WASHINGTON HEIGHTS-INWOOD, NY — Uptown Manhattan is a neighborhood bounded on nearly all sides by highways, which presents health risks for students at local schools, a new report says.
Seven schools in Washington Heights and Inwood are located within at least 500 feet of a highway, truck route or other major road, according to a Localize.city report released this week. The proximity puts kids at a higher risk of health problems linked to long-term exposure to traffic pollution, such as impaired lung development and cancer, the home-search platform's report says.
The at-risk schools include both public schools and charters. Most are located near the Harlem River Drive, but some are near the Henry Hudson Parkway and the Trans-Manhattan Expressway that connects George Washington Bridge traffic to the Bronx.
Here's a list of the Uptown schools included in Localize.city's report:
In total, there are 244 schools in New York City that are threatened by pollutants from cars on major roadways.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found health risks linked to vehicular pollution, which could have academic consequences. Students who move to a school with more pollution from traffic saw a drop in test scores, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research study that Localize.city cited.
"Kids attend city schools 180 days a year, often running around at recess every day, breathing in the air — and potentially toxic fine particulate matter," Localize.city urban planner Liat Halpern said in a statement.
Click here to view the map of public schools near polluting highways.
Patch editor Noah Manskar contributed to this report.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Washington Heights, NY Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.