Bronx Public School System Case Study

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School-aged children in the Bronx may be negatively impacted by exposure to particulate matter, exacerbating the vulnerability of those children living with health complications. A solution to this issue would be to increase the quality of HVAC systems in the Bronx Public School system. The Bronx borough of New York City is home to almost 1.5 million people who are disproportionately exposed to air pollutants, specifically particulate matter. The Bronx is home to 455 public schools, which serve 87% of all K-12 students residing in the Bronx. Exposure to particulate matter, and its effects on children, are exacerbated by the inequitable, historical, and racially segregated roots of the Bronx and its geographical location. Environmental crises have become more frequent as the effects …show more content…
Living in a modern society also means spending large portions of time indoors. The Bronx is disproportionately affected by racial injustices; in NYC Asthma Disparities, a considerable number of Bronx neighborhoods are over two-thirds BIPOC residents, and four out of the seven Bronx neighborhoods have over 30% of their population living below the federal poverty level. These conditions harbor inadequate safe and healthy living spaces for many Bronx residents; therefore, they are exposed to environmental stressors much more than those living outside of the Bronx. Environmental triggers can increase the severity of suffering and vulnerability in these communities due to environmental injustices, neighborhood-level social stressors, and inequitable health care systems. Young children are notably vulnerable to environmental exposure because they breathe higher volumes of air in comparison to adults; additionally, their lower body weight and developing immune system make them an easy target for PM-related illnesses or an increase in