Air Pollution's Racist Impact: A Matter Of Life And Death

People of color are disproportionately affected by air pollution, with research showing that they are exposed to higher levels of dangerous fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) than other groups. This disparity holds across income levels and regions, with racial-ethnic differences found in almost all major emission categories. The impact of air pollution on the health of people of color is severe, with higher risks of premature death and respiratory and heart disease. The causes of these disparities are complex and multifaceted, ranging from racism and class bias to housing market dynamics and land costs.

People of colour are exposed to higher levels of dangerous fine particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5)

People of color are exposed to higher levels of dangerous fine particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5). This disparity holds across income levels and regions of the US, according to a study by researchers at the EPA-funded Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions. The study found that people of color experience greater than average exposures from source types causing 75% of overall exposure to PM2.5. This includes emissions from industry, agriculture, light and heavy-duty vehicles, construction, residential sources, and road dust.

The findings, published in April 2021 in Science Advances, have serious public health implications. Exposure to PM2.5 can cause lung and heart problems, especially for those with chronic diseases, younger people, older people, and other vulnerable populations. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to premature death, particularly in people with chronic heart or lung diseases, and reduced lung function growth in children. It is also associated with the greatest proportion of adverse health effects related to air pollution, both in the United States and worldwide.

The disparities in exposure to PM2.5 are a result of systemic racism. Due to decades of residential segregation, people of color tend to live in areas with greater exposure to air pollution. Pollution sources tend to be located near disadvantaged communities, increasing exposure to harmful pollutants. This is further exacerbated by factors such as chronic stress as a result of discrimination, lack of access to healthcare and healthy food options, and higher traffic exposure.

Addressing these disparities requires effective regulations that tackle environmental injustice and systemic racism. It is crucial to prioritize the health and well-being of people of color and ensure equal access to a healthy environment, free from disproportionate exposure to air pollution.

This exposure causes higher rates of respiratory and heart disease

People of color are exposed to higher levels of air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which has serious implications for public health. PM2.5 pollution is responsible for a significant number of premature deaths in the US each year and is known to cause respiratory and heart disease. This type of pollution is made up of fine particles that are small enough to be carried deep into the lungs, causing serious health issues.

Research has shown that Black, Hispanic, and Asian people are exposed to higher concentrations of PM2.5 pollution than their white counterparts. This disparity persists across income levels, regions, and urban or rural areas. The exposure to PM2.5 pollution for people of color is, therefore, higher than average from source types that cause 75% of overall exposure. This over-exposure to air pollution contributes to higher rates of respiratory and heart disease in these communities.

The causes of this disparity are rooted in systemic racism and discriminatory policies. Pollution-emitting industries tend to be located near disadvantaged communities, and people of color are disproportionately represented in these areas. This is due to various political, socioeconomic, and discriminatory forces that have concentrated marginalized groups in specific neighborhoods. Additionally, racial discrimination in the housing market limits the residential mobility of people of color, keeping them in areas with higher pollution levels even if they have the financial means to move.

The impact of air pollution on the health of people of color is further exacerbated by a lack of access to healthcare, poorer job opportunities, and dirtier workplaces. These factors collectively contribute to higher rates of respiratory and heart disease in communities of color.

Addressing these disparities requires targeted policies and initiatives that aim to reduce air pollution in overburdened communities and address the systemic injustices that perpetuate these inequalities.

Poorer people and people of colour face higher exposure to pollutants

This disparity is not new. A mountain of evidence has brought to light the stark injustice that people of colour in the US suffer from exposure to pollution. A 2022 study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that certain groups in the US—Blacks, Asians, Hispanics, Latinos, and low-income populations—are exposed to higher levels of dangerous fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) than other groups. The study also found that the average PM2.5 concentration for the Black population was 13.7% higher than that of the white population and 36.3% higher than that of the Native American population.

The higher exposure to pollutants among people of colour is due to various factors, including racism, class bias, housing market dynamics, and land costs. Pollution sources tend to be located near disadvantaged communities, increasing exposure to harmful pollutants. Residential segregation also plays a significant role in the disparity. People of colour are disproportionately exposed to polluting industries, as these industries are often located in disenfranchised communities where people of colour reside. Racial discrimination in the housing market further limits the residential mobility of people of colour, keeping them concentrated in polluted neighbourhoods.

The health consequences of this disparity are severe. Exposure to PM2.5 can cause lung and heart problems, especially for vulnerable populations such as younger and older people and those with chronic diseases. Studies have found that people of colour are at higher risk of premature death from particle pollution than whites. 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.

People of colour are more likely to live in counties with higher levels of pollution

The study's researchers analysed data from over 5,000 emission source types, including industry, agriculture, vehicles, and construction, and found racial-ethnic disparities in almost all categories. White people are exposed to lower-than-average concentrations from emission source types, while people of colour experience greater-than-average exposures from the same sources. This disparity was also evident in a 2011 analysis, which found that non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics were more likely to live in counties with worse problems of particle pollution and ozone pollution.

The impact of air pollution on health cannot be overstated. Exposure to PM2.5 can cause serious lung and heart problems, especially for vulnerable populations such as the young, elderly, and those with chronic diseases. The 2021 study's findings have serious public health implications, as previous research has shown that racial and ethnic minorities are at a higher risk of premature death from exposure to PM2.5.

The reasons for these disparities are complex and rooted in systemic racism. Due to decades of residential segregation, people of colour often live in areas with greater exposure to air pollution. Additionally, polluting industries are more often located in disadvantaged communities, where people of colour reside, due to factors such as limited power in decision-making processes and discriminatory housing policies.

Addressing these environmental injustices requires targeted policies and initiatives that reduce air pollution in disproportionately affected communities and address the underlying inequities. It is crucial to involve affected communities and advocacy groups in discussions about regulatory remedies to ensure that solutions are guided by their experiences and needs.

Residential segregation contributes to racial/ethnic inequalities in individual exposure to neighbourhood air pollution

Residential segregation has been found to contribute to racial and ethnic inequalities in individual exposure to neighbourhood air pollution. This is due to various political, socioeconomic, and discriminatory forces that have historically concentrated people of colour within distinct and often socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. As a result, people of colour are disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards, including ambient air pollution.

Polluting industries are more likely to be located in disenfranchised communities, where people of colour reside. This is because residents of these areas often have fewer resources and social capital and limited power to influence the decision-making processes that determine the placement of such industries. The entry of these industries can trigger a cycle of vulnerability in communities, leading to decreased property values, negative impacts on infrastructure and social capital, and ultimately paving the way for more polluting facilities.

In addition, differential enforcement of environmental regulations, such as racialized zoning policies, property laws, or practices of credit rationing in disadvantaged and politically underrepresented communities, has facilitated the entry of polluting industries. While current regulations may not be deliberately discriminatory, new industrial facilities tend to be sited in communities occupied by people of colour due to past discriminatory zoning decisions.

Racial discrimination in the housing market further limits the residential mobility of people of colour, even if they have the financial means to move. This concentration of people of colour in specific neighbourhoods contributes to the spatial segregation that increases air pollution, particularly from mobile sources.

Overall, residential segregation exacerbates racial and ethnic inequalities in exposure to air pollution, creating contexts of differential and often worse physical environments for racial and ethnic minorities.

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