Helena Joyce
Buffalo, New York, previously a hub of industry and manufacturing, has been facing issues with air pollution. The city's economic history, environmental improvements, citizen activism, and lingering problems with ozone pollution all contribute to the complex dynamics of air quality in the region. While deindustrialization has improved air quality, it has also led to economic decline and persistent health issues for residents. People of color are disproportionately affected by air pollution, experiencing significantly higher exposure than white people, highlighting the racial justice dimensions of the environmental crisis. The air pollution in Buffalo is a result of various factors, and understanding these factors is crucial to addressing the issue and improving the respiratory health of the city's residents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 April 2025 |
| Time | 10:24 am |
| Air Quality Index (AQI) | 22 (Good) |
| Worst AQI in the last 24 hours | 48 (Good) at 7:09 pm, 11 April 2025 |
| Best AQI in the last 24 hours | 19 (Good) at 3:09 am |
| Ozone pollution | High |
| Carbon monoxide pollution | High |
| Nitrogen dioxide pollution | High |
| PM2.5 pollution | 4µg/m³ |
| PM10 pollution | 13µg/m³ |
| Temperature | 4°C |
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What You'll Learn
Buffalo's history as a hub of industry and manufacturing
Buffalo, New York, previously a hub of industry and manufacturing, has a rich history that epitomizes the late 20th-century Rust Belt experience of economic decline. The city's economic growth was initially spurred by its role as a transshipment hub for grain and other agricultural products, such as meat, whiskey, lumber, and tobacco, through the Erie Canal. Buffalo also became a center for manufacturing steel, automotive parts, and other iron products. The city's strategic location contributed to its thriving shipbuilding industry, which played a significant role in its economy from 1812 until its decline in the 1960s.
During World War II, Buffalo experienced a resurgence, becoming a major manufacturing center for steel, chemicals, aircraft, trucks, and ammunition. It was one of the most populous cities in the 1950s, and its economy relied heavily on manufacturing, with eighty percent of area jobs in this sector. The city also boasted over a dozen railway terminals and was the nation's second-largest rail center after Chicago.
However, the post-war rise of the automobile, suburbanization, deindustrialization, and the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, which bypassed Buffalo as a shipping route, all contributed to the city's loss of industry. The downsizing of steel mills, the relocation of companies, and the decline of railroad commerce further exacerbated these issues. By the 1970s, Buffalo experienced a significant population decline as people left in search of better opportunities, and the city's economic landscape shifted towards service-based industries.
Despite these challenges, Buffalo has adapted and diversified its economy. While some manufacturing remains, including metal, chemical, machinery, food production, and electronics, the city has also developed advanced manufacturing capabilities with a focus on research and development. Additionally, Buffalo has become a center for bioinformatics and human genome research, and its primary sectors now include healthcare, business services, retail, tourism, and logistics.
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Citizen activism
Buffalo, New York, has a history of industrial manufacturing, which has contributed to its air pollution issues. Citizen activism has played a crucial role in addressing these environmental concerns and pushing for improvements in air quality.
One notable example of citizen activism in Buffalo is the fight against Tonawanda Coke, which was shut down due to community efforts. Activists have also been studying the air quality around the Peace Bridge, a major border crossing between the United States and Canada, for decades. The Clean Air Coalition of WNY is another example of a citizen-led organization that works to improve air quality and drive necessary changes.
The removal of Buffalo's urban streetcar system in the 1950s, driven by automobile companies, had a significant impact on the city's air pollution. This decision contributed to higher reliance on cars, which led to increased ozone levels. Recognizing the racial justice dimensions of air pollution, activists have adopted the term ""environmental justice" to highlight the intersection of environmental issues with race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic disparities. People of color are disproportionately affected by air pollution and are often located near waste sites and power plants.
To address air pollution, citizen activists in Buffalo have employed various strategies. These include monitoring air quality, advocating for cleaner emissions, pushing for infrastructure changes to reduce congestion and idling vehicles, and engaging in educational initiatives to raise awareness about the environment. The Peace Bridge widening project, for instance, aimed to reduce idling cars and trucks, thereby improving air quality in the area.
While Buffalo has made strides in improving its air quality, the issue of ozone pollution persists. Citizen activism remains vital in holding powerful institutions accountable and driving further progress toward cleaner air in Buffalo.
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Intersection of air pollution with race and ethnicity
Buffalo, New York, previously a hub of industry and manufacturing, epitomises the late-20th-century Rust Belt experience of economic decline. As factories closed their doors, Buffalo experienced deindustrialisation, which improved air quality but also brought about an economic crisis. Despite this improvement, Buffalonians continue to experience lingering air pollution in the form of ozone pollution, as well as exposure to pollutants like benzene, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10).
