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Air pollution impacts from warehousing in the United States uncovered with satellite data

Author

Listed:
  • Gaige Hunter Kerr

    (George Washington University)

  • Michelle Meyer

    (International Council on Clean Transportation)

  • Daniel L. Goldberg

    (George Washington University)

  • Joshua Miller

    (International Council on Clean Transportation)

  • Susan C. Anenberg

    (George Washington University)

Abstract

Regulators, environmental advocates, and community groups in the United States (U.S.) are concerned about air pollution associated with the proliferating e-commerce and warehousing industries. Nationwide datasets of warehouse locations, traffic, and satellite observations of the traffic-related pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2) provide a unique capability to evaluate the air quality and environmental equity impacts of these geographically-dispersed emission sources. Here, we show that the nearly 150,000 warehouses in the U.S. worsen local traffic-related air pollution with an average near-warehouse NO2 enhancement of nearly 20% and are disproportionately located in marginalized and minoritized communities. Near-warehouse truck traffic and NO2 significantly increase as warehouse density and the number of warehouse loading docks and parking spaces increase. Increased satellite-observed NO2 near warehouses underscores the need for indirect source rules, incentives for replacing old trucks, and corporate commitments towards electrification. Future ground-based monitoring campaigns may help track impacts of individual or small clusters of facilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Gaige Hunter Kerr & Michelle Meyer & Daniel L. Goldberg & Joshua Miller & Susan C. Anenberg, 2024. "Air pollution impacts from warehousing in the United States uncovered with satellite data," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-50000-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50000-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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