An Analysis of Racial, Socioeconomic, and Age Disparities Within Sulfur Dioxide Nonattainment Areas in EPA Region 5

race;sulfur dioxide;socioeconomic;Natural Resources and Environment

Sauer, ChristinaSaha, Robin ;

University of Michigan

关键词: race;    sulfur dioxide;    socioeconomic;    Natural Resources and Environment;   

Others  :  https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/123036/Sauer_Thesis_Final_Aug2016.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

瑞士|英语

来源: The Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship

【 摘 要 】

The rates of asthma in the United States are increasing annually. This rise can beattributed to air pollution exposure. Under the Clean Air Act’s NAAQS, regions withsulfur dioxide levels in excess of 75 ppb averaged over 3 years are considered;;nonattainment areas” and the state is required to draft and implement a plan to reducethe pollution levels. In EPA Region 5 there are 14 nonattainment areas. Vulnerablepopulations residing in these areas are at an increased risk of developing respiratory andcardiac diseases. Children and infants are at a high risk of low birth weights, asthma, andmortality. In this study, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, women ofchildbearing age, children under the age of 18, individuals 65 years of age and older, andhouseholds living below the poverty line are evaluated at the block group level and thelikelihood of each population to live within a nonattainment area in eight states in theMidwestern United States. The results indicate that as the proportion of individuals livingbelow the poverty line and proportion of racial minorities increases, the likelihood ofliving within a sulfur dioxide nonattainment area also increases, confirming theenvironmental justice hypothesis. Additionally, the most vulnerable members of societyto sulfur dioxide exposure, i.e. women of childbearing age, children under the age of 18,and adults aged 65 and older, are found to be at the greatest risk of living withinnonattainment areas when examining the percentage of individuals in nonattainmentblock groups based on poverty and race information. Policy recommendations arediscussed along with recommendations for future research.