EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Joel Schwartz
Puittsburgh’s air quality has greatly decreased within the last 50 years. With this decrease has resulted in negative impacts on the citizen’s health, due to the increase in air pollution. Joel Schwartz, an environmental epidemiology professor at the Harvard University sat down to talk with EnvironmentalDaily about the effects Pittsburgh has been seeing.
Q: Where have you been seeing the pollution?
JS: We (my team and I) have been noticing that the particles from the pollution have formed an almost haze-like appearance over the city. There seem to be higher concentrations of these particles in wealthier communities.
Q: Is Pittsburgh the only city you have noticed that has been experiencing this increase in air pollution?
JS: With today’s growing populations, many cities have been experiencing more air pollution due to the increasing number or cars on the road and the booming industries. However, the amount of air pollution particles is 50% higher in Pittsburgh than its not so far away neighbour, Boston.
Q: What are the effects on the citizens?
JS: Residents in Pittsburgh have become accustomed to this pollution, which has caused numerous impacts to their health. Heart attacks, strokes and even death are just a few health impacts that we have been noticing lately.
Q: Is your team the only public health team noticing the effects on the residents?
JS: Definitely not, almost every hospital has been seeing more air pollution caused cases every day. Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh has also noticed that the pollution has increased the likelihood of asthma as well as other respiratory diseases.
Q: What are the main causes of these health issues?
JS: The tiny particles produced from industrial and automobile gases or soot can be inhaled and absorbed by the human lungs, causing these respiratory issues. Pittsburgh is in an unfortunate position because the city is downwind from industrial and utility plants in Ohio, who is known for producing pollutants that get carried towards Pittsburgh.
Q: What is the city of Pittsburgh doing about the pollution?
JS: The city of Pittsburgh is hoping to form an action plan to reduce the air pollution by looking at alternative energy for pollution-producing industries.
Q: Some could argue that you are being bias when it comes to your concern about Pittsburgh’s pollution, do you agree?
JS: I know that there is pollution in almost every city around the world, I understand that. Of course I am being bias though, Pittsburgh is my home and my main concern is the pollution that is affecting it.
For more information about Pittsburgh's air pollution read here: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/environment/pittsburgh-summit-explores-health-effects-of-air-pollution-686578/