The issue of air pollution in Buffalo intersects with race and ethnicity, as people of colour experience significantly higher levels of exposure to air pollution than white people. This disparity is recognised by activists who frame "environmental justice" as a racial justice issue, highlighting how environmental problems intersect with race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic disparities. The narrative of industrial corporate wealth, which has been accused of exacerbating and excusing the harms of air pollution, further contributes to this intersection.
The specific racial and ethnic groups impacted by air pollution in Buffalo are not explicitly mentioned in the sources. However, it is important to note that the intersection of air pollution with race and ethnicity is a broader phenomenon that is not unique to Buffalo. For example, studies have shown that racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States are disproportionately affected by air pollution, with communities of colour bearing a higher burden of pollution-related health risks and impacts.
The causes of this disparity are complex and multifaceted. One contributing factor is the historical redlining of minority neighbourhoods, which led to the concentration of industrial facilities and sources of pollution in these areas. Additionally, systemic racism and discriminatory policies have resulted in the disproportionate exposure of minority communities to traffic-related air pollution and the disproportionate siting of hazardous waste facilities near communities of colour.
To address the intersection of air pollution with race and ethnicity in Buffalo and beyond, a range of strategies can be employed. These may include the implementation of stronger environmental regulations, the promotion of community involvement and activism, the adoption of equitable land-use planning practices, and the enforcement of environmental justice laws that specifically address the disproportionate impacts of pollution on minority communities.
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Ozone pollution
Harvard Law School's Systemic Justice Project explores the enduring issue of ozone pollution in Buffalo and how it is exacerbated by corporate power and excused by narratives that justify pollution as an inevitable consequence of economic growth. The project also critiques how anti-pollution actions can inadvertently legitimise other forms of unrestrained pollution.
Buffalo's history as a hub of industry and manufacturing during the Rust Belt era has contributed to its air quality issues. While deindustrialisation improved air quality in the region, it was accompanied by economic decline. This complex dynamic illustrates the challenges faced by the city in balancing economic development and environmental sustainability.
Ozone (O3) is not directly emitted by human-made sources but forms in the air when other molecules, typically human-created pollutants, react with sunlight and heat. The sources of these predecessor pollutants are diverse, making it challenging to trace them to specific emitters. Ozone pollution has harmful effects on human health, even when it is not visible. It contributes to smog, which reduces visibility and causes eye irritation, throat pain, and respiratory issues. Additionally, ozone pollution has been linked to reproductive problems, developmental delays, cardiovascular disease, and potential early death.
According to the American Lung Association's 2024 "State of the Air" report, the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY metro area ranked 98th most polluted in the nation for ozone and experienced worsened ozone and particle pollution compared to the previous year. This report underscores the urgent need for stronger national limits on ozone pollution and highlights the impact of climate change in exacerbating air pollution.
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Benzene pollution
Benzene is a known carcinogen that is also linked to anaemia and a weakened immune system. Acute exposure to high levels of benzene can cause an altered mental state, accompanied by pain, loss of consciousness, and possibly immediate death. Benzene is a clear, colourless, volatile, highly flammable liquid with a distinctive odour. It evaporates rapidly at room temperature and is slightly soluble in water.
Benzene is not a "criteria" pollutant, but it is closely regulated by the EPA. It is produced when coal is turned into "coke," a fuel used in steel production. Equipment can scrub benzene from the air, but if controls are not used or are used incorrectly, benzene escapes into the atmosphere and endangers people nearby.
Tonawanda, a community on Buffalo's north border, is dotted with factories, including Tonawanda Coke. The level of benzene in Buffalo, New York, was measured at 5.09 μg/m3 between 1990 and 2003, higher than in other parts of New York State.
The use of fuels such as coal, wood, gas, kerosene, or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) for space heating and cooking leads to higher concentrations of benzene indoors. In the past, benzene was widely used as a solvent, mainly in industrial paints, paint removers, adhesives, degreasing agents, denatured alcohol, rubber cements, and arts and crafts supplies. While the imposition of lower occupational exposure limits has led to a reduction in these uses, benzene content may still be an issue in some parts of the world.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 12 April 2025, the Air Quality Index (AQI) level in Buffalo, New York, was 22, which is considered good.
Buffalo, previously a hub of industry and manufacturing, has experienced economic decline since the 1970s. Deindustrialization improved air quality, but pollution has not disappeared. Today, Buffalo continues to face issues with ozone pollution, alongside pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
Air pollution can irritate the eyes, nose, and respiratory system, and long-term exposure can aggravate heart and lung disease. People of color in Buffalo are exposed to higher levels of air pollution, and activists are now recognizing air pollution as a racial justice issue.
When air pollution levels are high, people can minimize their exposure by limiting time spent outdoors and engaging in indoor activities. Checking real-time air pollution data and following health advice based on current AQI levels can help residents take appropriate precautions.
