Impact of Poor Air Quality on Asthma Rates in the Bronx

The worsening quality of air is a globally occurring phenomenon, but densely populated areas, in which there are high rates of vehicular congestion and industrial byproduct, are some of the hardest-hit areas. For this project we decided to research the quality of air in New York City and explore if there was a correlation between levels of air quality and levels of asthma, a respiratory condition both caused and aggravated by poor air quality. Through our research we found that areas with higher rates of asthma among adults in NYC also had some of the highest concentrations of PM2.5 (a fine particulate matter we used to define the quality of air). Furthermore, we found that hospitalizations for pre-existing conditions, like asthma, disproportionately affect communities of color, giving a partial explanation to why the ongoing pandemic is disproportionately affecting people of color in the United States. This project was completed by Julianna Meyer, Jossie Rivera, Jason Songco and Camille Wilson.