A recent report highlights how New Jersey's rapid warehouse expansion is exacerbating air pollution, disproportionately affecting communities of color and low-income areas.
P. Kenneth Burns reports for WHYY.
In short:
- About 2.7 million New Jersey residents live within half a mile of large warehouses, which are mainly situated near communities of color and low-income areas.
- Diesel trucks, although only 11% of state vehicles, produce 56% of nitrogen oxides, leading to severe health issues such as asthma and cancer.
- Proposed legislation aims to enforce stricter regulations on warehouse construction and operation to mitigate pollution.
Key quote:
"In Hudson, Passaic, Essex and Bergen counties, we have found that NO2 is contributing to more than 13% of new childhood asthma diagnoses every year. NO2 across the state is contributing to more than 5,300 New childhood asthma cases every year."
— Sam Becker, report author
Why this matters:
New Jersey's rapid expansion of warehouses is stirring up more than just economic activity; it's also raising significant environmental and public health concerns. As trucks and heavy machinery frequent these massive distribution centers, they spew pollutants that degrade air quality. This surge in diesel exhaust and other emissions is particularly troubling for nearby residents, who are often already grappling with higher pollution levels due to systemic inequities.
