Enviromental Impact of BQE?
I am in the process of looking for a home in the Clinton Hill/ Fort Greene area. I’ve lived in the area for 8 years, but have been considering some listings within 1 block of the BQE. Most likely they are more affordable, given the proximity to the highway. What I am concerned about, is…
I am in the process of looking for a home in the Clinton Hill/ Fort Greene area. I’ve lived in the area for 8 years, but have been considering some listings within 1 block of the BQE. Most likely they are more affordable, given the proximity to the highway.
What I am concerned about, is the environmental impact of breathing in BQE exhaust/air all day in my home. Does anyone know where I could find records about the environmental impact there? I’m concerned with having small children there breathing the air, and rates of cancer and asthma among other things.
I have searched the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website but not found anything particular to this question. Also, are there any homeowners living close to the BQE who could share some advice or experience with me?
Thanks so much!
An amendment to my post from July: although I didn’t like living near the BQE personally, I know plenty of people who have absolutely no problem with it. So go for it! There are lots of folks happily and healthfully living on the many blocks near the BQE.
Or well maybe three cigs a day. Anyway, you get the picture.
As I’ve posted before, I lived a half block down from the BQE in Carroll Gardens, and got the black soot on the windowsills every week. Greasy and impossible to wash off. Noise also too loud in summer with windows open.
It’s got to be at least the equivalent of smoking a pack a day.
Particles in the air are associated with premature death by heart attack. I wouldn’t go near the place again.
This is why I don’t understand DUMBO, but I assume everyone there just never opens their windows.
And I agree, those blocks by the BQE are tempting, because they are cheap… but then again, there is also cheap stuff off Fulton near Nostrand in Bed Stuy, and that seems like a far, far better location.
Doesn’t seem to be much of a problem for all the multimillion dollar brownstones in Brooklyn Heights that sit right over the BQE.
I live a block from the BQE in Williamsburg. I second everyone who mentioned the layer of black soot on the windows. I use an air purifier and clean the filter weekly and don’t notice that much more crap then when I lived in Manhattan.
With the windows open you can hear the traffic, but at night it is kind of calming (sounds a little bit like the ocean)
I lived four blocks from the BQE in Carroll Gardens and you could hear the sound of traffic at all times, and if the windows were open there was always a film of fine black greasy dust. I wouldn’t do it.
As many others have said, the effects will be visible. I am in Dumbo and we have a layer of black dust on all the windows, screens, etc. I don’t notice it in my health but I believe it must have some sort of negative impact. Getting an air purifier and changing filters regularly is really all you can do.
The Department of Environmental Conservation has a network of air monitoring locations throughout the state. This is the most recent summary report for New York City:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29310.html
Basically, air in NYC is cleaner than it’s been for nearly a century, primarily thanks to cleaner fuels and improved vehicle emission controls.
A century ago homes were heated by coal, and transportation such as ferries and elevated trains were all fueled by coal. Fifty years ago cars burned leaded fuel. Twenty years ago low-sulfur diesel fuel was unheard of.
I’d be more worried about the noise.