Inequity in consumption of goods and services adds to racial-ethnic disparities in air pollution exposure.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 116(13): 6001-6006, 2019 03 26.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30858319
ABSTRACT
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution exposure is the largest environmental health risk factor in the United States. Here, we link PM2.5 exposure to the human activities responsible for PM2.5 pollution. We use these results to explore "pollution inequity" the difference between the environmental health damage caused by a racial-ethnic group and the damage that group experiences. We show that, in the United States, PM2.5 exposure is disproportionately caused by consumption of goods and services mainly by the non-Hispanic white majority, but disproportionately inhaled by black and Hispanic minorities. On average, non-Hispanic whites experience a "pollution advantage" They experience â¼17% less air pollution exposure than is caused by their consumption. Blacks and Hispanics on average bear a "pollution burden" of 56% and 63% excess exposure, respectively, relative to the exposure caused by their consumption. The total disparity is caused as much by how much people consume as by how much pollution they breathe. Differences in the types of goods and services consumed by each group are less important. PM2.5 exposures declined â¼50% during 2002-2015 for all three racial-ethnic groups, but pollution inequity has remained high.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Exposición por Inhalación
/
Contaminantes Atmosféricos
/
Economía
/
Disparidades en el Estado de Salud
Tipo de estudio:
Health_economic_evaluation
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Año:
2019
Tipo del documento:
Article