Noise Pollution. Man plugging his ears while plane flies over.

Health Harms

Air and noise pollution from SeaTac airplanes is causing harm to our communities

Now let’s talk about how the air and noise pollution harms our health. The information we are sharing comes from the King County Public Health Community Health & Airport Operations Related to Noise and Air Pollution Report. They gathered related studies and health data then looked at the health of people living less than a mile, within 1 to 5 miles, and within 5 to 10 miles of SeaTac Airport. Then they compared the health of residents to the rest of King County.

Map of King County indicating distance from SeaTac Airport

Health Impacts From Air and Noise Pollution

King County Public Health’s report found that air and noise pollution causes or is likely to cause a number of illnesses.

The Injustices

Why Unjust?

We estimate that SeaTac Airport flights impact over 419,000 residents living near the airport and under its flight paths.

64% people of color (POC) and 29% immigrants and refugees

Our communities are more vulnerable because they are in or near low income areas and lack access to healthcare.

Why are We more vulnerable?

Hospitalization Rates per 100,000

The King County Public Health report also looked at hospitalization rates. We think this is an undercount because many of our community members don’t have health care or can’t afford it.  You can see how high hospitalizations are, the closer you are to SeaTac Airport, when compared to King County hospitalizations.  The study looked at heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

 < 1 Mile from SeaTac1-5 Miles from SeaTac5-10 Miles from SeaTacRest of King County
Heart Disease877600520463
Stroke350270242213
Diabetes18013310371
Death809723649572
King County Public Health Community Health & Airport Operations Related to Noise and Air Pollution Report, Table 9, page 15
 < 1 Mile from SeaTac1-5 Miles from SeaTac5-10 Miles from SeaTacRest of King County
Heart Disease877600520463
Stroke350270242213
Diabetes18013310371
Death809723649572
King County Public Health Community Health & Airport Operations Related to Noise and Air Pollution Report, Table 9, page 15

Hospitalization from Heart Disease

Chart measuring hospitalizations from Heart Disease in King County airport communities

Hospitalization from Stroke

Chart measuring hospitalizations from Stroke in King County airport communities

Hospitalization from Diabetes

Chart measuring hospitalizations from Diabetes in King County airport communities

Death Rate

Chart measuring the death rate of King County airport communities

 Pregnancies within 10 miles of SeaTac Airport are 43% more likely
to result in premature births.

We also have higher rates of:

Learn More About the Harms: