Anthony’s Op-ed

New York City is currently facing multiple issues, one of which is pollution in the Bronx, which I will discuss. Air pollution in the Bronx contributes to health problems, how air pollution could increase instantly if a sudden event occurs, and how the pollution contributes to global warming.

People in the Bronx are affected by air pollution from the streets, and some have even died as a result. It is essential to understand that PM2.5 is caused by gasoline, oil, diesel fuel, or wood combustion, and O3 is ozone. According to the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, “Air pollution is one of the most significant environmental threats to New Yorkers, causing an estimated 6% of deaths per year. The report outlines that every year, levels of PM2.5 and O3 together cause more than 3,400 deaths and over 10,000 A&E visits for asthma. A 10% reduction in the amount of PM2.5 alone would prevent more than 300 premature deaths. Young children and elderly people are hit particularly hard by health problems caused by air pollution, as are those in low-income neighborhoods where air pollution is typically highest.” Essentially, this is saying that air pollution is the most significant environmental threat to New Yorkers and that 3400 are killed every year due to the levels of PM2.5 and O3, also elderly and young children are hit the most by health problems. The phrase “The report outlines that every year, levels of PM2.5 and O3 together cause more than 3,400 deaths and over 10,000 A&E visits for asthma.” Suggests that 3400 people are killed yearly by air pollution caused by human emissions. This means that lowering emissions could have prevented most of these deaths. This shows how it’s a massive problem for the community because it shows how emissions are increasing, which means that more people will suffer or die from air pollution.

There have been times in history when unexpected consequences have impacted the environment, such as the Canada wildfire. It is essential to understand that this data came after the wildfire that happened in Canada in which the smoke of the fire traveled down to New York. For instance, according to Aatish Bhatia, Josh Katz, and Margot Sanger-Katz, “Those sensors measured levels of particles 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller brought by wind from wildfires in Canada. Wednesday’s daily average was the highest since recording in New York began in 1999, according to data compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency.” Essentially, this is saying that particles that are 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller are being brought in after the Canadian wildfire, the highest record in New York. The phrase “Wednesday’s daily average was the highest since recording in New York began in 1999, according to data compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency.” Suggests that the record increases as time goes by, and it could get worse in the future. This shows how air pollution could instantly increase because it shows how it broke previous records and shows how big these particles could get. This gives the readers the understanding that air quality could drop at any moment in an emergency and that it could be bad enough to prevent people from going outside since there is no way to combat air pollution instantly.

The primary cause of global warming in the Bronx is air pollution, although numerous other factors contribute to this issue. It is essential to understand that the most important contributor to air pollution in the Bronx is transportation, which releases gas into the atmosphere. For instance, according to Cecelia Paladino, “Asthma attacks are triggered by pollutants, but they can also be exacerbated by extreme heat waves, which have increased in frequency in New York City in recent years. “[These heat waves] are not just a product of typical weather patterns, but a symptom of global warming,” he said. So, while emissions from trucks and industrial sites directly cause poor air quality, they also contribute to global climate change, which in turn leads to more heat waves.” Essentially, that pollution doesn’t just affect your health. Still, it could also increase the progress of global warming. The phrase “So, while emissions from trucks and industrial sites directly cause poor air quality, they also contribute to global climate change, which in turn leads to more heat waves” suggests there isn’t just air pollution that the Bronx needs to worry about but also other elements of the environment. This shows how pollution is a problem in the Bronx by contributing to global warming because it shows how air pollution is trapping heat from being dispersed, which is heating the planet. This gives the readers the understanding that air pollution could affect people and the environment, and most of the results are negative.

In conclusion, The most significant threat that New York City has is the emission of air pollution, and some of the ways that anyone could combat air pollution is by lowering their emissions; it would only have a significant impact if everyone followed through with it.

reference

Bhatia, A., Katz, J., & Sanger-katz, M. (2023, June 8). Just how bad was the pollution in New York?. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/06/08/upshot/new-york-city-smoke.html

New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. (n.d.). Air pollution and the health of New Yorkers: The impact of fine particles and ozone. C40 Knowledge Community.

https://www.c40knowledgehub.org/s/article/Air-pollution-and-the-health-of-New-Yorkers-The-impact-of-fine-particles-and-ozone?language=en_USPaladino, C. (2019). Fight for cleaner air in the Bronx. The Innovator. https://www.theinnovatorfordham.com/cecelia-s article#:~:text=So%20while%20emissions%20from%20trucks,negative%20impacts%20of%20heat%20waves