{"id":2578,"date":"2024-11-16T16:38:22","date_gmt":"2024-11-16T21:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bronxname.com\/?p=2578"},"modified":"2024-11-16T16:38:25","modified_gmt":"2024-11-16T21:38:25","slug":"dirty-air-in-new-york-and-the-bronx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/eternal-2578-dirty-air-in-new-york-and-the-bronx","title":{"rendered":"Dirty Air in New York and the Bronx"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>New York is a modern metropolis home to millions of people who consume vast amounts of goods and services daily. This also means the city produces significant amounts of waste, noise, dirt, and poor-quality air as a result of human activity. To combat these challenges, the city government is developing new parks, renovating old ones, promoting public transportation, encouraging the use of electric vehicles, and urging citizens to conserve electricity. But does this really help? Not much, especially when you look at the air quality map of New York City overall and the Bronx in particular. <a href=\"https:\/\/bronx.name\/\">Bronxname<\/a> offers a closer look at this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronx.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2023\/07\/1_v9cf5noo-pzkzo6eahysckegn777adi8iip6zpleohx0pjlq5sd7c31je7hher4zqc9bok23zubp3ovlxxmmylczv5tn29ei8468ngtdbjagghgr9n_zoxdcswbyijdxo4atqcfk2ugm_i7mv-huk-u.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0c3e0e7787a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0c3e0e7787a\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/eternal-2578-dirty-air-in-new-york-and-the-bronx\/#Modern_Air_Quality_Measurement_Tools_That_Highlight_the_Problem\" >Modern Air Quality Measurement Tools That Highlight the Problem<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/eternal-2578-dirty-air-in-new-york-and-the-bronx\/#Air_Quality_on_Manhattan_and_Staten_Island_Compared_to_the_Bronx\" >Air Quality on Manhattan and Staten Island Compared to the Bronx<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/eternal-2578-dirty-air-in-new-york-and-the-bronx\/#Air_Quality_in_the_Bronx_and_the_Importance_of_Hunts_Point\" >Air Quality in the Bronx and the Importance of Hunts Point<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/eternal-2578-dirty-air-in-new-york-and-the-bronx\/#Plans_for_Improving_Air_Quality_in_the_Bronx\" >Plans for Improving Air Quality in the Bronx<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/eternal-2578-dirty-air-in-new-york-and-the-bronx\/#Air_Quality_in_Queens_and_Northern_Brooklyn\" >Air Quality in Queens and Northern Brooklyn<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/eternal-2578-dirty-air-in-new-york-and-the-bronx\/#A_Glimmer_of_Hope\" >A Glimmer of Hope<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Modern_Air_Quality_Measurement_Tools_That_Highlight_the_Problem\"><\/span>Modern Air Quality Measurement Tools That Highlight the Problem<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As noted by <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@UpOutNYC\/this-air-quality-map-of-nyc-shows-how-screwed-your-lungs-are-e2913a055ce6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">medium.com<\/a>, living in New York offers many benefits. The city boasts one of the world\u2019s best public transport systems and provides opportunities for work, recreation, dining, and exercise at any time of day or night. However, all this convenience comes at a cost: the lack of peace and quiet. It\u2019s nearly impossible to find a tranquil corner or moment of solitude, surrounded as you are by an unrelenting world of sounds, smells, and vibrations. This constant activity contributes to significant disparities in air quality across the city&#8217;s boroughs and neighborhoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To better understand the problem, researchers use tools like the BreezoMeter. This tool calculates the Air Quality Index (AQI), a standardized scale that ranges from 0 (poor air quality) to 100 (excellent air quality), and categorizes air quality into five uniform levels. BreezoMeter compiles data from local research conducted according to specific standards, accounting for the concentration of various pollutants in the air worldwide. Although AQI systems vary by country, BreezoMeter offers a standardized benchmark for international comparisons. The goal is simple: to make air quality data more comprehensible and accessible to the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronx.