Air quality in Rutgers University-Livingston Campus

What is the current level of air pollution in East Brunswick?

East Brunswick is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The suburban community is part of the New York City metropolitan area and is located on the banks of the Raritan River, directly next to the city of New Brunswick. According to a census conducted in 2010 the population of East Brunswick was 47,500 people.

During the middle of 2021, East Brunswick was experiencing a period of “Unhealthy” air with a US AQI reading of 162. This United States Air Quality Index number is calculated using the levels of six of the most commonly found air pollutants, namely, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and both sizes of particulate matter, being PM2.5 and PM10. It can be used as a standard when comparing air quality in other cities around the world. If data is unavailable for all 6 pollutants, a figure can still be calculated by using what data there is. The only record available in July 2021 was PM2.5 which was 76 µg/m³. This is a high level of almost eight times higher than the target level suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO) which is 10 µg/m³.

With the pollution at this high level, the given advice would be to stay indoors and close all doors and windows to prevent the ingress of more dirty air. An air purifier would be beneficial if one is available. Avoid exercising outside until the quality improves but if venturing outside is unavoidable, then wearing a good quality face mask is essential, preferably one that filters particles. The table that is published at the top of this page should help with that decision or download the AirVisual app for constant updates as to the state of the air.

Does the air quality vary much throughout the year in East Brunswick?

Looking back at the figures released on the IQAir site it can be seen that the poorest month of the year with regards to air quality was during November when the recorded figure was 10 µg/m³. This figure, even though it was the highest recorded throughout the year is the target figure as suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO). The month that returned the lowest reading and therefore the best air quality was May with a figure of 6 µg/m³. The remaining months of the year returned figures between 6 µg/m³ and 10 µg/m³. Historically, figures of air quality have been kept since 2017 when the noted figure was 8.6 µg/m³, which again, falls within the WHO target. This happened again in 2018 with 8.1 µg/m³ and in 2019 with 8.2 µg/m³.

A slight improvement was recorded in 2020 with a figure of 7.8 µg/m³. This figure is what could be expected because of the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 situation. Many vehicles were temporarily unused as their drivers were not required to work from the office, instead, they were furloughed and allowed to work from home. This had the effect of drastically reducing pollution within the city center. Many small factories and non-essential production units were also closed which again lead to an improvement in air quality.

Where does the air pollution come from in East Brunswick?

Vehicle emissions remain New Jersey’s largest source of air pollution. The State government has made recent efforts to reduce vehicle emissions, including offering new incentives for purchasing electric cars and building more electric car charging stations.

New Jersey continues to struggle with low-level ozone pollution, also called smog, which is formed when elements found in tailpipe emissions combine in the hot, sunny air.

Air pollution not only seriously affects the environment but is also damaging the health of people. This is especially true in cities where most of the polluting agents are concentrated and the population is more exposed to its effects. Not surprisingly, according to the World Health Organization, 1.3 million people die worldwide each year due to urban pollution.

The effects of traffic on health range from minor annoyances such as irritation to the eyes or nose, to respiratory or cardiovascular diseases of various kinds that reduce life expectancy. Likewise, the noise of urban traffic has consequences on our brain that cause discomfort and psychological alterations. Vehicles that use diesel as a source of fuel pollute four times more than gasoline-run vehicles because they emit much higher levels of nitrogen dioxide and particles that remain in the air.

Although the automotive industry has made progress in recent years in making vehicles that are more respectful of the environment, these better ones are insufficient. Today, the vast majority of passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles or buses are powered by fossil fuel combustion engines. In this process, they expel polluting gases and particles such as carbon dioxide and monoxide, nitrogen oxide or hydrocarbons. To all this must be added other particles caused by the wear of the brakes, tires or the clutch, the erosion of the asphalt, as well as the noise pollution generated by traffic.

Heavy duty vehicles play an important role in our daily lives. Trucks transport products from factory points to stores, collect our garbage and deliver our packages, while buses transport thousands of people in cities, every day. But the emissions from these vehicles also negatively affect public health and the environment.

Although they only represent 5 percent of all vehicles in the United States, they generate more than 25 percent of all vehicle emissions associated with global warming in the country, and a significant amount of air pollution. As more and more cargo is transported in the US each year, the challenge of controlling emissions from this sector will continue to grow. The rise of online shopping is the main contributor to the rise in the number of delivery vehicles in and around the cities.

