Racial disparities in environmental exposures and SARS-CoV-2 infection rates: A detailed population-weighted analysis

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has cast a spotlight on the intersection of socio-economic, demographic, and environmental factors with public health, particularly in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection rates. A gap remains in understanding how racial disparities in environmental exposure correlate with racial disparities in infection rates. This study bridges this gap by analyzing infection data for black and white populations across 1,416 counties in the contiguous United States, utilizing high-resolution land cover data and racial population maps to assess environmental exposure disparities. We found significant connections between racial disparities in environmental exposure and SARS-CoV-2 infection rates, even after accounting for population density, socio-economic status, and demographic factors. Disparities among black and white population's access to green spaces, such as non-park forests and pasture/hay areas, as well as to developed areas of varying intensities, closely mirror racial disparities in infection rates. Crucially, we found that smaller differences in environmental exposure between races are associated with smaller differences in infection rates. This relationship is most pronounced within a 400-meter radius, underscoring the critical role of proximity in the design of urban and landscape environments to promote public health equity.