Abstract
This article contributes to distributive environmental justice (EJ) research on air pollution by analyzing racial/ethnic and related intra-categorical disparities in health risk from exposure to on-road hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) in Harris County, Texas. Previous studies in this urban area have not examined intra-ethnic heterogeneity in EJ outcomes or disproportionate exposure to vehicular pollutants. Our goal was to determine how the EJ implications of cancer risk from exposure to on-road HAP sources differ across and within each major racial/ethnic group (Hispanics, non-Hispanic Blacks, and non-Hispanic Whites), based on data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (2011) and American Community Survey (2009–2013). Statistical analyses are based on generalized estimating equations which account for clustering of analytic units. Results indicated that Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks are exposed to significantly higher cancer risk than non-Hispanic Whites. When each racial/ethnic group was disaggregated based on contextually relevant characteristics, individuals who are in poverty, foreign-born, renters, and have limited English proficiency are found to be disproportionately located in areas exposed to significantly higher cancer risk, regardless of their major racial/ethnic designation. Our findings underscore the need to conduct intra-categorical EJ analysis for uncovering inequalities that get concealed when broadly defined racial/ethnic categories are used.
Highlights
Under the rubric of distributive environmental justice (EJ) research, numerous quantitative studies have shown that socially disadvantaged groups such as racial/ethnic minorities and individuals of lower socioeconomic status are disproportionately exposed to outdoor air pollution and related health risks [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
This article has sought to contribute to distributive environmental justice (EJ) scholarship by analyzing racial/ethnic inequities and related intra-categorical disparities in ambient exposure to on-road sources of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) in Harris County, Texas
Our study addresses an important gap by conducting a comparative and comprehensive analysis of intra-categorical differences in estimated cancer risks associated with on-road HAP exposure for three major racial/ethnic groups
Summary
Under the rubric of distributive environmental justice (EJ) research, numerous quantitative studies have shown that socially disadvantaged groups such as racial/ethnic minorities and individuals of lower socioeconomic status are disproportionately exposed to outdoor air pollution and related health risks [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. Most distributive EJ studies conducted in the U.S have used broad racial/ethnic categories to define minority populations groups (e.g., percent Black or percent Hispanic) and analyze racial/ethnic inequities in exposure to environmental risks.
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