Study: Heavy traffic in Chinatown caused neighborhood's poor air quality

BOSTON — A new study found that the Chinatown neighborhood in Boston has the worst air quality in Massachusetts. The reason: excessive traffic.

"I cough all the time," said Chinatown resident Xin Xing Wu, speaking in Chinese. "And then sometimes I lose sleep."

The Union of Concerned Scientists says Chinatown is a prisoner of asphalt, surrounded on all sides and sliced down the middle by arteries going elsewhere.

"Our transportation system is outdated and inefficient, and it's also a dirty one," said Ken Kimmell of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The study finds ethnic groups bear the brunt of air pollution in Massachusetts when compared with Caucasians. Particulate exposure in Asian Americans is 36% higher than in whites, while African Americans have an exposure rate of 34% higher.

Latinos have a particulate exposure rate of 26% higher than Caucasians as well.

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"It's just heartbreaking standing here on this basketball court that kids from Chinatown use almost every single day knowing that when they're here exercising, trying to just be kids, we are subjecting them to the worst pollution in the state," said Michelle Wu of the Boston City Council.

That pollution can cause asthma, lung cancer, heart disease and death. Those illnesses come with a price tag.

The study estimates that breathing in air from passenger vehicles cost the health care system about $2 billion in Massachusetts – and that's not even counting the cost to the environment.

Research has uncovered an additional threat.

"There's a new bad actor on the agenda that we're concerned about that's called 'ultrafine particles,'" said Dr. Doug Brugge of the UConn School of Medicine.

When absorbed it's thought these particles inflame the cardiovascular system.

"Then it's harming you and it's harming your cardiovascular system and it's increasing your risk of heart attacks and strokes," Dr. Brugge said.

The roads, of course, aren't going anywhere. So clean-air advocates are calling for better access to public transportation, more zero-emission vehicles and housing that protects against air pollutants.

Cox Media Group