Articles by Tyler Haughn

Somerville residents are fighting to address pollution in their city. Interstate 93 weaves throughout east Somerville, leaving behind a trail of air and noise pollution people living nearby must deal with. This fight against pollution is being led by Somerville resident and local advocate Ellin Reisner.

Most areas located along Interstate 93 in Somerville are defined as Environmental Justice communities. This is why researchers and advocates are leading efforts to install HEPA air purifiers to protect the city’s most vulnerable residents.

Somerville is demanding that the state fulfill its past promises by building noise barriers to protect the city’s most vulnerable residents from air and noise pollution along Interstate 93. This push for noise barriers is being spearheaded by a group of community stakeholders, researchers and elected officials.

Air pollution is distributed unevenly throughout Boston and its surrounding areas. Exposure to pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter has increased in predominantly Black and Hispanic communities while reducing in other parts of Massachusetts.