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The Effects of Historical Residential Redlining on Temporal Trends of Traffic-Related Air Pollution Levels Measured Near New York City Schools

32 Pages Posted: 9 Mar 2022

See all articles by Kyung Hwa Hwa Jung

Kyung Hwa Hwa Jung

Columbia University - Division of Pediatric Pulmonology

Zachary Pitkowsky

Columbia University - Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (P&S)

Kira Argenio

Columbia University - Division of Pediatric Pulmonology

James W. Quinn

Columbia University - Department of Epidemiology

Jean-Marie Bruzzese

Columbia University - School of Nursing

Rachel L. Miller

Mount Sinai Health System - Division of Clinical Immunology

Steven N. Chillrud

Columbia University - Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Matthew Perzanowski

Columbia University - Department of Environmental Health Sciences

Jeanette A. Stingone

Columbia University - Department of Epidemiology

Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir

Columbia University - Division of Pediatric Pulmonology

More...

Abstract

Background: The historical practice of redlining based on racial demographics and perceived risk for mortgage investment has perpetuated racial and economic segregation, and health disparities. Interventions near schools where children spend large portions of the day, could impact large groups of children but schools are an often-overlooked environment for exposure. Despite a declining trend of ambient pollution in New York City (NYC) between 1998 and 2012, little is known about differences in air quality improvement near schools by historical redlining neighborhood status.

Methods: We examined temporal trends of annual average street-level concentrations of black carbon (BC), particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and nitric oxide (NO), within a 250-meter radius around NYC public schools between 2009-2018 (n=1,800 schools). Annual percent change (APC) in pollutant concentration was calculated. Models were further stratified by historical redlining and a multiplicative interaction term (year of monitoring×historical redlining) was used to assess effect modification.

Findings: Overall, there was a decreasing trend of BC (APC=-4.40%), PM2.5 (-3.92%), NO2 (-2.66%), and NO (-6.20%) during the 10-year period. A smaller reduction of BC, PM 2.5 and NO was observed in redlined neighborhoods (n=885), compared to others (n=915): BC (APC: -4.11% vs. -4.69%; Pinteraction <0.01), PM2.5 (-3.82% vs. -4.11%; Pinteraction <0.01), and NO (-5.73% vs -6.67%; Pinteraction <0.01). Temporal trends of NO2 did not differ by historical redlining (Pinteraction =0.74).

Interpretation: Despite significant reductions in annual average pollution concentrations across NYC, schools in historically redlined neighborhoods, compared to others, experienced smaller decrease in pollution, highlighting a potential ongoing ramification of the discriminatory practice.

Funding Information: This work was supported by NIH (K01HL140216, P30ES09089), the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – Amos Medical Faculty Development Award Program. The funding bodies were not involved in the design of the study and collection, analysis, interpretation of data or in the writing of the manuscript.

Declaration of Interests: None of the authors have financial relationships with a commercial entity that has an interest in the subject of this manuscript. The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethics Approval Statement: This study has been approved by Columbia University Human Subjects protocol AAAI0459. Informed consent to participate has been obtained from study participants or their legal guardian.

Keywords: School environment, temporal variations, traffic-related air pollutants, redlining, social vulnerability

Suggested Citation

Jung, Kyung Hwa Hwa and Pitkowsky, Zachary and Argenio, Kira and Quinn, James W. and Bruzzese, Jean-Marie and Miller, Rachel L. and Chillrud, Steven N. and Perzanowski, Matthew and Stingone, Jeanette A. and Lovinsky-Desir, Stephanie, The Effects of Historical Residential Redlining on Temporal Trends of Traffic-Related Air Pollution Levels Measured Near New York City Schools. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4053481 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4053481

Kyung Hwa Hwa Jung

Columbia University - Division of Pediatric Pulmonology ( email )

New York, NY
United States

Zachary Pitkowsky

Columbia University - Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (P&S) ( email )

630 West 168th Street
New York, NY 10032
United States

Kira Argenio

Columbia University - Division of Pediatric Pulmonology ( email )

New York, NY
United States

James W. Quinn

Columbia University - Department of Epidemiology ( email )

722 West 168th Street
New York, NY 10032
United States

Jean-Marie Bruzzese

Columbia University - School of Nursing ( email )

New York, NY
United States

Rachel L. Miller

Mount Sinai Health System - Division of Clinical Immunology ( email )

New York, NY
United States

Steven N. Chillrud

Columbia University - Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory ( email )

Palisades, NY
United States

Matthew Perzanowski

Columbia University - Department of Environmental Health Sciences ( email )

New York, NY
United States

Jeanette A. Stingone

Columbia University - Department of Epidemiology ( email )

722 West 168th Street
New York, NY 10032
United States

Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir (Contact Author)

Columbia University - Division of Pediatric Pulmonology ( email )

3959 Broadway, CHC-701
New York, NY
United States
212-305-5122 (Phone)
718-305-6103 (Fax)