Episode 5: Urban Air Quality

Urban air quality is shaped by traffic, industry, buildings, gentrification, and even the different way cities are designed. But here’s the big question: What is this daily pollution doing to our health? 

Transcript

Hey, hey everyone welcome back! My name is Ms. Carmen, I’m a science educator in Brooklyn, NY and I am your host. The goal of this podcast is to provide you with science-based information about air quality issues and how it affects you. I’m a strong believer that information is power and if you have access to what you need to know, then it puts you in a better position to make healthy choices for you and your family. Air quality is a great big topic, so I’ll be covering it in bite-sized pieces during the podcast. At the time of recording this episode, the temperature is currently 46 degrees and our current AQI is 21.

Picture this: You step outside on a crisp morning in the city. The streets are buzzing with life. You take a deep breath… and suddenly, you notice it. The faint smell of… something. There’s a dry tickle in your throat. The air feels somehow heavy. If you live in a city, this might be your reality a few times out of the month. Depending on where you live in a city, this may be your reality on the regular. Urban air quality is shaped by traffic, industry, buildings, gentrification, and even the different way cities are designed. But here’s the big question: What is this daily pollution doing to our health?


Cities are hotspots for air pollution, and I feel like we know that already, but let’s explore why in more detail:

Cars, trucks, and buses are major sources of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter. Traffic congestion increases pollution exposure particularly for pedestrians, cyclists, and the people in the immediate community even more. If you live near the Cross Bronx Expressway, for example or in high congestion areas, you’re likely to experience higher levels of air pollution.

Local power plants and nearby factories also contribute to urban air pollution. For many, this is the skyline they're used to seeing. Poorer neighborhoods are often located near these locations and older housing often has oil burning heating systems that disproportionately contribute to high levels of local air pollution. On super cold days where there’s little wind, the local AQI here is regularly in the low hundreds.

The challenge of cities is that they trap heat due to concrete and asphalt absorbing sunlight. These hotter temperatures increase ozone pollution during hot summer days, making the air quality even worse. Depending on where you live, there may be very few trees and plants in your neighborhood. This means less natural air filtration, oxygen production, and shade to cool the ground. 

The effects of urban air pollution aren’t just an inconvenience—they’re a public health crisis happening in real time, and low income communities, particularly Black and Brown folks, are disproportionately affected. Short-term exposure to regular urban air pollution causes irritated eyes and dry throat. If you’re in a vulnerable population or have pre-existing conditions, it's not unusual to experience headaches, dizziness, and worsened asthma symptoms just from being outside.

Over time, a healthy person breathing in polluted air can experience lung disease, asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, cognitive decline, and overall lower life span. The World Health Organization estimates that millions of premature deaths are directly linked to air pollution each year. That’s not just a statistic—that’s real people, real lives, and we have the data to prove that it's happening in real time.


Let’s take a quick look at Mexico City. In 1992, it was recognized as one of the most polluted cities on Earth.

In the 1980s and 90s, the smog in Mexico City was so thick that birds were reported to have fallen from the sky, and schools were regularly closed due to the dangerous air quality. Large-scale industrialization, a booming population, and increased vehicle use all contributed to the dangerous air conditions. For perspective, the air is described to have been just as severe as India’s is today. More on that in another episode, but in the meantime, look it up.

Here’s the thing about Mexico City: at high altitude and in a basin, this means polluted air gets stuck, almost like it were in a bowl. Ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and airborne particles all created a dangerous air pollution stew that lingered thickly.

Things got so bad that the Mexican government took extreme measures. Driving was banned on certain days and millions of trees were planted. Bicycle accessibility and environmental education were expanded. There was a push for cleaner and more efficient energy use and regulation of fuel consumption. A culture of sustainability, which involved active citizen participation, contributed to a shift in Mexico City’s air quality.

Today, thanks to ongoing active efforts, Mexico City’s air has much improved but pollution still remains a challenge. Based on topography and location, Mexico City still grapples with high air pollution days due to stagnant air. The bustling growth of Mexico City, just like in other cities around the world, means addressing air pollution is an ongoing challenge.


If you live in a city right now, you might be wondering; how can I protect myself, is there even anything I can do? I’m hooking you up with a few key recommended strategies, which I implement myself:

Check the AQI before heading out. Use your weather app, or PurpleAir.com for real-time air quality updates. On bad air quality days, wear a mask or consider changing your outdoor activities. N95 and KN95 masks are excellent at filtering out particulate pollution.

Advocate for cleaner air policies and support low-emission zones. Community tree-planting initiatives, and clean energy projects or policies could definitely use your time and attention right now. Get involved on the local level and see how you can support your community. 


Choosing alternate transportation options definitely helps! Walking, biking, or using public transportation is a great way to reduce traffic. This then reduces congestion and emissions. And depending on where you’re going, you might get there faster on public transportation anyway.

Addressing urban air pollution is always going to be an ongoing challenge, but it’s one we can tackle with awareness, policy changes, and personal choices. We need air to breathe, so this is something we need to pay attention to and take seriously for forever. But fear not! It’s not all bad news. Here in Brooklyn, NY, we often see an AQI of 20 or less, and I’ve personally seen a measured AQI of 0 on more than one occasion. Good, clean air exists, and you deserve to breathe it.


Let’s talk Myth vs. Fact – Indoor Air Quality Edition

Myth: I don’t need an air purifier unless I have allergies.
Fact: Air purifiers help with much more than allergies, they remove dust, pollen, pet dander, volatile organic compounds, and some even remove germs from the air. Good stuff all around, even for pets.

Myth: If my house smells clean, the air is clean.
Fact: Many cleaning products and air fresheners eliminate odors while releasing harmful chemicals in order to mask the smells theyre eliminating. This means you can have polluted indoor air that smells clean or has no smell at all. Mold and mildew, for example, often don’t have a scent but can be present inside a home in toxic amounts. Something to consider about scents is that particulate matter (an air pollution ingredient) and odor particles are two different sizes. You can successfully filter out the dangerous ingredients of cigarette smoke, for example, but the scent particles are much smaller and may still be noticed in the air.

Myth: Only old buildings have air quality issues.
Fact: While older buildings often have issues related to age and we often hear about plumbing and mold issues, we don’t discuss enough the dangers lurking in newer construction. Newer buildings often have far worse indoor air quality issues primarily due to volatile organic compounds from new carpets and flooring, furniture, paint, and much more. That fresh new building smell is a lungful of VOCs.


Thanks for tuning in, I hope you’ve been finding this information helpful! If so, please share with a friend. And if you’re looking to learn and chat more about air quality and air pollution, connect with me on BlueSky at MsCarmenScience. You can also check out our Facebook page, named exactly after this podcast. Have a question or comment? You can send us fanmail through Buzzsprout. Until next time, breathe easy and don’t forget….  we’re all in this together. This is Ms. Carmen signing off from Inhale, Exhale, an air quality podcast.