The Air Quality Near the Airport (Madison, Dane: appointed, apartment complex, attorney)

[Indi9]

When I move to Madison, more than likely I will be teaching at MATC and living on the east side. I have severe chemical sensitivities or type II allergies. So, I am wondering what the air quality is like near the airport. I would also like to know if Madison has a good selection of naturopathic or homeopathic health care providers. Here in NYC, I have been so grateful to have found a natural healer who specializes in chiropractology, nutrition, homeopathy, and applied kinesiology. Plus he is just a joy to work with. He thinks I will have no problem finding similar health care in Madison.

Any information on the air quality and on natural health care (even anecdotal or hearsay) would be helpful. Thanks, everyone. I already know pretty much the ups and downs of Madison in terms of the social issues often addressed in city-data. All the threads have been very helpful. But now it's time for me to get down to brass tacks, as they say.

[Indi9]

Wow, just googled the topic. Now I know why eight people have read my post but no one wants to go there. The article I found described the pollution situation and called the area closest to the airport "the airport ghetto." Enough said, right? So, what I will likely do is teach at MATC and at least one other college, and live closer to the downtown area. Willy Street is still calling my name.

Would still love some dialogue here. Don't be scared; I don't bite.

[Megan1967]

Hi there,

I don't think the airport ghetto comment is about the air quality, but the socio-economic status of the area. People don't realize how rough the Northside is. Everyone whines about Allied Drive (and funding goes into Allied Drive as a result), but it is as if the Northside is invisible. I'm not saying it is as bad as Allied Drive, but there is certainly economic need and I wouldn't stroll around the area where the Northport apartment complex is located, even during the day. I volunteer at a food pantry right by there and I always feel jumpy when I have to park a block from the door.

By the way, please don't be offended when people view, but don't respond to your posts. You mentioned being disappointed by this in a previous post and it sort of sounded like you were taking it personally. I read all the posts, but only respond to those which I think I can add something useful. So, it's not that I'm blowing you off when I view and don't respond, just no point in responding only to tell you I don't have any information.

[Indi9]

Hi Megan. Thanks for your response, and your earlier responses as well. I think I get worried when folks don't respond because I'm thinking that they may be thinking of me as an outsider and feeling the need to keep family secrets, so to speak. I will try not to take it personally.

The article I read did not go into detail, but they did imply what you are saying here. I have seen the same kind of situation in Louisiana, where the poorest of the poor are forced to live in the most toxic areas. Unfortunately, the article only discussed noise pollution. I am sure that would be an issue for anyone living close to the airport, but right now I am most concerned about air pollution--i.e. jet fuel, exhaust emissions, etc.. Gotta breathe...

[Megan1967]

I don't think that is something you have to worry about. Most people are from somewhere else here and I've never met anyone closed to new people.

[MidwesternBookWorm]

Indi9, while I live on the East side fairly near (couple of miles) the airport and less than half a mile from MATC, I do not have the kind of breathing issues that you evidently struggle with. Hence, I sought some input from a good friend (who I know through WisCon, as a matter of fact), who does have some expertise and personal experience on the topic. Her reply is as follows:

As you surmised, there are folks with asthma who say the Kipp part of town is bad. (Commercial @ Aberg used to be worse, but since Kraft shut down the kill floor, there's no more "money smell" at Oscar's.) Friend A and Friend B [names removed by MWBW for privacy's sake] live on the east side of the airport (on N Sherman) and they've never mentioned breathing trouble there (and they both have asthma). I know that the County Health Dept has done extensive air sampling around town, so I'd guess that would be a good contact for a prospective Madisonian.

Outdoor Air - Air Quality - Public Health - Madison & Dane County - City of Madison, Wisconsin

I do know that Madison's overall air quality has been degrading steadily. We've had at least 10 air-quality alerts this year--mostly yellow (lowest) but orange last week. Gov Doyle is trying to weasel out of it, but Southern Wisconsin (including Dane Co) is very close to being designated a "nonattainment zone" in re: Federal EPA air quality standards. (The good news: more mass transit money; industries have to do more mitigating factors. [It's that latter which Doyle is trying to avoid.] The bad news: the air quality.)

I know of some other folks with chem sensitivities in the CFS networks I'm in, but they all live out in the countryside.

That's the best I can offer, I fear, Indi9, but hope it gives you a start. My friend who commented is very active in the disability rights realm, and one of the two friends she mentions who live near the airport is a disability rights attorney, so I'd rate them as very good to excellent as sources for this kind of data, but again, not having personal experience myself, all I can do is pass it along.

Good luck, and I still look forward to seeing you at the Farmers' Market some fine Saturday soon!

[Indi9]

Thanks for the information, MWB. This does give me something to go on. I look forward to seeing you at the Farmer's Market and at WisCon one of these fine days.