Survey: Mission Is San Francisco's Unhealthiest Neighborhood

Heavy amounts of particulate matter make the SF air not healthy.

There's no running away from the bad health problems in San Francisco.

And in fact, running may make the prevalent lung issues worse.

Bad air from San Francisco's multiple major highways -- which are no further than 1.5 miles away, wherever you go -- make lung problems the worst problems for health in San Francisco, according to SF Weekly.

And the worst, least-healthy neighborhood?

The Mission District, according to a survey of American cities conducted by MIT.

San Francisco has better health than most places in California and in the country, according to the survey. But the obesity and diabetes issues plaguing other cities are in theory healable with some exercise.

Not so much the particulate matter in San Francisco's air.

Highway 101 runs from the Golden Gate Bridge through most of town, down Van Ness Avenue and into the southern part of town, the newspaper noted. Interstate 280 splits off, putting the Bayview in between two freeways -- but neighborhoods like Telegraph Hill and Russian Hill breathe the bad air as much as folks in downtown and in the Mission.

Heavy drinking also plays a part in San Franciscans' unhealthy feelings -- that Mission lifestyle, guys. It'll hurt ya.

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