Air Pollution: Racist Policy's Deadly Impact

Air pollution is a pressing issue in the United States, with nearly half of Americans exposed to potentially dangerous levels of air pollution. This issue is particularly salient for racial and ethnic minorities, who are disproportionately impacted by air pollution regardless of region or income level. This disparity is a result of systemic racism, with people of color historically pushed towards areas with higher pollution levels. The effects of climate change, such as heat, drought, and wildfires, are further exacerbating air pollution across the country, posing significant health risks to vulnerable populations.

Housing policy and systemic racism push people of colour and pollution together

In the United States, people of colour are exposed to more air pollution, particularly particulate matter pollution, than white people. This disparity persists across income levels and regions. This is a result of systemic racism, specifically housing policy, that has pushed people of colour and pollution together.

During the Jim Crow era, legislation was enacted that explicitly and implicitly segregated the black community when it came to housing. While many of these laws have since been repealed, the effects persist, and people of colour continue to face challenges in finding affordable housing. This has hindered socioeconomic mobility, as the ability to accumulate wealth through home-buying is made more difficult.

Redlining, a historical racist housing policy, is often used as a proxy for institutional racism at large. However, it is just one component of the racist housing system in the US. Predatory inclusion, such as high-cost loans and discrimination in the home appraisal process, are other forms of housing discrimination that people of colour face. These practices have resulted in a disproportionate amount of pollution affecting communities of colour, as well as a lack of socioeconomic mobility.

The geographic distribution of air pollution further exacerbates these issues. Hispanic people, for example, are almost three times more likely than white people to live in areas with failing grades for ozone pollution, daily particle pollution, and annual particle pollution. This is due to the systemic segregation in the housing market, which has resulted in modern-day segregation practices and a disproportionate impact of pollution on communities of colour.

The EPA's goal is to provide an environment where all people are equally protected from environmental and health hazards and have equal access to decision-making processes. To achieve this, researchers are focused on understanding the air quality concerns and health impacts in overburdened communities. Addressing the underlying factors that determine where people live is crucial to ensuring equal access to health-promoting resources and reducing health inequities.

Racial and ethnic minorities are at a higher risk of premature death from PM2.5 air pollution

Studies have shown that racial and ethnic minorities in the United States are exposed to disproportionately high levels of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5). This disparity persists across income levels and regions, indicating that it is a result of systemic racism. People of color in the US breathe more particulate air pollution on average, and this has serious public health implications. Exposure to PM2.5 can cause lung and heart problems and increase the risk of premature death, especially in vulnerable populations such as those with chronic diseases, younger people, and older people.

The EPA-funded Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions conducted a study that found that African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and other people of color are exposed to higher levels of PM2.5 pollution, a regulated air pollutant. This disparity in exposure is not limited to a few cases but is consistent across nearly all types of emissions. The study also noted that racial-ethnic exposure disparities continue to persist even with an overall decrease in PM2.5 pollution levels.

Research by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health supports these findings, showing that racial and ethnic minorities are exposed to higher levels of PM2.5 pollution. They found that areas with overrepresented Black, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino populations have been consistently exposed to higher average PM2.5 levels than areas with higher White and Native American populations. Furthermore, they noted that relative disparities in exposure to PM2.5 in relation to safety standards have been increasing over time among racial and ethnic groups.

The New England Journal of Medicine published a study analyzing data from Medicare enrollees and found that both higher- and lower-income Black persons may benefit more from lower PM2.5 levels than higher-income White persons. This study underscores the importance of considering racial identity and income together when assessing health inequities. Additionally, they found that exposure to PM2.5 increases the risk of premature death, with health effects observed even at low concentrations.

These findings highlight the urgent need to address the persistent environmental inequities faced by racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. Strong, targeted air pollution reduction strategies are necessary to reduce overall air pollution levels and move closer to the EPA's goal of providing all people with equal protection from environmental hazards.

