The hypothesis that simply living near a hazardous waste site increases risk of exposure to chemicals was tested. Using data from the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System, which provides information on hospitalized patients, plus information on the location and contents of every known hazardous waste site in New York, the rates of hospitalization for asthma (ICD-9 493), infectious respiratory disease (ICD-9 460-466, 480-487, and 490-491), and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (ICD-9 490-492 and 494-496) were determined among individuals who lived in (a) zip codes containing or abutting a hazardous waste site with persistent organic pollutants (POPs), (b) zip codes containing or abutting a hazardous waste site, but not one with POPs, and (c) zip codes that do not contain or abut an identified hazardous waste site. After adjustment for MHI, race, gender and urban or rural residence, there was a significantly elevated risk of asthma (rate ratio (RR) = 1.09), infectious respiratory disease (RR = 1.15), and COPD (RR = 1.19) in individuals living in a zip code with a POP waste site, and a significantly elevated risk of asthma (RR = 1.09), infectious respiratory disease (RR = 1.12), and COPD (RR = 1.13) associated with residence in a zip code containing a waste site, but not one with POPs, both relative to residence in a zip code without a waste site. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that simply living near a hazardous waste site increases risk of exposure to substances that contribute to respiratory disease.