Earth Day Report Shows Dramatic Drop In Toxins in New York City's Air

NEW YORK, NY — New York City's air is getting cleaner with dramatic declines in toxic gases, according to a report released by the health department.

The latest Community Air Survey (NYCCAS) results show that, between 2009 and 2015, levels of sulfur dioxide — a poison produced by burning fossil fuels — plummeted by 84 percent. Nitric oxide levels were down by 28 percent and nitrogen dioxide by 23 percent. Black carbon and particulate matter, such as dust and aerosols, were both down by 18 percent.

The drop was attributed to the city's efforts to phase out use of certain types of heating oil and convert to cleaner fuels.

The results, released a few days before Earth Day on April 22, were welcomed as a step toward Mayor Bill de Blasio's goal of achieving the cleanest air of any large U.S. city by 2030.

Daniel Zarrilli, senior director of climate policy and programs, said the results were in spite of the federal government’s "attempts to weaken critical environmental protection standards."

"Today, we are excited to announce that our air is the cleanest it has been since monitoring began," Zarrilli said. "Our OneNYC efforts to reduce emissions and improve air quality are working as we continue to build a more sustainable and equitable city."

But the survey shows that levels of pollutants are higher in areas of high traffic and building density as well as in industrial neighborhoods.

The city's health commissioner Mary Bassett said, "While we have made notable progress in recent years, this report also proves that air quality is often determined by the neighborhood we live in.

"We still have more work to do to ensure that all New Yorkers can breathe the same clean air."

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Photo credit: Kenny Louie via Flickr