Full Citation

Title: Enduring rust: the persistence of low-tech pollution amidst New York’s high-tech revolution

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2020

ISBN:

ISSN: 2325-1042

DOI: 10.1080/23251042.2019.1690728

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: In the early 2000s, New York’s political leadership began investing in ‘smart growth,’ an economic policy that promotes innovative, sustainable high technology research and manufacturing. Leaving behind its industrial past, the state transitioned from a ‘rustbelt’ to a ‘brainbelt,’ helping to save its economy from the worst effects of deindustrialization. However, the transition from rustbelt to brainbelt may not be as smooth or clean as it seems. This study maps the distribution of industrial pollution in New York State from 2000 to 2015, with special reference to Tech Valley, the geographic hub of the state’s investment in high technology job growth. I find that high technology has not offset the worst aspects of low technology, particularly the pollution that characterized the rustbelt era. Challenging the industry’s claims of environmental sustainability, toxic emissions were found to be higher within Tech Valley than the rest of the state. However, the increased rates of pollution may also be decreasing environmental inequality as toxic exposure is shifting onto more privileged communities in New York State.

Url: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23251042.2019.1690728

Url: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23251042.2019.1690728

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Thomas, Tanesha A.

Periodical (Full): Environmental Sociology

Issue: 2

Volume: 6

Pages: 207-218

Data Collections: IPUMS USA, IPUMS NHGIS

Topics: Natural Resource Management, Other

Countries: United States