Abstract
Environmental injustice, characterized by lower socioeconomic status (SES) persons being subjected to higher air pollution concentrations, was explored among pregnant women in Scania, Sweden. Understanding if the general reduction of air pollution recorded is enjoyed by all SES groups could illuminate existing inequalities and inform policy development. “Maternal Air Pollution in Southern Sweden”, an epidemiological database, contains data for 48,777 pregnancies in Scanian hospital catchment areas and includes births from 1999–2009. SES predictors considered included education level, household disposable income, and birth country. A Gaussian dispersion model was used to model women’s average NOX and PM2.5 exposure at home residence over the pregnancy period. Total concentrations were dichotomized into emission levels below/above respective Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Air objectives. The data were analyzed using binary logistic regression. A sensitivity analysis facilitated the investigation of associations’ variation over time. Lower-SES women born outside Sweden were disproportionately exposed to higher pollutant concentrations. Odds of exposure to NOX above Swedish EPA objectives reduced over time, especially for low-SES persons. Environmental injustice exists in Scania, but it lessened with declining overall air pollution levels, implying that continued air quality improvement could help protect vulnerable populations and further reduce environmental inequalities.
Highlights
IntroductionDue to the inherent nature of ambient air pollution, deleterious pollutants are concentrated along major traffic sites or upwind from emitter points, such as factories or energy-production complexes [2]
Environmental injustice or inequity describes the disproportionate distribution of environmental contaminants within areas populated by socially, economically, or otherwise disadvantaged groups [1].Due to the inherent nature of ambient air pollution, deleterious pollutants are concentrated along major traffic sites or upwind from emitter points, such as factories or energy-production complexes [2].These more heavily polluted areas tend to hold lower housing market prices [3,4] that persons of low socioeconomic status (SES) can afford
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims that these objectives were modified to consider and protect vulnerable populations and to ensure that air pollution concentrations remain below even low-risk levels for disease development and environmental protection [53], employing the precautionary principle
Summary
Due to the inherent nature of ambient air pollution, deleterious pollutants are concentrated along major traffic sites or upwind from emitter points, such as factories or energy-production complexes [2] These more heavily polluted areas tend to hold lower housing market prices [3,4] that persons of low socioeconomic status (SES) can afford. A contrasting pattern has emerged, whereby reconstruction and revitalization attract high-income earners to settle in more heavily polluted inner-city areas [3] Those commuting into cities in their personal vehicles predominantly live in suburban areas [3,5], meaning they are less affected by the traffic pollution they themselves create [5]. Public Health 2019, 16, 5116; doi:10.3390/ijerph16245116 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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