The Air We Breathe: A Conversation about Clean Air and a Healthy Future for Albany

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Building a Healthy & Just Albany Virtual Series

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Air pollution is any substances in the air that are hazardous.   Air pollution can be occur either outdoors or indoors.  Some air pollution occurs from natural sources (such as wildfires) but many sources are man-made.

Air pollution can have both short term and long term health effects.  In the short term, there can be increased visits to the emergency room and admission to the hospital, missed work and school, and respiratory diseases.

Over the long term, exposure to air pollution can increase the risk of lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, and lung disease.  It can cause be especially harmful to children, as well as pregnant women, potentially causing decreased growth in unborn babies.

Traffic can cause a variety of types of air pollution, including gases from vehicle exhaust, and also particles and dust.  These can be inhaled in to the lungs and cause a variety of health problems.  Air pollution can cause breathing problems such as emphysema, asthma, and bronchitis.

Diesel exhaust due to truck traffic at the port of Albany and around the interchange to the Dunn Memorial Bridge mean that those areas in Albany have especially high level sos air pollution.

In general, the I-787 corridor especially around the interchanges have high levels of exposure to traffic related air pollution.  There are also increased risks cancers associated with air toxin in Eastern Albany.  The Port of Albany is also an area with high levels air pollution.

There are very high rates of asthma in these same areas, as with as increased rate of heart disease.

I-787: Take it down? 

Department of Transportation Study and the Albany Riverfront Collaborative 

The Department of Transportation is studying the possibility of removing Interstate 787 and replacing it with ground-level city streets.  This plan would allow Albany residents to be able to access the riverfront and connect North and South Albany once again.

This project has a lot of potential to improve health in Eastern Albany, but how to do this in the best way is complicated.  There needs to be plans for how to move workers in to Albany in ways that help reduce air pollution, such as public transportation.  Transportation within the city of Albany also needs to be considered. 

For more information:

Ezra Prentice Homes

The Ezra Prentice Homes on South Pearl Street in Albany were built in the 1960’s to house people relocated from central Albany when the Empire State Plaza was constructed.  The housing development was built near the Port of Albany, major diesel railroad lines, and a waste water treatment plant.  This put the residents in an industrial area with high levels of pollution.  Ezra Prentice Homes is an Environmental Justice area.  Studies have shown high levels of air pollution, especially those related to transportation, in the complex One study showed that about one third of children and adults living in the complex have asthma, which is a much higher rate than people living in another Albany Housing Authority complex that is local further from the industrial areas, and three times as high as the county-wide average for adults (~11%).

Resources for Health Issues from Air Pollution

Asthma/Lung Specialists in Albany 

This list includes hospital-owned practices, who generally accept Medicare and Medicaid, as well as private practices, which may or may not accept certain insurances.  Check with the office or your insurance company about coverage.

Certified Allergy/Asthma Consultants (private)
8 Southwoods Boulevard,  (518) 434-1446

Albany Medical Center Pediatric Pulmonary Group
22 New Scotland Ave., (518) 262-6880

Albany Med Pulmonology & Critical Care
16 New Scotland Ave 2nd Floor, (518) 262-5196

Capital Pulmonology (Private)
319 S Manning Blvd Suite 116 , (518) 459-1800

St. Peter’s Pulmonary and Critical Care Services
5 Palisades Dr Ste 100, Albany, NY 12205
(518) 438-4496 

Primary Care in Albany

This list includes free or low-cost care options, or accept Medicare/Medicaid.  Call the offices for details.

Capital City Rescue Mission Free Medical Clinic
259 South Pearl Street, (518) 462-0459

Albany Health Center (Whitney Young)
920 Lark Dr., (518) 465-4771

Koinonia Primary Care
553 Clinton Avenue (518) 689-0282

Swinburne Health Center (Women and children)
526 Central Avenue, 518-465-4771

St. Peter’s Internal Medicine
63 Shaker Rd  Ste G02  (518) 449-5352

Outdoor Air Pollution

Sulfur dioxide comes from burning fossil fuels, such as oil and coal.  It  can irritate our lungs.

Nitrogen dioxide comes from vehicle engines and power generation sources.  People with asthma and COPD have increased risk of hospitalization after being exposed to this, and this is even worse for elderly people.

Carbon monoxide comes from vehicle exhaust and other sources.  It can increase the risks of asthma, pneumonia and bronchiectasis (damage to large airways).

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can come from natural sources but also from industry and agricultural sources.  This increases the risk of asthma and COPD

Ozone is created within chemicals in the air interact with each other. It can cause asthma and lung inflammation and even effect the immune system.

Particulate matter can occur in due to traffic, dust, and fluctuate in different areas and at different times of year.

Diesel exhaust is composed of many different types of toxins, including particulates, nitrous oxides, and carbon monoxide.  Diesel exhaust can increase blood pressure, increase inflammation in the lungs, and make people with asthma more sensitive to allergies or other air pollutants.  It can also effect blood vessels and increase risk of blood clots.

Indoor Air Pollutants

Smoke from indoor cooking or heating fires can contain variety of toxins and cause lung irritation as well as increased cancer risks.

Natural gas cooking stoves can increase the risk of asthma and also of carbon monoxide poisoning in enclosed spaces.

Smoking of cigarettes, marijuana, and even vaping can contribute to indoor air pollution, as the smoke and exhaled vape go in to the air.  Exposure to second hand smoke increases the risk of asthma in children and can be irritating to the lungs of people of all ages.

Off-gassing from furniture (adhesives can contain formaldehyde), carpet, cleaning products, air fresheners, personal care products, laundry detergent and dryer sheets can also add a host of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into indoor air.

Cumulative impacts

The longer people are exposed to air pollution and more pollutants they experience, the higher the risk that people will experience health problems from these exposures.  Many Black and Brown communities face multiple sources of pollution and toxic exposures due to structural racism’s impact on siting decisions for housing, redlining, industrial development and traffic corridors.