Plumes of smoke are drifting from factories and refineries, creating a hazy blanket in the sky, but less than a mile away, a playground is bustling with children running around. It isn’t uncommon to see this type of environment in low income neighborhoods where minorities usually reside. Compared to wealthier neighborhoods, low income neighborhoods are more likely to be exposed to higher pollution levels and as a result have a greater risk of respiratory illnesses. COVID-19 has shed light on just how detrimental poor air quality is to health as it not only exacerbates COVID-19 symptoms, but also increases mortality rates.

COVID-19 Cases Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities

Trends in cases recorded by the CDC show that Africacan Americans and Hispanics and Latinos make up about 20% and 32% of cases, respectively. The American Medical Association has provided evidence of the inequity in these statistics. In Michigan, African Americans make up 33% of COVID-19 cases and 41% of the deaths, but only 14% of the population is African American. 25% of the Milwaukee County population in Wisconsin consists of African Americans, however, they account for 45% of the COVID-19 cases and 70% of the deaths. One third of Chicago’s population is African American and it contributes over half of the COVID-19 cases and 70% of the deaths. 

These statistics depict that minority groups are being hit the hardest and the causes can stem from various forms of inequality. The first step is to examine the kinds of areas these populations reside in. For example, according to the latest data from the Census Bureau, 19.1% of the population in Milwaukee County is in poverty, which is distinctly higher than the state poverty rate of 11%. Comparably, the city of Chicago has a poverty rate of 19.5%, while the state of Illinois has a rate of 12.1%. The association between racial and ethnic minorities and high numbers of COVID-19 cases can be attributed to the low income areas they live in. These areas are comprised of medically underserved populations that have increased risk of the virus due to various factors such as discrimination, limited healthcare access, crowded housing, and a wealth and education gap. The role of spatial inequality especially needs to be examined because COVID-19 is a respiratory illness and air conditions influence likelihood of contracting the virus as well as severity of symptoms. 

Environmental Injustice

Environmental injustice occurs when a neighborhood is disproportionately exposed to pollution which has negative effects on the quality of life and health of its members. They face environmental risks from toxic waste dumps, hazardous waste plants, and other industrial operations which are usually located in areas with cheaper housing markets. Data also shows that more African American, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students attend schools near highways and other facilities where pollution emissions are higher. In addition, African Americans are 75% more likely to live in areas next to pollution sources and over one million live within a half-mile distance of facilities that emit cancer causing toxins above the EPA’s level of concern. Native Americans also bear the consequences of the toxic waste dumps located on their land. Exposure to these toxins and pollutants leads to increased prevalence of illnesses such as pneumonia, whooping cough, tuberculosis, and influenza. Another component of environmental injustice is lack of government regulations, policies, laws, and enforcement which  results in unequal environmental protection. 

Environmental Injustice Leading to Greater COVID-19 Cases Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities 

“An increase in PM2.5 by just 1 microgram per cubic meter leads to an 8% increase in COVID-19 deaths.”

A pollutant in the air called fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, has a significant impact on illnesses in the United States. It is a dangerous risk factor that results in 63% of the deaths related to environmental causes. It is generated from fuel combustion produced by cars, refineries, and power plants. A study looking at disparities and air pollution exposure noted a significant “pollution burden” on African American and Hispanic populations as they are exposed to 56% and 63% more PM2.5 levels compared to what they produce through consumption. On the other hand, white Americans experience a “pollution advantage” because they are exposed to 17% less PM2.5 levels than what they produce. 