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2023\/07\/1_7z84gduxennzglmjmeoypem78burg4bczwzxy_i2foxavjjtaxbly67cd7njqpju79uri65keqzovjnk0jtfuq8kw-i-pmskggrfjqkd8js5ioyj_6_nb6co_bczjnjnmz-qvikmhlvfhuqrhecu6ns.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Air_Quality_on_Manhattan_and_Staten_Island_Compared_to_the_Bronx\"><\/span>Air Quality on Manhattan and Staten Island Compared to the Bronx<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>How does New York fare in terms of air quality? Unfortunately, the map reveals a lot of red zones, indicating poor air conditions. These \u201cred hotspots\u201d are as numerous as acne spots on a teenager\u2019s face. Let\u2019s identify the most problematic areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronx.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2023\/07\/1_20tii_voldl71nfhp-mvysgjb1nxxnyg2-onnmg4g8dyl4r2ebc2nedweoqft5djdggujm8s2dnbq65_0ux7znqpudf8c63mjlbyk2ik5it0_0odq0dhaxgegtvkauhc5z_fy8sv2rhcruxtd5aetwy.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Staten Island\u2019s western shore ranks among the worst offenders. Today, this area serves as a hub of industrial activity with only one residential neighborhood. In the past century, it hosted even more industrial enterprises, including oil refining and construction facilities. Currently, it\u2019s home to the large Con Edison power plant and Teleport, a high-tech industrial park built in the 1980s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronx.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2023\/07\/1_lb9s8_al8wfxw5sz-ga6x8yfxt2_lnhlmd7ealgz-hmhzhwnz6spimvmd0gjd7xujic5ppqkdzkyndgaauzcp142zaggjji1awtpkxgudoujxjn_edkwfwawgg2enlgdz-socv9uldiyz_xeolfa_k8.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Manhattan is another major contributor to poor air quality. Large stretches of the borough along the Hudson River appear red on the map, potentially due to their proximity to New Jersey and other densely populated areas like East Village, West Village, Lower East Side, and Tribeca. Surprisingly, there\u2019s a bright green square amidst this sea of red. Can you guess what it is? It\u2019s Times Square, oddly enough, a relatively cleaner part of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronx.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2023\/07\/1_imn7si4r9dc4mc-s_okochkienw2osw2gxpzsgdmng-jbfmnogeqlif_k9knqjdwcvmldduj3vpnkqgysj-1rulxubotf7_h1gtsdjsw7jmdoh6gpcmtgndw9lnmd2arrlfoczegdgkfoaadxtu2mz4.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Rikers Island, known for its infamous prison complex, is also marked in red due to its air quality issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Air_Quality_in_the_Bronx_and_the_Importance_of_Hunts_Point\"><\/span>Air Quality in the Bronx and the Importance of Hunts Point<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the Bronx, Hunts Point stands out as a major source of pollution. This area, historically an industrial hub, became home to a massive food market in 1967 and a meat market in 1974.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In June 2023, the New York State Assembly allocated $130 million to modernize Hunts Point&#8217;s commercial infrastructure. Additionally, the city pledged another $130 million, federal grants would contribute $135 million, and private developers would invest $250 million. The goal is to make this area more environmentally friendly and compliant with environmental regulations. Why such attention to this market? By June 2022, Hunts Point\u2019s food, fish, and meat markets supplied 12% of New York City\u2019s food supply. Specifically, the food market provided 25% of the city\u2019s produce, the meat market accounted for 35% of the city\u2019s meat supply, and the fish market delivered 45% of the city\u2019s seafood. Altogether, the commercial facilities here span over one million square feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronx.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2023\/07\/1_ahgleo_ffb5cfqjsfq9gm1fd33nvdt8koghctro3dwrwvdym5zj2dgjgxkns9mtgi9twbgjjxkdrlcdioxbhsctamdn-stijywoiesgkcye6bdisq3_caltjjmjmh6aziad-h3edopp3njtrkeyoyli.