A Breath of Fresh Air: Policies for Comprehensive Asthma Mitigation in New York State

The history of environmental injustice in the U.S. is well documented and has direct correlations with asthma and other respiratory conditions.

The American Lung Association’s 2021 State of the Air report finds that over 40 percent of Americans live in places with unhealthy air quality, and people of color are over three times more likely to be exposed to polluted air than their white counterparts. The 22nd edition of this report series also found evidence that communities of color, and especially Black communities, as well as people with low incomes, are more at risk of harm and premature death due to air pollution exposure. What’s more, 2.3 million children and 9.2 million adults with asthma were found to live in counties that received an F for at least one of the two most prevalent and hazardous air pollutants that the report assessed: ozone and fine particulate matter. Poor air quality can worsen pre-existing health conditions and foster new ones as well. Even short-term exposure to air pollution is linked to cardiovascular disease and asthma. In a country where ZIP code can affect your health more than your genetic code, people living in poorer neighborhoods or neighborhoods with higher concentrations of non-white individuals can find themselves exposed to otherwise avoidable health risks like asthma. 

Our analysis shows that voters are aware of these issues and their effects on frontline communities, and are consequently demanding that action be taken to combat air pollution.