Port Richmond and Bridesburg Along I-95, Face Worse Air Pollution and Higher Asthma Rates Than Those Living Farther Away

Researchers from urban planning and environmental health fields analyzed 766 census tracts across nine counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in 2025, combining data from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, U.S. Census Bureau, CDC, EPA, and historical redlining maps. The top five tracts for adult asthma diagnoses were Franklinville, Stanton, Strawberry Mansion in North Philadelphia, Bartram Village in southwest Philadelphia, and West Chester University in Chester County. Neighborhoods with more Black residents and adults without high school diplomas had higher asthma rates, even after controlling for pollution levels.

The American Lung Association's 2026 State of the Air report gave Greater Philadelphia straight Fs for air pollution, ranking it 17th worst among over 200 U.S. metro areas for year-round particle pollution. The authors argue that zoning and infrastructure decisions, including industrial zoning and highway routing, shape pollution exposure, while green spaces reduce it. They also found that partially redlined areas had higher asthma rates than mostly redlined or favorably graded areas, based on Home Owners' Loan Corporation maps available for four counties. Unfavorable.