These pollution burdens can be linked to prevalence and mortality rates of COVID-19. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health conducted a study using 3,000 counties in the United States and concluded that an increase in PM2.5 by just 1 microgram per cubic meter leads to an 8% increase in COVID-19 deaths. PM2.5 itself also causes cancer, asthma, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes. These are all preexisting conditions that make individuals more vulnerable to the virus and increase severity of symptoms. An example that links all these factors together is the COVID-19 hotspot Detroit, Michigan. It has railways, truck traffic, power plants, refineries, and other industrial operations that cause high particulate pollution and illnesses such as asthma, stroke, heart disease, and cancer. The city’s poverty rate is 36.4% while the state’s rate is 14.1%. Detroit also has one of the highest COVID-19 mortality rates in the U.S. 

At the crux of this problem is a weakened political voice and unequal enforcement of laws and regulations protecting these communities. According to Sacoby Wilson, an environmental health scientist from the University of Maryland, a higher economic power results in more political power and enables individuals to prevent landfills, highways, and other facilities from being built near their neighborhoods. Impoverished groups lack this economic and political capital to bring about the change needed for them and future generations to lead healthier lives.

Implications for the Future and Fighting for Environmental Justice 

The current pandemic has shed light on how dangerous environmental injustice is to the health of minority and low income groups, but other diseases such as the yearly influenza virus and SARS have also been linked to high pollution levels. A study from the SARS outbreak in 2002 showed an 84% increased risk of death in areas with high air pollution index (API). Air pollution is known to cause disturbances in our immune systems, increasing susceptibility to other illnesses. Furthermore, increased exposure to particulate matter in the U.S. reduces lifespan by 4 months, while countries with the highest pollution levels observe a reduction of almost 2 years.  The government, policy makers, and individuals who are able to live in safe areas and breathe clean air must help improve conditions of underserved communities and give them a political voice by advocating for them. The goal now is to learn from this pandemic and decrease the disparities between the wealthy and the poor and combat environmental injustice. 

There are many nonprofit organizations that are aimed at protecting communities from environmental hazards. The Natural Defenses Resource Council (NRDC) is an organization made up of online activists and experts such as lawyers, scientists, and policy advocates that help pass environmental laws, persuade decision makers, and promote sustainable business practices. There are guides on how local activists can protect their neighborhoods from fracking and crude oil trains. In New York, David and Helen Slottje, a husband and wife lawyer duo, began helping various communities place bans on fracking and later founded the Community Environmental Defense Council. Similarly, locals in Philadelphia took charge when an explosion occurred at a nearby refinery that was contributing over half of the cancer causing toxins in the air. This spurred a group of voters in the area to march into a policy think tank meeting to talk about the harm caused by pollution stemming from their community’s own backyard. Additionally, The Sunrise Movement, a climate advocacy group for youths, helped set up a rally in Massachusetts where teenagers took to the streets to protest climate injustice and support state legislation centered around renewable energy. Becoming aware of environmental justice begins with education and fighting the problems in communities near us whether it is through protesting, signing petitions, speaking with local leaders, or most importantly, voting. 

To summarize,

• High rates of COVID-19 are observed in African American and Hispanic and Latino populations

• These areas with high COVID-19 rates are also areas where poverty is high

• Low income neighborhoods face environmental injustices such as higher exposure to pollution from industrial facilities built nearby 

• High PM2.5 levels due to environmental injustice leads to increased COVID-19 cases and mortality rates

• Individuals in these areas lack political power and advocating for them gives them a voice 

Here’s what you can do to help: 

• Become more educated about the environmental injustices in your own community or towns near you 

• Foster dialogue among the citizens and leaders in these communities - helping them start a conversation about their own experiences and beliefs can stimulate the change that is needed

• Join protests and sign petitions that fight against building industrial facilities in neighborhoods

• Visit websites of organizations such as the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) or Environmental Defense Fund to learn about what they are doing and how you can apply it to your own community

• Donate to national nonprofit organizations or local organizations 

• Become members of organizations such as the Sierra Club and volunteer with a chapter near you

• Learn more about local legislation and support bills that combat environmental injustice

• Spread the knowledge you have learned by posting it on social media or talking to friends and family

• Vote in local elections as well as the general election coming up in November in the United States!

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