Key Events of NYC Environmental Health Governance

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2003 - NYC Smoke-Free Air Act

2002 NYC Smoke-Free Air Act (SFAA)

  • Smoking is prohibited in nearly all workplaces and indoor recreational venues in NYC, including indoor and outdoor restaurants.
  • The NYC Smoke-Free Air Act was designed to reduce the exposure of NYC residents to second hand smoke, a Class A carcinogen responsible for a variety of lung-related illnesses including lung cancer and asthma. Tobacco smoke has also been proven to worsen preexisting lung conditions.
  • The Smoke-Free Air Act was also intended to reduce the amount of tobacco smoke air pollution, which is a major source of toxic air contaminants (including carcinogens) and particulate matter.
  • Environmental tobacco smoke contains a very high content of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), the EPI indicator of air pollution.


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Boilers
Boilers


2007 - PlaNYC's Clean Heat Program Launches

NYC Clean Heat Homepage

  • The Clean Heat Program was aimed at reducing the usage of pollution heavy heating oils, as well as lowering the harmful sulfur content from heating oils that contribute to air pollution.
  • The Program also expanded natural gas supplies (a heating oil alternative) and local gas distribution.
  • Since its inception, over 2700 polluting buildings in NYC have phased out toxic heating oils, with another 2500 buildings working on conversions to cleaner natural gas alternatives.
  • Manhattan, Northern Queens, and the South Bronx have so far achieved the greatest improvements in air quality through conversion to natural gas for heating.
  • An estimated 800 deaths and 2000 hospital visits have been prevented since the launch of the Clean Heat Program.


Mayor Bill de Blasio. (Photo: Diana Robinson/NYC Mayor's Office)
Mayor Bill de Blasio. (Photo: Diana Robinson/NYC Mayor's Office)


April 2014 - Mayor Bill de Blasio Announces Sweeping Update to NYC's Air Pollution Control Code

  • This announcement marks the most significant revisions to the city's Air Pollution Control Code since 1975.
  • Emission standards will be updated and modernized in all 5 boroughs.
  • Due to the success of 2007's Clean Heat Program, the updates to the Air Pollution Control Code now focus on controlling smaller, localized sources of air pollution throughout the city.
  • These sources of air particulate matter include commercial char boilers (estimated to produce 1,400 tons of particulate matter annually), coal/wood-fire ovens, and fireplaces.