Source: Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty
Everyone knows that air pollution has been a problem for decades, but a new study finds that blacks and Hispanics are more susceptible to its negative effects in New York City.
Gothamist reports that toxic air in the New York City subway system is impacting low-income riders, who happen to be black and Hispanic men and women, due to longer commutes and train rides throughout the day. In doing so, commuters are exposed to tiny particles, known as particulate matter, which can enter the lungs and enter the bloodstream causing all kinds of respiratory and cardiovascular ailments.
Masoud Ghandehari, professor of civil and urban engineering, says it actually tends to “Hold my breath before I leave the station because I know that's when the concentrations go up“, every time you ride the subway as “Air quality in the New York City subway exceeds the World Health Organization's exposure guidelines by up to 15 times.”
But it doesn't stop there. He also found other troubling evidence.
Gothamist References:
He said the research found that longer commutes with more commutes and waiting time on platforms led to greater exposure to polluted air. Black and Hispanic riders experienced 35 percent and 23 percent more polluted air, respectively, compared to Asian and white riders, Ghandehari said.
“When the train goes through, all the metal at the bottom of the tunnel rises,” he said. “Every time the door opens, the concentrations on the train increase because the outside environment, the platforms, has a higher concentration.”
The station with the highest particulate matter levels are 168th Street and 181st Street on the 1 train, the Bowling Green 5 line, the Broadway-Lafayette B station and the High Street train, the publication found.
Ghandehari's team developed one online map so straphangers can plan their typical commute and approximate their particle exposure.
Yes, people may want to re-wear N95 masks every time they travel on public transportation in New York. This time, it's not to protect themselves from COVID.
But MTA Communications Director Tim Minton disagreed with Ghandehari's findings and said his research has been debunked in the past.
“This recycled 'study' based on years of 'data' has long since been debunked,” Minton said in a statement. “Any serious person knows that transit is the antidote to climate change, the only reason New York is the greenest city and a driver of justice for people in all communities who need an affordable, safe way to get to jobs, schools, and opportunities of every kind.”
Yeah, we tend to go with the professor on this one. No shooting.
Will you be careful and wear masks when riding the subway in New York? Let us know in the comments section below.
