Is your zip code dangerous to your health? Inside N.J.’s search for health care equity.

A host of social determinants can impact a resident’s health, creating inequity. For Paterson, the state’s third largest city, and an industrial city, air pollutants have a big impact, especially on residents who suffer from asthma, heart disease and diabetes, said state Sen. Nellie Pou.

“In life, a simple five-digit code should merely dictate postal routes, not determine the length and quality of one’s journey,” said Pou, president of the legislature’s National Hispanic Caucus. “Yet, these innocuous zip codes wield a staggering influence, casting shadows of inequality over our communities.”

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