New York State Environmental Protection Services recently issued an air quality alert, as happens whenever there are concentration rates of fine particles greater than 35 micrograms per cubic meter. A specialist from this service indicated that it is not uncommon for smoke from fires on the west coast to reach the east coast of the country, but they are generally high enough in the atmosphere and do not affect air quality. This time, however, the smoke was lower than usual.

What can be done to reduce pollution in East Brunswick?

Reducing pollution from heavy-duty vehicles is necessary to improve air quality and reduce emissions associated with global warming throughout the country. Although reducing emissions from fossil-fuel freight trucks is an important first step, electric buses and trucks offer a unique opportunity to eliminate pollution and further develop clean electricity from renewable sources and energy.

In the same way that electric cars are reducing pollution from passenger vehicles, buses and trucks powered by batteries or hydrogen can do the same in the commercial sector. In addition to not emitting air pollutants, electric buses and trucks produce very few emissions associated with global warming compared to vehicles that use fossil fuels. An electric bus using our current power grid is the lowest carbon option anywhere in the country.

Hydrogen and electric trucks and buses, especially public transportation buses, are already operating in several cities in the United States, and these fleets will continue to grow as new models are developed and prices become lower. A growing number of cities, including New York and Los Angeles, which have the nation's largest public bus fleets, have pledged to convert their entire fleets to zero-emission buses as soon as is financially viable.

New Jersey's electric power generation mix in 2020 was 2% coal, 42% natural gas, 50% nuclear and 6% renewables. A plan has been put forward to greatly increase the energy produced by wind power. A proposal has been submitted for a 2,400 MW installation. A goal has been set for New Jersey to be powered by 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.

What are the effects on human health from these main pollutants?

Pollution from transport vehicles is divided into primary and secondary pollution. Primary pollution is emitted directly into the atmosphere, while secondary pollution is the result of chemical reactions between pollutants. Fetuses, children, and people with chronic diseases are particularly susceptible to the effects of air pollution. Those who need to spend long periods outdoors are also susceptible.

The actual risk of adverse effects depends on your current health status, the pollutant type and concentration, and the length of exposure to the polluted air. Higher levels can have an immediate effect such as aggravating cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. It adds stress to the heart and lungs as they have to work harder to supply the body with the level of oxygen it needs to function.

Long-term exposure to polluted air can have permanent health effects such as the accelerated aging of the lungs, loss of capacity and therefore a decrease in lung functions. It can also shorten a person’s life expectancy.

Particulate Material/Matter (PM). High concentrations of particulate matter make up the soot-laden black smoke that is emitted by the exhaust of cars, especially diesel ones. These microscopic particles can get into the lungs, aggravating breathing problems and putting the immune system at risk. Particulate matter can be a primary pollutant or a secondary pollutant from hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These pollutants react with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight to form ground-level ozone, the main ingredient in smog. Although ozone in the upper layers of the atmosphere protects us from ultraviolet rays, at ground level this gas irritates the respiratory system, causing coughing, suffocation, and reduced lung capacity. VOCs emitted by cars, trucks, and buses, such as benzene, acetaldehyde, and 1, 3-butadiene, are linked to different types of cancer.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx). These pollutants create ground-level ozone and particulate matter (secondary). They are also dangerous as a primary pollutant. Nitrogen oxide can cause lung irritation and weaken the body's defenses against respiratory infections such as pneumonia and flu.

Carbon monoxide (CO). This dangerous colorless and odorless toxic gas is formed from the combustion of gasoline. When inhaled, carbon monoxide blocks oxygen from the brain, heart, and other vital organs. Carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells, and its impact on health depends on the length of time the body is exposed to it and the concentration inhaled. The average person feels headache, dizziness and fatigue when inhaling low levels of carbon monoxide. When inhaling high concentrations, it can cause blurred vision, loss of coordination and even death.

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂). Power plants and cars emit this gas when they burn fuels that contain sulfur, especially coal and diesel. Sulfur dioxide reacts in the atmosphere to form tiny particles that can be inhaled and that are especially dangerous for children and asthmatics. Sulfur dioxide can irritate the eyes and nose, and inhalation of sulfur dioxide can cause the trachea to contract.

Ozone (O₃) is a colorless and odorless gas and is a variant of oxygen that has three atoms instead of two. When ozone accumulates in the lower layers of the atmosphere, even more so if it is at ground level, it is considered a pollutant, since it not only damages health but is capable of producing the corrosion of buildings and rocks. Heat, sun, and pollution from industry and traffic are the most important factors that contribute to increasing the formation of ozone in the air you breathe. That is why in summer, especially in polluted cities and in places where it is very hot and windy, ozone can reach levels that are dangerous to human health.