The Terra Ay Ay Project is an initiative dedicated to collecting community-sourced data on St. Croix’s air, water and soil quality.

We all need healthy air to breathe, we need healthy water to live, and we need healthy soil to grow our food. When we have community-collected data, we all have access to crucial information about pollutants that can affect our air, water and soil quality.

Public health issues can be linked to degraded water and soil quality, exacerbated by climate change, Sahara dust plumes, droughts affecting cistern water levels, fires and severe hurricanes. Globally, industrial operations have a long history of polluting their neighboring communities; local industrial operations have raised concerns about air quality effects on human health.

Terra Ay Ay project will focus on neighborhoods which have faced adverse environmental health impacts and catastrophic natural disasters over the years. We will be using maps collected from a 2021 community survey conducted by Bennington College to target the most affected Saint Croix neighborhoods to participate in water/soil testing and air monitoring. Similar Saint Croix areas are highlighted in a 2014 study by the Eastern Caribbean Center of the University of the Virgin Islands that examined the health impacts of industry in the South Shore Industrial Corridor. Key findings include:

• Demographics: The area near the industrial zone has a higher proportion of females, more children, a greater percentage of Blacks and Latinos, and a higher rate of residents with less education compared to the reference area.
• Environmental Impacts: Residents near the industrial zone reported more frequent exposure to strong odors, mold, transportation emissions, and factory smoke compared to those in the reference area.
• Health Impacts: The study provides evidence that adverse environmental conditions leading to declining respiratory health are more prevalent near the industrial zone. The lack of data collection and an inadequately maintained cancer registry hinder comprehensive public health tracking.

The findings suggest a significant link between industrial activities and respiratory health issues in the affected communities.

On this website we publish environmental data and analyze results so that all community members can access and understand the data, stay informed, and be better prepared to monitor and protect our health and our island’s environment.

A healthy environment is crucial for the health of every child, adult and elder in our community. As individuals, we are stewards of our home, and we are committed to ensuring a healthy and sustainable environment for all residents and for the continued practice and celebration of our cultural heritage.