Study highlights health benefits of air pollution and climate policy in Fresh York City

A modern study examines the links between Fresh York’s implementation of major air pollutant and climate policies and significant improvements in air quality from 1998 to 2021. It found the cumulative beneficial effect of these policies both across the city and among residents living in communities that were disproportionately affected by air pollution.

The study, conducted by environmental health researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, was published in a peer-reviewed journal Borders in public health.

Due to the known significant associations between study contaminants and many adverse health effects, there are significant implications for health benefits, particularly for children, who are particularly vulnerable to such exposures. The results support further changes in environmental and social policy to prevent the stern health impacts of air pollution from fossil fuel emissions.”

Frederica P. Perera, DrPH, PhD, senior author, director of the Translational Research Program at the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health (CCCEH), Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

The researchers used publicly available citywide air monitoring data for particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from 2009 to 2021 from the Fresh York City Community Air Survey (NYCCAS) database and CCCEH cohort data on building exposures residential on PM2. 5 and NO2 and personal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during pregnancy occurring in 1998–2016 and 1998–2021, respectively. They compared annual and overall citywide reductions in PM2.5 and NO2 emissions and reductions in PAH concentrations in cohort studies.

Co-authors include Kathleen Lau (first author), Jia Guo, Yuqi Miao, Kylie W. Riley, Shuang Wang, and Julie Herbstman of the Columbia Mailman School, and Zev Ross of Zev Ross Spatial Analysis.

The research was supported by the John and Wendy Neu Foundation and the Fresh York Community Trust.