African Americans are exposed to greater air pollution due to decades of residential segregation

One study examined the relationships between race/ethnicity, racial residential segregation, and exposure to air pollution. They found that metropolitan-level segregation is significantly associated with higher levels of exposure to all three ambient air pollutants, and that racial and ethnic inequities in exposure to air pollution are larger when segregation from Whites is greater. This suggests that members of racial and ethnic minority groups who live in areas where they are highly segregated from Whites face an added pollution burden.

Furthermore, multiple large studies have shown that African Americans are at greater risk from hazardous air pollutants, including those that come from traffic sources. This is true even for higher-income blacks who have higher incomes than many whites. This indicates that factors such as chronic stress as a result of discrimination may be playing a role in the increased risk for African Americans.

The EPA has recognized this issue and is working to address it. Their goal is to provide an environment where all people are equally protected from environmental and health hazards and have equal access to the decision-making process to maintain a healthy environment. They are providing scientific expertise and tools to assist states, tribes, and communities in addressing air quality concerns and improving the quality of life for all residents.

Hispanics are almost three times more likely than white people to live in areas with high pollution

The issue of air pollution disproportionately affecting racial minorities is a pressing concern, with Hispanics being almost three times more likely to reside in areas with high pollution levels than their white counterparts. This disparity is a reflection of systemic racism and long-standing societal trends that have pushed people of colour and pollution closer together.

Research has revealed that Hispanics and other people of colour in the United States are exposed to higher levels of particulate air pollution, specifically fine particulate matter (PM2.5). This type of pollution is generated from various sources, including industry, agriculture, vehicles, construction, and residential activities. The impact of PM2.5 on health is significant, leading to lung and heart problems, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the young, elderly, and those with chronic illnesses.

The American Lung Association's 2025 State of the Air report underscores this issue, finding that nearly half of Americans are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution. Among them, Hispanic individuals are at a heightened risk of living in areas with failing grades across all three categories of pollution: ozone pollution, daily particle pollution, and annual particle pollution. This disparity is not simply a matter of income or region, but a pervasive issue across the United States.

The root causes of this inequity lie in historical housing policies and systemic racism. People of colour are more likely to live near major sources of pollution, such as industrial sites and highways, due to discriminatory policies that have segregated communities and pushed pollution-generating activities into their neighbourhoods. Additionally, racial minorities tend to contribute less to overall air pollution, yet they bear the brunt of its consequences.

Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach that tackles the systemic racism inherent in housing and environmental policies. It is crucial to recognise that air pollution disproportionately affects certain racial groups and that this is not merely a coincidence but a result of long-standing societal inequities. By acknowledging and addressing these disparities, we can strive for a more just and equitable future where all individuals, regardless of race, can breathe clean air and enjoy improved health outcomes.

Low-income groups are exposed to higher levels of dangerous fine particulate air pollution

Several studies have found that low-income groups are exposed to higher levels of dangerous fine particulate air pollution. A study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that low-income populations in the US are exposed to higher levels of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) than other groups. The study, which was published in the journal Nature in January 2022, linked 17 years' worth of demographic data with data on fine particulate pollution from across the US. It found that areas of the US with lower-income groups have been exposed to higher average PM2.5 levels than areas with higher-income groups.

Another study by the EPA-funded Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions found that people of color in the US breathe more particulate air pollution on average, regardless of income level or region. The study found that African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and other people of color are disproportionately exposed to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can cause lung and heart problems, especially for vulnerable populations.

The American Lung Association has also highlighted the disparities in the impact of air pollution, noting that poorer people and some racial and ethnic groups face higher exposure to pollutants and greater health risks. A 2008 study found that communities with higher African American populations and higher unemployment or public transportation use had a greater risk of premature death from air pollution. Similarly, 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 incomes.

These disparities are often the result of systemic racism and housing policies that have pushed people of color and pollution closer together. Additionally, pollution sources tend to be located near disadvantaged communities, increasing their exposure to harmful pollutants. Low-income groups may also have limited access to healthcare, further exacerbating the impact of air pollution on their health.

Addressing these disparities requires targeted air pollution reduction strategies and interventions that include the voices and address the needs of the communities most affected.

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