Warehouses worsen local air pollution

Warehouses in the US worsen local air pollution, according to a new study. Using satellite data to study the air quality around nearly 150,000 warehouses, researchers found that nitrogen dioxide levels were 20% higher near warehouses, on average, compared to upwind locations mainly because of the trucks that frequent and idle at these facilities ( Nat. Commun. 2024, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50000-0 ). Because NO 2 is associated with negative effects like asthma, cardiovascular disease, and premature death, the increased pollution could significantly harm the health of the approximately 15 million people who live within 1 km of warehouses. Warehouse-related pollution also disproportionately affects Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latine and Native American people, who are more likely to live near the logistic hubs and in areas with a large number of these facilities. Areas with the most warehouses had 240% more Hispanic residents and 290% more Asian residents than the percentage of these groups