Sociodemographic inequities in the burden of carcinogenic industrial air emissions in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Industrial facilities are not located uniformly across communities in the United States, but how the burden of exposure to carcinogenic air emissions may vary across population characteristics is unclear. We evaluated differences in carcinogenic industrial pollution among major sociodemographic groups in the United States and Puerto Rico. METHODS: We evaluated cross-sectional associations of population characteristics including race and ethnicity, educational attainment, and poverty at the census tract level with point-source industrial emissions of 21 known human carcinogens using regulatory data from the US Environmental Protection Agency. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals comparing the highest emissions (tertile or quintile) to the referent group (zero emissions [ie, nonexposed]) for all sociodemographic characteristics were estimated using multinomial, population density-adjusted logistic regression models. RESULTS: In 2018, approximately 7.4 million people lived in census tracts with nearly 12 million pounds of carcinogenic air releases. The odds of tracts having the greatest burden of benzene, 1,3-butadiene, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and nickel emissions compared with nonexposed were 10%-20% higher for African American populations, whereas White populations were up to 18% less likely to live in tracts with the highest emissions. Among Hispanic and Latino populations, odds were 16%-21% higher for benzene, 1,3-butadiene, and ethylene oxide. Populations experiencing poverty or with less than high school education were associated with up to 51% higher burden, irrespective of race and ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: Carcinogenic industrial emissions disproportionately impact African American and Hispanic and Latino populations and people with limited education or experiencing poverty thus representing a source of pollution that may contribute to observed cancer disparities.

Assessment of Metal Concentrations and Associations with Pulmonary Function among Children with Asthma in Chicago, Illinois.

Individuals living in areas with the potential for elevated metal exposure from industrial sources may have reduced pulmonary function. We evaluated cross-sectional associations of toenail concentrations of 17 metals within a community area of residence and asthma control in 75 children, and pulmonary function measures [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1; liters), forced vital capacity (FVC; liters), FEV1 to FVC ratio (FEV1:FVC), and mid-exhalation forced expiratory flow rate (FEF 25-75%; liters/second)], in a subsample of 39 children with diagnosed asthma in Chicago, Illinois. Linear regression models were used to estimate adjusted regression coefficients and standard errors (SE) for the associations between ≥ median versus

A mixed methods study: Midlife African American women's knowledge, beliefs, and barriers to well-woman visit, flu vaccine, and mammogram use.

African American women (AAW) are particularly at risk for deleterious health outcomes that might be mitigated through increased preventive care use. A mixed methods study that examined relationships between knowledge of, beliefs about, and barriers to well-woman visits, flu vaccines, and mammograms was conducted with midlife AAW who participated in an online survey (n = 124) and in-depth interviews (n = 19). Findings showed that greater knowledge of preventive service recommendations and positive patient-provider relationships were associated with greater preventive service use. Flu vaccines were significantly underused. Study implications inform strategies to increase preventive care utilization among AAW and increase capacities to improve health disparities.

Contraceptive needs among newly incarcerated women in a county jail in the United States.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to examine the risk of unintended pregnancy among women during Cook County Jail intake by assessing basic contraceptive history, the need for emergency contraception (EC) at intake, and contraception at release. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: This is a cross-sectional study of women 18-50 years old at Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois from June 2011 through August 2012. The authors administered the survey at the time of intake on 33 convenient evenings. Surveys consisted of multiple-choice close-ended questions administered via interview. Topics included contraceptive use, pregnancy risk and pregnancy desire. The authors computed frequencies to describe the distribution of question responses and used logistic regression modeling to identify factors significantly related to the use of contraception at intake and to the acceptance of contraception at release. FINDINGS: Overall, 194 women participated. Excluding women not at risk for pregnancy (4.6 percent currently pregnant, 17.5 percent surgically sterilized/postmenopausal and 4.6 percent using long-acting reversible contraceptives), 73.2 percent of women were at risk for pregnancy ( n = 142) and, therefore, had a potential need for contraception. Among these women at risk for unintended pregnancy, 68 (47.9 percent) had unprotected intercourse within five days prior to survey administration. When asked about EC, most women (81.4 percent) would be interested if available. Additionally, 141 (72.7 percent) of women would be interested in contraceptive supplies if provided free at release. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Newly incarcerated women are at high risk for unintended pregnancy. Knowledge about EC and ability to access birth control services are both significantly limited. These conclusions support providing an intake screening in jails to identify women at risk for unintended pregnancy.