Opening a Large Delivery Service Warehouse in the South Bronx: Impacts on Traffic, Air Pollution, and Noise

Jenni A. Shearston, A. Mychal Johnson, Arce Domingo-Relloso, Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou, Diana Hernández, James Ross, Steven N. Chillrud and Markus Hilpert
Additional contact information
Jenni A. Shearston: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
A. Mychal Johnson: South Bronx Unite (Co-Founder), New York, NY 10454, USA
Arce Domingo-Relloso: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
Diana Hernández: Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
James Ross: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964, USA
Steven N. Chillrud: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964, USA
Markus Hilpert: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-19

Abstract: Mott Haven, a low-income neighborhood in New York City, suffers from increased air pollution and accommodates several industrial facilities and interstates. In 2018, a large delivery service warehouse opened. Our objectives are to characterize black carbon (BC), fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), and noise in the community; model changes in traffic due to the facility opening; and estimate associated BC and noise changes. BC, PM 2.5 , and noise were measured at eight sites pre-opening, and traffic counted continuously at two sites (June 2017–May 2019). An interrupted time series model was used to determine facility-related changes in traffic. Post-opening changes in traffic-related BC/noise were estimated from regressions of BC/noise with traffic flow. Mean (SD) pre-warehouse measures of BC and PM 2.5 were 1.33 µg/m 3 (0.41) and 7.88 µg/m 3 (1.24), respectively. At four sites, equivalent sound levels exceeded the EPA’s recommended 70 dBA limit. After the warehouse opening, traffic increased significantly, predominantly at night. At one site, the greatest change for trucks occurred 9PM-12AM: 31.7% (95%CI [23.4%, 40.6%]). Increased traffic translated into mean predicted increases of 0.003 µg/m 3 (BC) and 0.06 dBA (noise). Though small, they negate the substantial decrease the community seeks. Our findings can help communities and policymakers better understand impacts of traffic-intensive facilities.

Keywords: traffic related air pollution; traffic flow; black carbon; noise; environmental justice; natural experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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