Environmental Racism and Inequalities: Impact on Health Disparities

Overview

• Environmental racism and inequalities significantly influence health disparities.
• Different racial groups are exposed to environmental benefits or detriments unequally.
• This is a key area of research and discussion in Global Environmental Issues (Social 220).

Documented Disparities

• Communities at Risk:
  • Black and Latino populations are more likely to live near toxic waste facilities, incinerators, and landfills.
  • A significant percentage of people of color reside in neighborhoods with hazardous waste facilities.
• Native American Impact:
  • Reservations targeted for landfills and hazardous facilities, e.g., uranium mining on Navajo land.
  • Cancer death rates on the Navajo reservation doubled from the 1970s to 1990s.

Factors Influencing Disparities

• Race vs. Class:
  • Racial differences in exposure remain significant even after controlling for class.
  • Not merely a function of economic status or moving to cheaper areas.
  • Facilities often target communities of color due to lesser political power.

Case Studies

• Denver and Latino Communities:
  • High percentages of Latino populations live along polluted areas like I-70.
  • Living near freeways increases risks for asthma, autism, Alzheimer’s, and lower IQ in children.
  • Significant Latino presence within 500 feet of I-70 correlates with higher health risks.

Environmental Justice Movement

• Goals and Critique:
  • Argues for the right of all people to live in non-toxic environments.
  • Critiques mainstream environmentalism for ignoring inequalities.
• Significant Movements:
  • Native Alaskan protests against Pebble Mine.
  • Standing Rock and Dakota Access Pipeline protests.
  • Flint, Michigan water crisis protests.

Global Perspective

• US Contribution vs. Global Impact:
  • US, with ~4-5% of world population, generates ~20% of global waste.
  • Global inequalities mirror domestic ones: wealthy nations vs. predominantly people of color nations.
• Climate Change:
  • Disproportionate contributions and impacts on different nations.

Reflection and COVID-19

• Consider structural explanations for health disparities.
• Analyze how COVID-19 has reproduced and reinforced existing disparities.