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I wouldn't count on it being true, and if it is true the asthma probably takes a long time to enter ones systems from years and years of exposure to whatever the waste Con Ed lets out, kind of like the correlation between mesopheleoma and asbestos exposure.
Not only is Astoria/Ditmars close to the Con Ed plant but its also close to La Guardia Airport which may add to the affect. Again I'm being very skeptical, its all just a theory.
It's funny you mentioned this, I heard a few weeks ago on the local news (Fox 5 NY) about researchers at Sloan-Kettering that are trying to prove that people living in New York are more prone to cancer than suburban or rural residents. The researchers claim that apparently the pollutants in the air contribute to development of cancer.
Another funny thing....I watch Fox 5 mostly everynight at 10 and haven't seen another story in this topic. I guess its just another health scare released by the media. Who knows...
I've read several articles that say Astoria has the worst air quality in the US, but I just simply can't believe this. If that's what bad air is like... then there's really no difference at all between that and good air!
analytical -Here's something you don't understand but would HOPE you think about. Smog - smelly crap in the air is bad but that's not necessarily what does all the harm. For example certain plutonium the size of a pinhead could kill thousands.
Many of the chemicals put out by plants are toxic in small amounts,and can not be detected by the human or even dog nose. The smelliest stuff may not even be harmful -stand next to a cow sometime, you may think that's the number one most polluted place. Its the chemicals mixed in all the soot etc that are doing the damage.
Having said that I agree its hard to believe Astoria is the worst in the US, but if its bad and people are suffering who cares if its the worst.
Last edited by Green Irish Eyes; 07-04-2009 at 02:34 PM..
Reason: The reference to gangs and killings is off topic. Seriously.
analytical -Here's something you don't understand but would HOPE you think about. Smog - smelly crap in the air is bad but that's not necessarily what does all the harm. For example certain plutonium the size of a pinhead could kill thousands.
Many of the chemicals put out by plants are toxic in small amounts,and can not be detected by the human or even dog nose. The smelliest stuff may not even be harmful -stand next to a cow sometime, you may think that's the number one most polluted place. Its the chemicals mixed in all the soot etc that are doing the damage.
Having said that I agree its hard to believe Astoria is the worst in the US, but if its bad and people are suffering who cares if its the worst.
Your last point is ultimately true in any situation, and I wish more people would think about that. I guess I expected a more noticeable effect, because I've spent most of my life in Astoria, and near that plant as well, and people don't seem to have anymore health problems than anyone else in the city. But you've certainly made a valid point.
Last edited by Green Irish Eyes; 07-04-2009 at 02:34 PM..
Reason: Edited quoted text
I did read there are more respiratory diseases in Astoria-- the reason I'm concerned is because in many ways I think Astoria would be an ideal part of NYC to live in.
Maybe the old con ed plant will eventually close- but there are 3 big point sources for polltion in Astoria.
The Con Ed plant will not close. The city needs those transformers. I'm sure that someone will develop it someday, just like how people chose to live in toxic Williamsburg.
L.A. is much worse than Astoria. The air is very "thick" over there. I can tell the difference, but I had Asthma when I was younger so I might be a bit more aware of this type of thing.
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