6 / 24 / 23 , 7:28 PM Disparities in the Impact of Air Pollution | American Lung Association pollution than Higher-incom
Scientists have speculated that there are three broad reasons why disparities may exist . First , groups may face greater exposure to pollution because of factors ranging from racism to class bias to housing market dynamics and land costs . For example , pollution sources tend to be located near disadvantaged communities , increasing exposure to harmful pollutants . Second , low social position may make some groups more susceptible to health threats because of factors related to their disadvantage . Lack of access to health care , grocery stores and good jobs ; poorer job opportunities ; dirtier workplaces ; and higher traffic exposure are among the factors that could handicap groups and increase the risk of harm . Finally , existing health conditions , behaviors or traits may predispose some groups to greater risk . For example , people of color are among the groups most at risk from air pollutants , and the elderly , African Americans , Mexican Americans and people living near a central city have higher incidence of diabetes .
People of color also may be more likely to live in counties with higher levels of pollution . Non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics were more likely to live in counties that had worse problems with particle pollution , researchers found in a 2011 analysis . Non-Hispanic blacks were also more likely to live in counties with worse ozone pollution . Income groups , by contrast , differed little in these exposures . However , since few rural counties have monitors , the primarily older , non-Hispanic white residents of those counties lack information about the air quality in their communities .
Unemployed people , those with low income or low education and non-Hispanic blacks were found to be more likely to live in areas with higher exposures to particle pollution in a 2012 study . However , the different racial / ethnic and income groups were often breathing very different kinds of particles ; the different composition and structure of these particles may have different health impacts .
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