For years people in Black communities have been saying that they are dying at a higher rate, because their community has more air and other pollution. A new report from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has data that shows this, and hopefully the data will spur EPA to set strong protective standards for air pollution. The study was conducted by Industrial Economics Inc for EDF.
The report finds that older black Americans (65 years and older) are 3 times more likely to die from fine particle pollution (PM2.5) than older white Americans. The number of deaths per 100,000 people is 670/100,000 for Blacks, and 210/100,000 for Whites. The rate for Asians is 170/100,000 and for Native Americans is 200/100,000. The EDF report says that about 110,000 people die each year from particle pollution.
The study looked at census tract level exposure to pollution, and used EPA’s BenMAP-CE to compare deaths between higher and lower exposed groups.
As numerous other studies have documented, the study found higher air pollution exposure in communities of color, and in lower wealth areas. About 70% of nonwhite people live in areas where the annual PM2.5 is above 8 µg/m3, compared to 60% of white people. The EPA standard for annual PM2.5 is 12 µg/m3. The study found that low-income people are about 50% more likely to live in an area where annual PM2.5 if about 12 µg/m3 (the current EPA standard), compared to wealthier people. Right now, EPA is reviewing and revising the annual PM2.5 standard, and many health groups are recommending that they lower the standard to 8 µg/m3.
The exposure disparities are due to environmental racism, where our country decided to build highways, power plants, and other polluting facilities in or near communities of color. Some communities have 4 or 6 sources of air pollution right in the community.
Black people have been saying this and telling stories for years, that their communities and people have more pollution and more illness and suffering from the pollution, and regulators have been slow to listen. Hopefully having data to back up the stories will convince regulators to take necessary steps to protect vulnerable people, including children and overburdened communities. And especially children who are living and growing up in overburdened communities.
We need to advocate and speak loudly to our leaders to undo decades of environmental racism that is leading to higher exposures and higher death rates.
While EPA is deciding what to do with their review of PM2.5 standards, you can make a difference by calling or writing your elected leaders and asking for more funding for clean energy and transportation projects. It is extra important to call or write your senators, where funding for clean energy and transportation has been stalled for months.
Read the news release from EDF here.
Read the complete study by here.
06/16/2022
