A 2021 collaborative study by Public Health Seattle & King County and the University of Washington examined the community health impacts of noise and air pollution from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) operations. The research highlighted that airport-area communities bear a disproportionate pollution burden, as they are home to a majority of King County's people of color — including 75% of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders and 73% of Black/African Americans in the county. The study reviewed existing health evidence, investigated ultrafine particle (UFP) pollution, and offered recommendations to address these environmental health disparities.Open full document
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A presentation by Public Health Seattle and King County and University of Washington researchers examining community health effects of pollution related to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport operations. The presentation covers airport community health profiles, strength of evidence on health impacts, a UW School of Public Health study on ultrafine particles, and recommendations to address health issues. Data shows airport communities are home to disproportionately high percentages of King County’s people of color.