Brian Barton
A growing body of evidence suggests that air pollution in the United States disproportionately affects people of colour and low-income communities. Studies have found that ethnic minorities in the US live and work in areas of poorer air quality than white people, with higher exposure to harmful pollutants such as PM2.5, which can cause serious health issues including lung and heart problems, and even death. This disparity is thought to be driven by factors such as systemic racism, housing policy, and income, with racial-ethnic exposure disparities persisting even as overall exposure to air pollution decreases.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Racial and ethnic minorities exposed to higher levels of air pollution | Hispanics and Asians, but especially Blacks, have a higher risk of premature death from particle pollution than whites. |
| People of colour exposed to higher levels of air pollution | People of colour breathe more particulate air pollution on average, a finding that holds across income levels and regions of the US. |
| Higher risk of health issues | Communities of colour endure higher rates of pediatric asthma and a higher risk of dying prematurely from exposure to pollutants. |
| Redlining | Urban neighbourhoods that were redlined by federal officials in the 1930s tended to have higher levels of harmful air pollution eight decades later, contributing to today's inequalities. |
| Housing market dynamics | Pollution sources tend to be located near disadvantaged communities, increasing exposure to harmful pollutants. |
| Class bias | Lower-income groups are exposed to higher levels of air pollution and are at higher risk of premature death from exposure to PM2.5 air pollution. |
| Systemic racism | Racial-ethnic exposure disparities continue to persist due to a legacy of housing policy and other factors, even with a decrease in overall exposure. |
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What You'll Learn
- Ethnic minorities in the US are exposed to higher levels of dangerous fine particulate air pollution
- People of colour are disproportionately affected by air pollution from multiple source types
- Minorities face higher exposure to pollutants and experience greater responses to such pollution
- Communities of colour endure higher rates of pediatric asthma and premature death from pollutants
- Racial-ethnic exposure disparities continue to persist due to housing policy and other factors
Ethnic minorities in the US are exposed to higher levels of dangerous fine particulate air pollution
The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health conducted a study in collaboration with the Environmental Systems Research Institute, analyzing 17 years of demographic data and fine particulate pollution data from across the US. The study found stark disparities in air pollution exposure among racial/ethnic and income groups, with ethnic minorities and low-income populations bearing the brunt of dangerous fine particulate pollution.
Additionally, the EPA's review of the research on the health effects of particle pollution concluded that non-white populations, particularly Blacks, faced a higher risk from particle pollution. This risk is not solely driven by income, as higher-income Blacks still face a greater risk than lower-income whites. Other factors, such as chronic stress resulting from discrimination, contribute to the increased risk for ethnic minorities.
The issue of air pollution disparities is not new. The American Lung Association has explored the differences in harm from air pollution to racial and ethnic groups in a 2001 workshop. Furthermore, multiple large studies have provided evidence of the link between low socioeconomic status and increased risk from fine particle pollution.
The disparities in air pollution exposure have serious public health implications. Exposure to PM2.5 can cause lung and heart problems, especially for vulnerable populations such as those with chronic diseases, younger people, and older adults. It is crucial to address these disparities through targeted air pollution reduction strategies to protect the health and well-being of ethnic minorities in the US.
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People of colour are disproportionately affected by air pollution from multiple source types
People of colour in the United States are disproportionately affected by air pollution from multiple source types. This is true across income levels and regions of the country. White people are exposed to lower than average concentrations from emission source types, while people of colour experience greater than average exposures from source types causing 75% of overall exposure. This disparity generally holds across states and urban and rural areas.
A 2021 study by researchers at the EPA-funded Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions found that people of colour in the US breathe more particulate air pollution on average. This includes African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and other people of colour. The study analysed EPA data from the National Emissions Inventory for more than 5,000 emission source types for PM2.5, such as industry, agriculture, light and heavy-duty vehicles, construction, residential sources, and road dust.
The study's authors noted that the disparities are a result of systemic racism, with people of colour and pollution being pushed together over time due to housing policies and other factors. Lead author Christopher Tessum of the University of Illinois stated that the findings reinforce the idea that race and ethnicity drive air pollution exposure disparities, independent of income. Co-author Julian Marshall, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Washington, added that the results have implications for how regulations might be designed to address environmental injustice for people of colour exposed to air pollution from multiple source types.
Previous studies have also found that people of colour are at higher risk of premature death from exposure to PM2.5 air pollution than other population and income groups. A 2008 study of Washington, DC, found that areas with high Medicaid enrollment and poor air quality had a higher incidence of worsened asthma. A 2016 study of New Jersey residents found that the risk of dying early from long-term exposure to particle pollution was higher in communities with larger African American populations, lower home values, and lower median income.
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Minorities face higher exposure to pollutants and experience greater responses to such pollution
Several factors contribute to racial and ethnic minorities in the United States facing higher exposure to pollutants and experiencing greater responses to such pollution.
Firstly, historical discriminatory policies and social, political, and economic inequalities have resulted in minorities living closer to major sources of pollution. This is evident in the fact that more than one million African Americans live within a half-mile of natural gas facilities, and over six million reside in counties with oil refineries. Additionally, due to decades of residential segregation, African Americans tend to live in areas with greater air pollution exposure. Lower-income levels, limited access to education, and poorer health status are also more prevalent in African American communities, making them more vulnerable to the harmful effects of pollution.
Secondly, racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately impacted by hazardous air pollutants, including those from traffic sources and heavy industry. A 2008 study found that communities with higher African American populations had a greater risk of premature death and worsened asthma due to poor air quality. Another study analyzing data from 2000 to 2016 revealed that racial and ethnic minorities experienced higher average exposures to PM2.5, a regulated air pollutant, across the United States. This disparity was observed across income levels and regions, indicating that race and ethnicity are significant factors in exposure to air pollution.
