My upbringing in New York City has had a profound impact on my identity. Exploring the world-class museums in Manhattan and savoring the multicultural culinary offerings in Queens exposed me to an abundance of cultural diversity, which helped shape the open-minded individual I am today. However, the city also exposed me to high levels of air pollution that penetrated my still-developing lungs, contributing to my severe asthma and mental health decline as a child. Unfortunately, many children encounter the same consequences I did while growing up in the Bronx, where, like the majority of low-income communities, sustainability remains inaccessible.
Why are low-income communities more vulnerable to poor air quality? Due to the unaffordable costs of suburban living, those of low socioeco
nomic status tend to live in underserved areas near major sources of air pollution, such as factories and congested highways, which emit harmful gases like carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. Additionally, researchers have confirmed that other major sources, waste disposal facilities, are deliberately placed in low-income communities because companies know that the residents lack the education and resources to object [1], [2].
What does this mean for your child? As their lungs continue to develop, children breathe in more air than adults for their body weight, making them more susceptible to the health risks of air pollution.
The number one culprit is a fine air pollutant particle called PM2.5. When inhaled, the areas of a child’s brain that regulate emotions become disrupted, which increases the risks of anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric disorders that can persist into adulthood, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. As a result, they cannot reach their full potential. These disorders hinder children’s academic performance, socialization skills, and ability to maintain a job later in life.
A pregnant woman’s exposure to air pollution can also have adverse effects on her baby, such as premature birth and low birth weight, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes in the baby’s future [3].
In addition to their disruptive impact on the brain, PM2.5 particles penetrate deep into the lungs, leading to increased incidences of respiratory conditions among children, resulting in more hospitalizations. In my hometown of the Bronx, which has the highest poverty rate in the state, children are twice as likely to be hospitalized or die from asthma than in other parts of the country [4]. Hospitalizations significantly disrupt a child’s academic progress, well-being, and overall quality of life. I c
an attest to this because, at the age of 10, I was hospitalized for severe asthma, forcing me to miss school for several days and depriving me of socialization opportunities, such as gym and recess. It was no surprise that this was not an isolated experience, given that my school was located just two blocks away from the Cross Bronx Expressway, which averages 300 diesel trucks’ tailpipe emissions per hour [5]. In fact, many of my classmates faced similar situations, missing out on these opportunities as well due to similar respiratory health concerns. Unfortunately, the problem has seen little improvement. The number of asthmatic children in my former neighborhood appears to be as high as, if not higher than, it was in the past. As diesel trucks continue to crowd the highways and new waste disposal sites are being constructed, the same holds for every low-income community across the nation.
What can be done to protect your children from air pollution?
- Download the IQAir AirVisual app to monitor the level of air pollutants in your region. If the air quality is poor, limit your child’s outdoor playtime.
- Project N95 is a non-profit that donates air purifiers to schools and other organizations. Gather a group of fellow parents to ask local principals and daycare owners to complete an online application.
- Avoid using other air pollutants, such as candles, smoking, and aerosols, in the household.
- Walk or bike your daily commute to reduce gas emissions. Avoid busy roads and take the less congested route. It might take a bit longer, but you will also get some additional exercise.
- Carpool with your neighbors to get to and from your child’s school activities and events.
- Raise awareness among your community and advocate for the planting of more trees and local gardens.
- Reduce, reuse, and recycle to minimize the amount of garbage that is dumped in landfills.
Pollution is a product of human action. We bear total responsibility for the construction of factories, the congestion of roads, and the disposal of waste in landfills, all while neglecting the well-being of the younger generation in the process. As we continue generating toxic emissions that spread through our communities, the fragile physical and psychological systems of our children and grandchildren are the ones that must endure the destructive consequences of our environmental negligence.
It’s time to recognize that by mitigating pollution, we are securing children’s future. Together, let us take on a new responsibility by working toward a world that is cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable for our children and future generations.
References
- Gaworecki, “Minority and Low-Income Communities are Targeted for Hazardous Waste Sites, Research Confirms,” DeSmog, Jan. 22, 2016. https://www.desmog.com/
2016/01/22/minority-and-low-income-communities-are-targeted-hazardous-waste-sites-research-confirms/ - Vasarhelyi, “The Hidden Damage of Landfills,” Environmental Center, Apr. 15, 2021. https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/2021/04/15/hidden-damage-landfills
- “Children’s Health,” Boston College Global Observatory. https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/centers/schiller-institute/sites/masscleanair/articles/children.html
- Warman, E. J. Silver, and P. R. Wood, “Modifiable Risk Factors for Asthma Morbidity in Bronx versus Other Inner-City Children,” Journal of Asthma, vol. 46, no. 10, pp. 995–1000, Dec. 2009, doi: https://doi.org/10.3109/02770900903350481
- Bedrosian, “Bronx Organizations Pushing for Environmental Justice with High Asthma Rates in Community,” CBS News, Apr. 20, 2023. https://www.cbsnews.com/
newyork/news/bronx-asthma-rates-environmental-justice/
