Baldwin Locomotive Works
Philadelphia’s air quality (amazingly about the national average) is about equal to that of Montreal and New Orleans, and is discernibly better than that of New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and yes, St. Louis, according to a World Health Organization study released last week. (Of the MLB playoff cities, the air quality is best in Tampa Bay and Arlington, followed by Philadelphia.)
It might even improve if, as predicted, Sunoco and Conono-Phillips oil refineries on the Delaware close.
Clean air is, of course, deindustrialization’s pay-off, and thus a kind of double-edged sword. Even European cities that have preserved certain manufacturing sectors, have about twice amount of particulates in the air as Philadelphia (yes, it’s true.) The most polluted cities in the world are in Pakistan, Iran, India, and Mongolia. Chinese cities are 5-10 times more polluted than Philadelphia.
About the author
Nathaniel Popkin is co-founder of the Hidden City Daily and author of three books of non-fiction, including Philadelphia: Finding the Hidden City (with Peter Woodall and Joseph E.B. Elliott) and two novels, Everything is Borrowed and Lion and Leopard. He is co-editor of Who Will Speak for America, an anthology forthcoming in June 2018, and the senior writer of the film documentary "Philadelphia: The Great Experiment."
Leave a Reply
Recent Posts
As Philadelphia Celebrates Its Growth, A Call To Be More Inclusive
Last week Pew Charitable Trusts released its 2019 State of the City report. The study shows a stark divide between Philadelphia's economic growth and disparity. Kimberly Haas has the details > more
Historic Designation Committee To Consider West Philly District, Institute For Colored Youth, And Churches
Starr Herr-Cardillo has the details on local register nominations up for consideration at the April meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission's Designation Committee > more
For Callowhill Neighborhood, Whose BIDing Will Be Done?
Longtime Callowhill residents and real estate developers clash over the creation of a Business Improvement District as the neighborhood begins to transition. Kimberly Haas has the story > more
Public Space Rises From The Stacks At Parkway Central
Michael Bixler has this preview of the three new public spaces opening on Friday at the Free Library of Philadelphia's Parkway Central branch > more
Photo Collection Project Takes A Walk In Ed Bacon’s Shoes
Fisher Fine Arts Library at Penn is digitalizing a treasure trove of slides from the personal collection of Philly city planner extraordinaire Edmund Bacon and they need your help. Michael Bixler has the details > more
Riding The Rails With Philly’s “Little Engine That Could”
Harry K. takes us on a field trip to the Franklin Institute where a 181-year-old locomotive has captivated railroad history buffs since 1933 > more
© 2011-2016 Hidden City Philadelphia |