Service Learning Project-Environmental Concerns

Lead poisoning is still a concern in Sunset Park. In 2001about 134 children were newly diagnosed with lead poisoning. Lead poisoning leads to neurologic, learning, and behavioral problems, and lowered intelligence. Lead paint is the main cause of lead poisoning in young children.
COPD and asthma are the other concerns. Sunset Park has a lot of industrial areas, is right next to the Gowanus Expressway and has a large number of buses and a bus depot. All these cars, passing by 24/7, pollute the air and make it harder to breathe. In NYC 6 out of a 1000 children have asthma and in comparison 3 out of 1000 children in Sunset Park have asthma. This condition leads to missed school days and hospitalization which in turn leads to lower school performance.
Water pollution is another environmental problem in this community. Its proximity to the Gowanus Canal is the reason. According to DOH “some city residents use the Gowanus Canal for canoeing, swimming, scuba diving, and some catch and eat fish and crabs from the canal.” Recreational use of the canal can result in exposure to canals chemical contaminants in outdoor air, surface water, and surface sediment. The DOH state that “Community members have several concerns in regard to this canal and believe contact with the water causes illnesses.”