Environmental Injustice in East Boston

Environmental injustice is the idea that minorities and poor people are more likely to live in America’s most polluted areas. These people are more likely to live in areas with toxic waste sites, landfills, and congested highways.
East Boston is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts housing roughly 40,500 residents. East Boston has always been considered a place where immigrants can dwell. Today, most of the immigrants within East Boston are from various Latin American countries. In fact, 52.88% of East Boston’s population consists of Hispanics. The income per capita for the average East Boston resident is $19,814, which is 37.8% lower than the Boston average and 41.7% lower than the Massachusetts average. The poverty rate in East Boston is 19.5%, which is 153.5% higher than the Massachusetts poverty rate.
Sources of Pollution In East Boston
For generations, East Boston has welcomed immigrants from many backgrounds. East Boston is known as a melting pot within the city of Boston because of its many cultures. In the 1960’s, when the expansion of Logan airport began, East Boston mainly housed poor and middle class Italian families. Controversy stirred when Logan Airport’s expansion led to the removal of East Boston’s cherished park, Wood Island along with its neighboring community on Neptune Road. Families in this area were devastated by the destruction of their homes and complained about the noise produced by the air planes.
In addition to the noise, airplanes cause negative health effects on the people of East Boston. In May 2014, a study that was started 14 years ago was released regarding the negative correlation between health and Logan Airport. The article titled, “Lung Illnesses more likely near Logan Airport” states that “Children who live in neighborhoods bordering Logan International Airport are as much as four times more likely to wheeze, experience shortness of breath, and exhibit other signs of undiagnosed asthma compared with children who live farther away.” The article also confirms that “adults who have lived near the airport for three or more years are nearly twice as likely to experience chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than those living in communities with less exposure to air pollution from planes taking off and landing.”
Also, Clam Digging, a long-lived tradition and industry in East Boston has been destroyed by Logan Airport. Many of East Boston’s richest beaches have been taken over by Logan Airport. In addition, a jet-fuel spill of October 2010 was said to have wiped out half of Boston’s soft shell population.
East Boston Environmental Injustice
East Boston is almost completely surrounded by water. It is said to have the most beautiful views of the Boston Skyline. However, low income housing fills areas that could potentially be luxury condos. In addition to the health risks and annoyance of the airport, East Boston is surrounded by gas and oil tanks, congested highways and flood prone streets. Also, crime rates are significantly higher in East Boston than the rest of Boston. The estimated East Boston crime index is 30% higher than the Boston average.
Most immigrants, who account for over 50% of East Boston’s population, come to East Boston in search of jobs and cheap housing. Downtown Boston, which is a quick commute, provides endless opportunities for low-skilled jobs. East Boston accounts for 42% of the cities wholesale and transportation jobs and 55% of East Boston residents are employed by wholesale and transportation jobs. Most immigrants within East Boston barley speak English and do not have any power or wealth to change the environmental injustice in East Boston. They are focused on making a living and providing for their families.
Inevitably, East Boston residents breathe 126% more nitrogen dioxide than the average Boston resident and United States resident. Nitrogen dioxide has been proven to have negative consequences on the lungs, including reduced lung function and increased inflammation in the airways.
Positive Changes in East Boston
Despite the environmental injustice, East Boston is becoming a healthier place. Massachusetts Port Authority has built parks in order to compensate for those who live near Logan Airport. They built an award winning park called Piers Park where you can admire the Boston Skyline. In addition, they built Bremen Street Park which houses the East Boston YMCA, provides children with a play area and offers garden space to residents.

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