Today we’ll be talking about environmental racism again, this time delving deeper into the relationship between people of color (POC), socioeconomic status, and exposure to pollutants. Environmental racism, a term developed by civil rights leader Benjamin Chavis, is the overrepresentation of POC (mainly the Black and Latinx communities) in areas that are close in proximity to environmental hazards, such as air pollutants. This disproportionate impact on POC stems from intentional neglect on the part of corporations and the government, low land values, and a lack of institutional power for POC. When we discuss environmental racism, the term “environment” goes beyond the call for conservation and preservation of biodiversity. Specifically, your environment includes where you “live, work, play, learn, and pray.” Environmental hazards can be detrimental to the health of those living in these communities, which is why it is imperative that we work on educating others about these disparities and supporting the environmental justice movement.
Many studies have shown that POC are disproportionately represented in areas that are close to air pollutants. A study done in 2011 by Mary Miranda and colleagues showed that non-Hispanic Blacks are found to be overrepresented in areas with bad air quality. A study done by Michael Ash and Rober Fetter in 2004 revealed that Black people tend to live in more polluted cities and neighborhoods within the US. Studies have also found evidence for the negative correlation between socioeconomic status and exposure to pollution. A study done in North Carolina by Simone Gray and colleagues found that particulate matter pollution levels were higher in areas of low socioeconomic status. In 2009 Nicole Kravitz-Wirtz and colleagues studied areas across the US that revealed that Blacks and Latinos were exposed to higher levels of three major pollutants (NO2, PM2.5 and PM10) in comparison to Whites. All of these studies support the fact that POC are exposed to pollutants at much higher rates than White People. What systemic institutions are in place that allow this to occur? And what does this mean for the health of POC across the US?
Scientists have revealed a few major ideas as to why these disparities occur. Economic factors play a large role, as industrial factories are usually built in places where land is most affordable. Social factors such as low socioeconomic status are related to less access to healthcare, higher traffic exposure and fewer job opportunities. In addition, the government and corporations may choose to build factories in places not as wealthy because it is easier to exploit disempowered, underrepresented communities. Finally, POC are already at more of a risk for existing health conditions that can exacerbate their responses to air pollutants. These groups may already have pre-existing conditions that make them more susceptible to diseases caused by air pollutants, yet they are consistently found to be close in proximity to the industries and major roadways that cause the dispersion of these pollutants.
As you can see, learning the relationship between POC, socioeconomic status, and exposure to air pollutants is extremely important. Exposure to these pollutants has a major impact on a person’s health and well-being. The World Health Organization states that one third of the deaths from stroke, lung cancer, and heart disease are due to air pollution. In children, pollutants contribute to respiratory disease, asthma, childhood cancer, and may stunt lung growth, “permanently reducing their ability to breath”. Pollutants also affect fetal brain development and are correlated with adverse birth outcomes such as premature birth, low birth weight, etc. In addition, these effects can be amplified based on pre-existing conditions or other psychosocial stressors that may be present. As POC and those with a lower socioeconomic status are already normally undergoing major life stressors due to conditions under which they are forced to live, they are at a higher risk for developing dangerous health conditions. As life-long learners we must continue to strive to educate ourselves on this topic and advocate for policies that will not only dismantle the factors causing these disparities, but make it so that no one is exposed to life threatening pollutants.
For greater context on this topic, check out our previous post titled "An Introduction to Environmental Racism" as seen below:
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