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Page 4 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 27, 2026 Study: Air Pollution Linked to Poor Health Outcomes in Malden, Everett, East Boston Areas By Neil Zolot “E verett, Malden, Charlestown and East Boston are each burdened by poor health outcomes linked to air pollution compared to other communities in the region,” a February Air Quality in the Lower Mystic study cosponsored by the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) and the Cities of Malden, Everett, and Boston reads. “This burden disproportionately impacts at-risk and minoritized populations. Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in these communities, following cancer, and asthma rates are higher in Everett and Chelsea, meaning a higher percentage of adults have asthma than up to 90% of com8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Tuesdays & Wednesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s Scan & Follow Us on Facebook! munities statewide.” The three-year study, led by researchers from Tufts University, monitored air pollution produced by combustion from gas powered vehicles and planes, industry and wildfires, taking rush hours and weather and wind patterns into account over the course of the study. “Stationary sources, such as manufacturing facilities and power plants, can contribute to local emissions, while regional factors like wildfire smoke can degrade air quality from afar,” the study reads. “Despite the disproportionate exposure, long term data has not been collected systematically and made publicly available in the communities. Additionally, little is known about resident knowledge or what perceptions are of air pollution in different areas of their city. A community survey was developed to better understand community members’ perceptions of air quality.” There were also listening sessions with residents, followed by an hour-long webinar reporting results on Saturday, March 21. MyRWA Outreach and Media Manager Isaiah Johnson called the webinar “an opportunity to share information with the communities.” MyRWA Executive Director Patrick Herron hopes the webinar, which will be available to watch on the MyRWA website, will be www.810bargrille.com “a useful tool to memorialize the project.” The findings are called the CLEANAIR Project Report, an imperfect acronym for its name, “Community-led Improvement of Air Quality in the Lower Mystic: Study Report.” Logan Airport, major highways and the New England Produce Center in Everett and Chelsea were pinpointed as major sources of Transportation Related Air Pollution (TRAP), which Tufts Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor John Durant described as “ultra-fine particles that can get deep into your lungs.” Sources can be obvious things like engine emissions from cars and planes and fire smoke, but also non-tailpipe emissions from car brakes and tires that disintegrate slowly over time. Logan was found to be a major source of pollution, particularly in Everett 4.5 miles away, especially when the wind is blowing from the airport to the city, with Malden the next city along Route 99 North. “Where you have a big source, its impacts can spread to communities long downwind from it,” Tufts Civil and Environmental Engineer Neelakshi Hudda explained. Monitoring sites, chosen for their central location in communities and level of activity, included schools in Malden and Everett, which showed concentrations 2-3 times higher during drop off and pick up hours for regular school weeks compared to the same hours in vacation weeks, linking traffic to increased exposure to students. Concentrations were also higher during the school year than in summer. Pollution was also found to be higher during rush hours. In Malden monitoring at 350 Main Street detected local sources of pollutants, potentially due to a food production facility. In its concluding Recommendations and Action Guide, the study reads, “Several actions can be taken at the individual, community, municipal and policy level to reduce transportation related air pollution (TRAP).” It also recommends “community members advocate for and take action to achieve consistent air pollution levels at the lower end of the range in their city. We know these low measurements are possible under low traffic conditions.” More specifically the study recommends reducing the number of cars on roads, improving bike safety by making biking safer and more convenient, increasing green spaces to filter pollutants from the air and minimizing cars idling during drop off and pick up times at schools. “Reductions in traffic can have a measurable improvement on local air quality,” Hudda advised. Herron added that MyRWA will be represented at upcoming conferences on air pollution and air quality later this year, including one involving Chelsea based GreenRoots, and get involved in the legislative process. “We want to get involved in legislation that can reduce traffic,” he said. “Air pollution has a connection to public health. It’s about how we create a healthy environment.” Spring is Here! 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 67 Years in Business! n Roofing fng

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