Environmental Toxins: New York's Toxic Burden Shifts to Queens

New data recently made public by the federal government shows that the amount of toxin released into the air, water, and soil by New York City industry has increased over the last few years. Toxins are most concentrated in the air and largely come from along the East River waterfront in Queens. Queens is the location of New York City's three leading industrial polluters: KeySpan Energy Ravenswood Power Station, Astoria Generating Station, and the Charles Poletti Power Project.

City's Toxic Burden Shifts to Queens, Data Show

In 2005, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the three plants released 334 tons of toxins, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides mercury. The plants led to a 9.8% increase in industrial pollution. Michael Gianaris, a Queens assemblyman, says that Queens is "called asthma alley. It just so happens that you have probably 80% of the city's electricity being generated in this area. It's a health crisis for us." Environmental toxins have been linked to heart damage and lung damage.