Upper Green Side

According to a new air quality study released last week, the Upper East Side has some of the most polluted air in the entire City. The City’s first Community Air Survey (pdf) used highly technical sensors to monitor the level of four types of air pollutants (fine particles, Nitrogen Oxides, Elemental Carbon, Sulfur Dioxide, and Ozone, which have been linked to a variety of health problems such as asthma) in over 150 locations throughout the five boroughs. Download the full report here (pdf).

Though many people may be shocked (and even a bit appalled) to hear that the once-perceived rarefied air of the UES is in fact some of the City’s dirtiest, the news should sadly come as no surprise. The neighborhood has long been home to a high concentration of older buildings, many of which still house old boilers and furnaces that burn a heavy grade of heating oil. In fact, the study showed that Community District 8, whose boundaries reach from Fifth Avenue to Roosevelt Island and from 59th to 96th Street, had significantly high levels of sulfur dioxide, a byproduct of burning heavy heating oil. In addition, crushing congestion from two nearby bridges and regular street traffic of taxis, cars, and trucks do more than their fair share to contribute particulate matter and other toxins to the district’s poor air quality.

The survey’s findings, released coincidentally with the holding of the Copenhagen climate talks, should serve as a wake up call to City leaders and residents that now is the time to act. We cannot continue to rely on heavy oil to heat our homes and car-centric transportation planning that cause health problems in the short term while contributing to global warming in the long-term.

Upper Green Side is currently working together with local community groups and stakeholders to help clean our polluted air. We will be rolling out some new programming and events in 2010 focused on greater building efficiency and the steps people can take to make an immediate difference. There will also be opportunities for volunteers to directly assist in our advocacy efforts. Stay tuned as we work together to clean our air and make our neighborhood a healthier, safer place to live!