- many liquor stores and smoke shops
- a lot of smoke emitted into the environment from ventilation systems
- lack of parking spaces, many side-view mirror damages
- various odors gas, smoke, chemicals
- increased development in housing and businesses
- differences in race and socioeconomic status in particular areas of Fields Corner
References
"Fields Corner West Neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts (MA), 02122, 02124 Subdivision Profile." CityData. Neighborhood Boundary Data, 2011. Web. 05 Apr. 2015. <http://www.citydata.com/neighborhood/Fields-Corner-West-Boston-MA.html>.
"US Environmental Protection Agency." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 2015. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.epa.gov/>.