Furthermore, the effects of environmental racism, defined as unequal access to a clean environment and basic environmental resources based on race, cannot be overlooked. Communities of color are more likely to live in areas with heavy pollution and hazardous waste, leading to higher mortality rates from environmental causes. This is often a result of systemic racism, where people of color have been pushed towards areas with higher pollution levels over time. The government's varying responses to air quality concerns across communities of different races and ethnicities further contribute to the inequities experienced by racial and ethnic minorities.
The disparities in exposure to air pollution among racial and ethnic minorities have serious health implications. For example, African American children suffer from asthma at a significantly higher rate than White children, and exposure to poor air quality can exacerbate respiratory issues. Additionally, long-term exposure to air pollution has been linked to higher death rates from certain diseases, such as coronavirus, within these communities.
Addressing these disparities requires strong, targeted air pollution reduction strategies and effective regulations that combat environmental injustice. It is crucial to recognize the role of systemic racism in creating and perpetuating these inequalities and to prioritize providing all people with equal protection from environmental and health hazards.
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Communities of colour endure higher rates of pediatric asthma and premature death from pollutants
People of colour in the United States are exposed to higher levels of air pollution than white people, regardless of income level or region. This disparity is driven by systemic racism and has resulted in higher rates of health issues, including pediatric asthma and premature death, in communities of colour.
A 2024 study by researchers at the George Washington University found that communities of colour across the United States are experiencing a growing burden of diseases linked to air pollution. The study found that racial and ethnic disparities in cases of pollutant-linked diseases like asthma increased during the last decade. Specifically, communities of colour were found to have 7.5 times higher pediatric asthma rates and 1.3 times higher premature mortality rates due to fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide compared to predominantly white communities.
The higher rates of pediatric asthma in communities of colour are attributed to their proximity to busy roadways, industrial facilities, power plants, and other sources of hazardous pollutants. Long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution, including nitrogen dioxide, has been associated with an increased risk of asthma onset in children. Nitrogen dioxide is a pollutant that can irritate the lungs and trigger asthma attacks. Evidence suggests that exposure to traffic-related air pollution during childhood can cause asthma, a potentially life-threatening lifelong condition.
In addition to the increased risk of pediatric asthma, communities of colour also face higher risks of premature death from exposure to air pollutants. A 2021 study by researchers at the EPA-funded Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions found that people of colour in the United States are disproportionately exposed to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a regulated air pollutant. Exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to lung and heart problems, especially in vulnerable populations such as younger people and those with chronic diseases. The study also found that race appears to be a significant factor in exposure to air pollution, with people of colour experiencing greater than average exposures from source types causing a large proportion of overall exposure.
The disparities in air pollution exposure and health outcomes between communities of colour and white communities are a result of systemic racism and discriminatory practices such as redlining and segregation. These practices have restricted the mobility options and limited the economic and political power of communities of colour, resulting in their concentration in less desirable and more polluted areas. Additionally, people of colour are more likely to live with chronic conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease, that make them more susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollution.
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Racial-ethnic exposure disparities continue to persist due to housing policy and other factors
A study by researchers at the EPA-funded Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions found that people of colour in the United States breathe more particulate air pollution on average. This finding holds across income levels and regions of the US. The study, published in April 2021 in Science Advances, revealed that African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and other people of colour are disproportionately exposed to a regulated air pollutant called fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
The study's co-author, Julian Marshall, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Washington, noted that racial-ethnic exposure disparities continue due to a legacy of housing policy and other factors. Marshall stated that "the inequities we report are a result of systemic racism: Over time, people of colour and pollution have been pushed together, not just in a few cases but for nearly all types of emissions."
Indeed, housing policy and market dynamics have played a significant role in perpetuating racial-ethnic exposure disparities. Historical and ongoing discrimination in the housing market have limited the access of Black households to affordable and safe housing. Studies have shown that Black households continue to face rising housing costs, even after controlling for various factors such as income, neighbourhood, and metropolitan areas. This disparity is not unique to the United States, as similar patterns of housing affordability challenges for minority populations have been observed in Europe and Australia.
Additionally, residential segregation has resulted in African Americans living in areas with greater exposure to air pollution. A working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research found evidence of housing market discrimination, where minority renters with racialized names received fewer responses from rental properties in low-pollution areas compared to renters with white-sounding names. This contributes to the concentration of racial and ethnic minorities in areas with higher pollution levels.
The persistence of racial-ethnic exposure disparities has serious public health implications. Exposure to PM2.5 can cause lung and heart problems, especially for vulnerable populations such as those with chronic diseases, the elderly, young people, and people of colour. Therefore, addressing these disparities through targeted air pollution reduction strategies and regulatory changes is crucial to ensuring environmental justice and equal protection from environmental hazards for all.
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Frequently asked questions
According to a study by researchers at the EPA-funded Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions, people of color in the United States are exposed to higher levels of air pollution than white people, regardless of region or income level. This is due to factors such as racism, class bias, housing market dynamics, and land costs.
Exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5) is responsible for 85,000 to 200,000 deaths per year in the United States. Communities of color experience higher rates of environmentally caused deaths and diseases linked to air pollution, such as pediatric asthma and premature mortality.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aims to provide equal protection from environmental and health hazards for all people. To achieve this, EPA researchers are working to understand the air quality concerns in overburdened communities and develop strategies to reduce air pollution exposure disparities. Strong regulations to protect air quality and targeted air pollution reduction strategies are also necessary to address environmental injustice and protect the health of marginalized communities.
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