Residents living near Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles say rising air traffic is worsening health problems linked to jet fuel fumes, noise, and lead exposure.
Chris Bibona and Shane Dimapanat report for Capital & Main.
In short:
- A survey of 80 residents found that 65% believe Van Nuys Airport pollution caused or worsened their health conditions, including asthma, COPD, and cancer.
- The airport ranks as the second-largest lead emitter among California airports, with children in nearby Lake Balboa in the 90th percentile for lead exposure statewide.
- Despite public outcry and documented health risks, city officials have continued to approve airport expansions under pressure from federal regulators and the aviation industry.
Key quote:
“They don’t have the authority to tell a particular airport that you need to shut down because your emissions are too high or that you cannot operate because you don’t meet our emission standards, because those airports are outside their jurisdiction.”
— Yifang Zhu, professor, University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Health Sciences
Why this matters:
The quiet hum of private jets at airports like Van Nuys may sound like progress, but for nearby communities, that sound carries a different meaning: a growing environmental threat. These smaller, often under-regulated airports have become hubs for elite air travel, yet the pollution they generate doesn’t stay confined to the tarmac. Ultrafine particles from jet exhaust and lead from small aircraft gasoline drift into the neighborhoods beyond the runway, disproportionately affecting low-income families and communities of color. The problem is exacerbated by a fragmented regulatory system: the FAA governs flight paths, the EPA sets air standards, and local agencies try to protect residents with limited tools.
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