What's in the air that causes asthma in the Bronx? (1 of 3)
One in 4 children who live in the Bronx has asthma. Why are there such high asthma rates in the Bronx? Is it something in the air? What triggers asthma? What is the cost of living with asthma? The Center for Urban Pedagogy collaborated with The Bronx Museum of the Arts and three groups of high school students to examine asthma. To investigate, students interviewed medical professionals, community health workers, environmental justice advocates, and Bronx residents. They created an interactive digital app and three zines to share what they discovered.
One in 4 children who live in the Bronx has asthma. Why are there such high asthma rates in the Bronx? Is it something in the air? What triggers asthma? What is the cost of living with asthma?
The Center for Urban Pedagogy collaborated with The Bronx Museum of the Arts and three groups of high school students to examine asthma. To investigate, students interviewed medical professionals, community health workers, environmental justice advocates, and Bronx residents. They created an interactive digital app and three zines to share what they discovered.
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1 <strong>of</strong> 3
“The <strong>Bronx</strong>has <strong>asthma</strong>hospitalizationrates 21x greaterthan any o<strong>the</strong>rNYC community.”- Mychal Johnson,South <strong>Bronx</strong>Unite1 <strong>in</strong> 4 children <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><strong>Bronx</strong> has <strong>asthma</strong>.1
AIR is made up <strong>of</strong> amixture <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>visible gases,particles, and water.Some <strong>of</strong> those particles, called PARTICULATEMATTER, are dangerous because <strong>the</strong>y can stay<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>air</strong> longer (even up to a month!) and whenyou brea<strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>m <strong>in</strong>, <strong>the</strong>y can go deep <strong>in</strong>to yourlungs.2
Jerome AveE 161st StRiver AveGerard AveWalton AveGrand Concourse“Sometimes,it’s difficult tobrea<strong>the</strong>...”- Francisco,<strong>Bronx</strong> Resident“Airquality <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><strong>Bronx</strong> is f<strong>in</strong>e...”- Frank,<strong>Bronx</strong> Resident“It’s aconcern forme...”- Jamie,<strong>Bronx</strong> Resident3
The <strong>Bronx</strong> has major roadwaysand distribution centers, br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>gover 20,000 trucks <strong>in</strong> and out <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> borough on a daily basis.There are5 majorexpressways.Hunts Po<strong>in</strong>tProduceMarket is <strong>the</strong>largest producedistributor<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> world.The<strong>Bronx</strong>Museum!There are overa dozen wastetransfer stations.There are13 bridges.Diesel exhaust,emitted wheneng<strong>in</strong>es burn dieselfuel, conta<strong>in</strong>s morethan 40 toxic <strong>air</strong>contam<strong>in</strong>ants.People liv<strong>in</strong>g or work<strong>in</strong>g nearhighways, truck load<strong>in</strong>g andunload<strong>in</strong>g operations, or neardiesel equipment are exposed tohigher levels <strong>of</strong> diesel exhaust,lead<strong>in</strong>g to higher health risks.4
“We’reoverburdened,oversaturatedwith trafficalready.”- Mychal Johnson,South <strong>Bronx</strong> UniteMore DISTRIBUTION CENTERSare plann<strong>in</strong>g to move to <strong>the</strong> South<strong>Bronx</strong>. Items are transported <strong>in</strong>toa warehouse <strong>the</strong>n sent back out <strong>in</strong>trucks to residents across NYC. A lot<strong>of</strong> people are upset about it, becauseit means up to 1,000 more trucktrips com<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> and out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bronx</strong>every day.LARGE BUILDINGS &INDUSTRIAL CENTERScan also pollute <strong>the</strong> <strong>air</strong> byburn<strong>in</strong>g fuel oil for heat,which sends more toxicparticles <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> <strong>air</strong> than all<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city’s cars and truckscomb<strong>in</strong>ed. The <strong>Bronx</strong> andManhattan have <strong>the</strong> highestconcentration <strong>of</strong> older build<strong>in</strong>gsburn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> more toxic#4 and #6 fuel oil.5
TREES can improve <strong>air</strong>quality by provid<strong>in</strong>g shade,which can lower temperatures<strong>in</strong> cities. A lower temperaturemeans less ozone formation <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> <strong>air</strong>. Trees also absorb <strong>air</strong>pollutants <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong>ir leaves,improv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>air</strong> quality.CLEANER HEATINGFUELS such as #2 oil ornatural gas are available.A new city law requireseveryone to switch to one<strong>of</strong> those by 2030.6
CreditsCUPTeach<strong>in</strong>g Artist: L<strong>in</strong>dsay Ca<strong>the</strong>r<strong>in</strong>e HarrisProject Lead: Pema Dom<strong>in</strong>go-BarkerProject Support: Valeria Mogilevich,Jenn Anne WilliamsBxMATeach<strong>in</strong>g Artist Assistant: Denise PascalInteractive Media Specialist: Kamau PattonCurator <strong>of</strong> Education: Hatuey Ramos-Ferm<strong>in</strong>Packag<strong>in</strong>g Design: James DunphyStudents:Anthony Lizardo,Andrew Maldonado,Alyssa Otero, Giselle Ramirez,Nikolas Rivera, Christ<strong>in</strong>a Robles,Ta<strong>in</strong>a Rodriguez,Raldenys Tolent<strong>in</strong>o, Jal<strong>in</strong> TorresThanks to our <strong>in</strong>terviewee:Mychal JohnsonBe part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> decisions about<strong>in</strong>frastructure by attend<strong>in</strong>gcommunity board meet<strong>in</strong>gs andjo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g organizations work<strong>in</strong>g on<strong>the</strong>se issues, such as <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bronx</strong>Council for EnvironmentalQuality and South <strong>Bronx</strong> Unite.© <strong>the</strong> Center for Urban Pedagogy and The <strong>Bronx</strong> Museum <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Arts, 2015
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