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The Effects of Air Pollution in New York City

Air pollution in New York City has been at an epidemic level for years. Despite successful initiatives by local authorities to reduce the problem, air pollution continues to endanger the environment and the lives of citizens. New York City air pollution is a result of a number of factors, including vehicles, construction work, as well as power plants located within the city. Incidents, such as the September 11th terrorist attacks, have also negatively impacted on air quality.

  1. Triggers Asthma

    • Air pollutants are a serious threat to the respiratory systems of New Yorkers, with millions of citizens diagnosed with a form of asthma, according to the Good Air Lady website in 2011; in fact, the city has one of the worst asthma rates in the country, as noted by the Gotham Gazette. Asthma, a potentially deadly condition, has a particularly negative effect on the lives of children, who can miss many school days a year as a result of the condition. Asthma is thought to be triggered by pollutants, which worsen the air quality in an area, particularly during times of heavy traffic.

    Smog Causes Illness

    • A result of poor air conditions in New York City is smog, a cloud-like structure which hangs like a pall in the sky and is formed from ozone, a combination of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. According to the Transportation Alternatives website, New York City ozone levels are among the worst in the U.S. Breathing smog can have a negative effect on the health of New Yorkers; the substance can cause minor respiratory problems, such as an itchy throat. More serious illnesses can also develop, including fibrosis and emphysema.

    Acid Rain

    • One of the effects of air pollution on the natural environment is that it causes acid rain, which has a negative consequence for New York City water supplies. Foreign substances found in water from the city reservoirs increase in volume due to acid rain. For example, in the year 2000, phosphorous levels were found to be higher than deemed acceptable, as noted by the State of New York Office of the Attorney General website. Increased amounts of phosphorous can lead to algae growth, contaminating water supplies, leading to drinking water with a foul taste and possibly triggering bottom sediments to unleash metal contaminants into the reservoirs.

    Affects Babies In Womb

    • Babies in the womb are vulnerable to the toxins released as a result of air pollution in New York City. A study of babies born in the city, published in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal, reports that scientists possibly linked a worryingly high number of genetic mutations on the amount of urban and air population found in New York City. Researchers also studied the level of toxins, caused by smoke, in the babies, and reported that, though none of the mothers smoked cigarettes, the children had higher toxin levels in their bodies than their parents.

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