Derrick is a 14-year-old boy who attends Public School 154 on East 1135^th street, across the street from the Major Deegan Expressway. He as well as many other children in upper Manhattan and the South Bronx suffer from asthma and unfortunately where they live only contributes to their symptoms. Derrick, as well as other asthmatic children, participated in a study conducted by NYU to explore the impact that air pollution has on their asthmatic symptoms. Derrick’s grandmother expressed that she never thought much about air pollution levels in their neighborhood until the study was conducted. This is a common conception of people living in New York City, and people living in major cities around the globe. Air pollution is invisible and deadly.

       The group of school children had pollutant measuring instruments attached to their backpacks which went with them everywhere, allowing the scientists to obtain readings from school, to the playground, to the store, to home, or anywhere else the students went. Students living in the South Bronx were twice as likely to attend school near a highway than other students in New York City. This as well as the fact that Bronx County exceeds the federal air quality standards for particulate air pollution, is finally bringing attention to this major issue that faces Bronx residents as well as residents all around the New York City.

       The results of the study showed that exhaust from vehicles had the worst effect on the children’s asthma. It also studied the proximity of highways to the schools and found that one-fifth of all students in the South Bronx go to school within two blocks of a major highway. Of the ten highest neighborhoods by asthma hospitalization rates throughout the five boroughs, five of the neighborhoods are located in the Bronx. Air pollution is quickly becoming a major crisis in New York City as well as major cities around the globe. This is why it is our job to take a stand against these excessive air pollution concentrations and fight for cleaner air. If we do not do this now we as well as our children will suffer greatly.

Anjali Bryan