Air Pollution in Niagara County is 80% Higher Than Other Counties in the Area

By Nicole Leverentz

Niagara County residents are being exposed to negative environmental air pollution everyday. Based on the amount of bad air quality days the air pollution is 80% higher in Niagara County compared to others in the state. The Industrial, manufacturing, chemical, metal facilities and pollution from high volume traffic contribute to this by releasing toxic emissions into the air.

Niagara county is home to lots of industrial plants and they have to get rid of waste one way or another. A popular form of releasing waste is through air emissions. Some of the emissions are aniline and chlorine but the most prominent air pollutant is the carcinogen Ortho-Toluidine (OT) from the Goodyear Tire Company plant in Niagara Falls. When these chemicals are released into the air it creates elevated health risks including potential cancer risks, mental and neurological impact and increase in visits to the ER due to asthma. The most at risk population is children, elderly, pregnant women and those with preexisting cardiovascular issues.

Top air pollutant companies include GoodYear Tire Company, Somerset Operating CO., Globe manufacturing INC. and DuPoint in Niagara Falls.

All of this pollution also affects the environment. It degrades the ozone, which can cause an increase in skin cancer, cataracts and immune deficiency disorders. According to john hopkins medicine “Ozone can accumulate at the ground level, where it is called smog.” The pollution contaminates local soil and water and harms the ecosystem. Crops are affected by reducing growth, which also affects the wildlife by reducing food sources.

Niagara County is addressing this crisis with CAPP, BUffalo-NIagaria comprehensive climate plan. This introduces 10 big actions to reduce greenhouse emissions over the next 25 years. This organization focuses on 65% of local emissions such as transportation, residential energy and commercial energy.
As of January 2025, according to the DEC, they had entered an order of consent with Goodyear Tire Company that requires the installation of state of the art pollution control technology. Along with this order they were fined and were ordered to submit plans for a new permit with interim controls. They were also asked to give a stack test and air quality dispersion modeling after the installation of the permanent technology to accurately measure the release of the carcinogens.

AS of April, 2025 the INterm controls were installed and a final deadline for the permanent technology is expected late 2026

Some ways the community can help with the air quality is by limiting car usage by means of car pooling or biking, reducing lawn equipment use, minimizing the use of wood stoves/ burning trash or leaves in the yard.

Some ways you can protect yourself on bad air quality days are, staying indoors with closed doors and windows, using air filters and recirculating air from indoors. Limit the time spent outdoors and limit lighting of candles/ fireplaces. Another way to help is to shower and change clothes after being outdoors to help remove bad particles, said Airnow.