10
TIMESLEDGER, MAY 5, 2019 TIMESLEDGER.COM
City air quality has mixed results for Queens
BY BILL PARRY
Western Queens
continues to have the worst
air quality in the borough,
but the title of “Asthma
Alley” has drifted a bit to
the east.
A new study by the
city’s Department of
Health, covering nine
years of data, shows the
most harmful pollutants
are found in Sunnyside
and Woodside.
Astoria and Long
Island City held that
dubious distinction for
decades for the high rate
of respiratory ailments
suffered by residents who
live in close proximity to
the high amount of power
plants along the East
River that generate more
than 50 percent of the
city’s power.
The study, released on
April 30, explains that high
levels of fine particulate
matter such as nitrogen
dioxide, and nitric oxide,
pollutants that exacerbate
heart and respiratory
disease, continue to
be observed in areas
of high traffic density,
building density, and
industrial areas.
“The latest community
air survey shows
significant improvements
over the past nine years
in the city’s air, which
means better health for
New Yorkers,” Health
Commissioner Dr. Oxiris
Barbot said. “We still have
more work to do to ensure
that all New Yorkers can
breathe the same clean air;
Mayor de Blasio’s OneNYC
is bringing us closer to
that goal.”
The survey found
that from 2009 to 20017
the annual average
levels of fine particulate
matter, nitrogen dioxide,
nitric oxide and black
carbon have declined 30
percent, 44 percent and
30 percent respectively.
The largest declines
For four generations, New York’s Jewish
Community has turned to Sinai Chapels for
guidance and comfort in their time of need.
We honor and respect all Jewish traditions
and customs, attending to every funeral detail
according to each family’s personal and
religious preferences.
To learn more, contact us today:
718.445.0300 | 800.446.0406
have been observed
for sulfur dioxide, due
largely to city and state
heating regulations,
wintertime average
levels have declined by
96 percent.
“Dramatic improvements
in air quality across New
York City are a clear health
success,” NYC’s Chief Climate
Policy Advisor and OneNYC
Director Daniel Zarrilli said.
“With OneNYC 2050, New
York City’s Green New Deal,
we will go further by pursuing
more stringent emissions
regulations, achieving carbon
neutrality and 100 percent
clean electricity, and greening
the city’s buildings as we
work to end our reliance on
fossil fuels.”
The Health Department
conducts the Community
Air Survey with Queens
College to evaluate how
air quality differs across
the city. Air pollution
measurements are
taken each season with
monitors mounted at
street level at about 100
locations throughout the
five boroughs.
Overall, the city’s air
quality is the cleanest
it has been in years
— and Department of
Environmental Protection
Commissioner Vincent
Sapienza seems to
know why.
“The use of heavy home
heating oil was one of the
most serious contributors
to air pollution in New
York City, but we worked
with stakeholders and
developed sensible
regulations that helped
5,300 buildings switch to a
cleaner fuel, contributing
to significantly healthier
air for all New Yorkers,
especially those in
northern Manhattan, the
south Bronx and northern
Queens,” he said.
Reach reporter Bill
Parry by email at bparry@
schnepsmedia.com or by
phone at (718) 260–4538.
Graphic shows the highest annual average of fine particulate
matter is now found in Sunnyside and Woodside.
Photo courtesy of NYC DOH
/TIMESLEDGER.COM
/schnepsmedia.com
