Sunnyside, Woodside Lead Queens In Harmful Pollutants: Report

SUNNYSIDE, QUEENS — Western Queens has the most harmful pollutants in the borough, according to a new study.

Sunnyside and Woodside have the highest level of fine particles — which the city calls the most harmful urban air pollutant — in Queens and the second-highest level citywide, the city's health department found in its annual air quality survey.

The city looked at pollution levels in 2017, the most recent year of data, to put together its findings. It is not yet clear how air quality may have changed since then.

Fine particulate matter can cause cancer, worsen lung and heart disease and cause premature death, the health department says. The pollutant, also known as PM2.5, comes mainly from fuel burning in buildings and cars.

Still, New York City's air is the cleanest it's been in years, the data shows. Levels of four key pollutants have gone down since 2009, the first year the city monitored them, and 2017.

The four pollutants — fine particles, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide and black carbon — are highest in areas with more traffic and in industrial areas.

Read the health department's full report here.