loading page

Increasing disparities in air pollution health burdens in the United States
  • +5
  • Gaige Hunter Kerr,
  • Randall V Martin,
  • Aaron Van Donkelaar,
  • Michael Brauer,
  • Katrin Bukart,
  • Sarah Wozniak,
  • Daniel L Goldberg,
  • Susan C Anenberg
Gaige Hunter Kerr
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, The George Washington University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Randall V Martin
Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis
Author Profile
Aaron Van Donkelaar
Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis
Author Profile
Michael Brauer
Department of Health Metrics Sciences, Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington
Author Profile
Katrin Bukart
Department of Health Metrics Sciences, Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington
Author Profile
Sarah Wozniak
Department of Health Metrics Sciences, Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington
Author Profile
Daniel L Goldberg
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, The George Washington University, Washington
Author Profile
Susan C Anenberg
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, The George Washington University, Washington
Author Profile

Abstract

Ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution threaten public health in the United States (U.S.), and systemic racism has led to modern-day disparities in the distribution and associated health impacts of these pollutants. Many studies on environmental injustices related to ambient air pollution focus only on disparities in pollutant concentrations or provide only an assessment of pollution or health disparities at a snapshot in time. In this study we aim to document changing disparities in pollution-attributable health burdens over time and, for the first time, disparities in NO2-attributable health impacts across the entire U.S. We show that, despite overall decreases in the public health damages associated with NO2 and PM2.5, ethnoracial relative disparities in NO2-attributable pediatric asthma and PM2.5-attributable premature mortality in the U.S. have widened during the last decade. Racial disparities in PM2.5 attributable premature mortality and NO2-attributable pediatric asthma have increased by 19% and 16%, respectively, between 2010 and 2019. Similarly, ethnic disparities in PM2.5-attributable premature mortality have increased by 40% and NO2-attributable pediatric asthma by 10%. These widening trends in air pollution disparities are reversed when more stringent air quality standard levels are met for both pollutants. Our methods provide a semi-observational approach to tracking changes in disparities in air pollution and associated health burdens across the U.S.