Riders of the New York City subway system are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution, with Black and Hispanic commuters facing even greater risks, according to a recent study.
Researchers from New York University discovered that the average subway platform contains particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution levels that are four times higher than the safe limit set by the Environmental Protection Agency over a 24-hour period and nine times above the World Health Organization’s guideline.
The study highlights that while subway commuting represents only a fraction of a person’s daily routine, it still contributes significantly to their overall exposure to PM2.5.
Masoud Ghandehari, the principal researcher and a professor of urban systems engineering at New York University, stated, “At that size, these particles penetrate the lung, and it’s been shown that small particles cause issues with cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological diseases.” He added, “We have 5 million riders per day. Imagine the human impact one may be having in a single day in the New York City subway system.”
The study also reveals that air pollution affects low-income individuals and communities of color more severely, both above ground and in the subway. By analyzing census block data related to income and ethnicity, researchers found that lower-income New Yorkers and those in predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods face longer and more frequent commutes. Consequently, this results in greater exposure to harmful pollutants. Specifically, the study noted that Black and Hispanic workers are exposed to PM2.5 levels that are 35% and 23% higher, respectively, than those experienced by Asian and white commuters.
“Most jobs are in financial districts in New York City, [such as] midtown and downtown Manhattan,” Ghandehari explained. “Those with lower income oftentimes live further away from these job centers. So their commute time ends up being longer, which means their exposure is going to be higher.”
The researchers also identified a significant amount of iron in the fine particles they studied, attributed to the wear and tear of train wheels, brakes, and rails. They observed that older, deeper, and more crowded stations with inadequate ventilation had elevated levels of PM2.5.
“Whatever pollutants that are brought from the outdoor air get trapped and recirculated,” noted Kabindra Shakya, an assistant professor of geography and the environment at Villanova University, who was not part of the study. “Above ground, there is more chance for dispersion, wind speed carrying away and cleaning it, whereas it’s being accumulated [underground] with less ventilation.”
Shakya’s 2020 research on Philadelphia’s subway systems revealed that pollution levels were approximately four times higher underground compared to above ground. They also found that stations with limited outdoor access had increased concentrations of particulate matter.
While he acknowledged that the risk to individuals with shorter commutes is “minimal,” Shakya emphasized, “I want to emphasize that occupational workers, like subway workers or the vendors who work [there], are at the most risk.”
{Matzav.com}