Health Concerns in Brooklyn

Asthma

     The highest percentages of asthma prevalence is in the Northwestern part of Brooklyn. Percentage indicates cases per capita. Specifically, in the areas of 11201, 11205, 11215, 11217, 11231, and 11238, the number of people with reported asthma directly correlates with the toxic release in those areas. These areas have the most concentrated toxic release facilities and consequently have the highest asthma prevalance. The area with the highest percentage of its population with asthma is 11239, with a whopping 83%. Surprisingly, this area has neither toxic release facilities nor a high poverty rate. In fact, the median income per family in 11239 is $43,782/year which can be considered part of the middle class. There are many reasons why this "stray" area has so many people with asthma. Perhaps the asthma is caused by the factories in the areas surrounding 11239 and not directly in it. It's possible that an area with many factories would not have too many residents, so the toxic release is spread to neighboring zip codes. It's also very possible that there are other factors contributing to asthma prevalence besides for economic status and toxic release in the air. Other environmental factors cause cancer that were not specifically investigated in this study. One also must take into account the fact that poorer people might not be reporting their asthma or even know they have it, due to the lack of health care and medical attention that unfortunately exists in their neighborhoods.

Data Sheet for Asthma Prevalence in Brooklyn (Excel format)

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Lead

     This map indicates the lead exposure cases for children below 19 years of age. Percentage indicates cases per capita. The highest percentage of lead exposure is found in Northern Kings County, which also contains a high level of toxic release. Areas exhibiting high lead exposure and toxic release are among the areas reporting the lowest median incomes. This leads to concern that low income areas have environments with high lead content and toxic release. These areas also have high levels of self reported asthma. Lead exposure is often caused by peeling paint and poor housing conditions. Lower income areas may not be subjected to the rigorous housing standards that high income areas are typically subjected to. Southern Kings County, a wealthier region, displayed less lead exposure. The data seems to indicate that higher income areas have removed the lead from their environment, possibly through costly renovations. Lower income areas may not have the financial means to do so. In addition lower income areas tend to have more toxic release caused by factories, industrial sites which may also add to the environmental lead concentration. The cases of lead exposure used for the map come from hospital admission data. Some children may have been misdiagnosed or not taken to hospitals at all. These factors for error generally occur more frequently in low income areas. This means that the total disparity in cases of lead exposure between poor and wealthy neighbourhoods is probably even greater than the map displays.

Data Sheet for Lead Exposure in Brooklyn (Excel format)

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Cancer

     Those areas in Brooklyn with the most toxic releases are actually the areas with the least amount of reported cancer cases. Perhaps, the types of cancer recorded, breast and lung cancer, are not caused by toxic releases but stem from other factors such as hereditary causes or a habit like smoking that proves to be detrimental to oneself. Interestingly enough, it is in the richer neighborhoods that there are more reported cancer cases, providing a sharp and surprising contrast with the poorer neighborhoods. However it is entirely possible that there are many cases of cancer in the poorer neighborhoods that are not reported. The data is taken from hospital admissions and if people have cancer but it goes unnoticed an untreated as a result of lack of proper healthcare it will not being recorded. Percentage indicates cases per capita. The data shows no correlation between the reported number of cancer cases and toxic waste or poverty.

Data Sheet for Cancer Diagnoses in Brooklyn (Excel format)

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