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Plans_for_Improving_Air_Quality_in_the_Bronx\"><\/span>Plans for Improving Air Quality in the Bronx<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The redevelopment project will transform Hunts Point into a modern complex with 800,000 square feet of cold storage and 200,000 square feet of additional facilities. These changes will ensure compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration\u2019s food safety modernization standards, ultimately improving air quality. Reducing the influx of thousands of diesel trucks passing through the Bronx daily will play a significant role in this improvement. The project also includes plans to increase the use of electric trucks and install EV charging stations at the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, the rail system serving Hunts Point will be upgraded, enabling trains to transport more goods and further reducing reliance on trucks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When can Bronx residents expect cleaner air? Not immediately. The project is slated for completion by September 2025, with construction beginning in late 2025 or early 2026. Nevertheless, the initiative is a step forward. According to officials, the investment will safeguard union jobs, improve the health of local residents, and strengthen food supply chains at various levels. Assembly Member Amanda Septimo emphasized that the improvements will enhance air quality, boost business growth, and establish a community-oriented food distribution plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronx.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2023\/07\/1_kisshxg12jszol6ltkdocac31p8q2gqppgbnkwpiidefpbijntm5jzcecpwqxcz7vm3gzxkzctwxgjyneiwn-4tdahei7zlq_lmin_5hrxzswzsl18cl7gvrw1vipv7lttiy-a3sqtsr-_kp7sdovsw.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Air_Quality_in_Queens_and_Northern_Brooklyn\"><\/span>Air Quality in Queens and Northern Brooklyn<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In Queens, areas around JFK Airport face significant pollution issues. The region appears blank on the air quality map, perhaps because it couldn\u2019t be classified as worse than it already is. Adjacent areas and the red hotspot near Maspeth further confirm the low air quality in this region. However, exceptions exist: Queens has one of the few dark green spots on the map, located near Seneca Avenue between Stanhope Street and Menahan Street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronx.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2023\/07\/1_y58psxh8i21uhzwledfjxiyg8c2vnvue6itbqwq6odu9e6p26pavd0phifc6zgmhngg0xwyboaaqgbu7_sl328pj6s9om2zt6yafcwtq4fg6juuga5j6rusnu-nyzeud5adtfnmqvfe22eyupy_zhy8.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In Northern Brooklyn, air quality is relatively better, but it worsens further south. Areas around Bay Ridge and the Brooklyn Army Terminal suffer from significant pollution due to warehouses, offices, piers, cranes, rail tracks, and loading equipment in Sunset Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronx.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2023\/07\/1_otvfyu1xg5pbm0rddr2h1fvnjftoiwnw_uf7ccjkuduqss7gsmbeex13tb7lkqxm69g4rq-vbfr6mmagbdtocmaea9ofxh0xkjalvnredyxudv_e48jb07lmzc_rf-twmhgsafrgft04dzu4qewecfi.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Glimmer_of_Hope\"><\/span>A Glimmer of Hope<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Is the situation entirely bleak? Not necessarily. A look at the nighttime AQI map of New York reveals a city slowly breathing easier. With continued efforts and investment, New York may yet achieve cleaner air for its residents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New York is a modern metropolis home to millions of people who consume vast amounts of goods and services daily. This also means the city produces significant amounts of waste, noise, dirt, and poor-quality air as a result of human activity. To combat these challenges, the city government is developing new parks, renovating old ones, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":422,"featured_media":1486,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[331],"tags":[],"motype":[325],"moformat":[22],"moimportance":[29],"class_list":{"0":"post-2578","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-environment","8":"motype-eternal","9":"moformat-longrid-korotka","10":"moimportance-aktualna-bilshe-roku"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/422"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2578"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2583,"href":"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578\/revisions\/2583"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1486"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2578"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=2578"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=2578"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronx.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=2578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}