A new study from the Milken Institute School of Public Health reveals that racial disparities in pollution-related illnesses have worsened over the past decade, despite national efforts to reduce air pollution. Researchers found that from 2010 to 2019, white communities benefited more from pollution-reducing legislation than communities of color.
Lead author Gaige Kerr expressed surprise at the findings, stating, “We were pretty surprised” that the gap between white America and Black and Brown America widened with respect to pollution-associated diseases. The study analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Global Burden of Disease, focusing on population demographics, air pollutants, and overall health.
The research showed that disparities in exposure to particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide contributed to the widening health gap. Premature deaths from conditions like strokes and lung cancer were linked to long-term particulate matter exposure. The disparity in particulate matter-related premature deaths between nonwhite and white groups increased by 16 percent, while the gap between white and Hispanic or Latino communities rose by 40 percent.
Experts attribute these disparities to historical practices of placing pollutive factories and highways in minority neighborhoods. Kerr noted that during the 1950s and 1960s, many Black, Brown, and low-income communities became “sacrifice zones” for interstate highway construction.
While overall death rates related to particulate matter declined by 28.5 percent nationwide, the study found that communities of color continue to face disproportionate health risks. Lucas Henneman of George Mason University emphasized that current regulations do not address these disparities, potentially exacerbating the issue.
See “Milken researchers find widened racial disparities in pollution-related illnesses” (March 25, 2024)
