Environmental racism is a form of systemic racism that occurs when BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color) and low-income communities face a disproportionate risk of exposure to environmental pollutants. Exposure to toxic chemicals, such as those found in ash, smoke, and polluted water, often leads to adverse health problems, including an increased risk of developing cancer, diabetes, and asthma.
A study by the General Accounting Office found that 75% of hazardous waste sites are located in areas where low-income communities of color reside. That's because American policies and practices have often favored wealthy white communities. Historically, local and state governments have chosen to purchase cheaper land in low-income areas, which has and continues to unfairly impact poor communities of color.
Some examples of environmental racism have long been reported in the media (see Flint water crisis). However, many examples of these injustices often go unnoticed. That's why the environmental justice movement, with its roots in the 1970s, continues to bring attention to these issues, educate the public about the health impacts of environmental racism, and fight for change.
Environmental racism affects many communities across the United States. But here are some important examples of how poor communities of color have experienced negative health impacts due to environmental racism.
cancer alley
Cancer Alley is a long stretch of area along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana. The region consists of about 200 fossil fuel and petrochemical operations, accounting for about a quarter of U.S. petrochemical production. Petrochemicals are chemicals that come from petroleum (petroleum) and natural gas.
This area is predominantly black, and this community unfortunately suffers from serious health problems due to pollution from fossil fuel and petrochemical industries. People living in these areas are at significantly higher risk of developing respiratory diseases, miscarriages, poor health of newborns, infertility and cancer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), villages in this area, called the Reserve, have a 50 times higher risk of cancer compared to the national average.
Flint's lead
In April 2014, the local government of Flint, Michigan decided to switch the city's drinking water supply from the Detroit Water System to the Flint River to save money. However, failure to treat the Flint River water allowed lead and other metals to enter drinking water. The high lead content in the water has had negative effects on the health of Flint's residents, most of whom are black.
Despite protests from residents, the government guaranteed water safety. It wasn't like that. This resulted in exposure to lead-contaminated water for several years. Exposure to lead in water can cause brain and nervous system damage in growing children, leading to behavioral, learning, speech and hearing problems. Flint River water also caused Legionnaires' disease (a severe form of pneumonia) that resulted in 12 deaths.
asthma alley
Nicknamed ‘Asthma Alley,’ Mott Haven in the South Bronx, New York, has one of the worst levels of air pollution in the country. Pollution levels have increased significantly due to exhaust emissions from hundreds of trucks each day and constant traffic on four nearby highways.
Black and Latino communities make up most of the Bronx. Unfortunately, these communities are exposed to high levels of air pollution, putting them at higher risk of developing serious respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Asthma is particularly prevalent in this region. Asthma hospitalizations in Mott Haven are 21 times higher than in the rest of New York.
Sugar Cane Burning in South Florida
Sugarcane burning in South Florida causes significant air pollution each year. Every year from October to March, about 10,000 sugarcane fields are burned. This affects the sugar cane growing region, which consists of cities such as Pahokee, Clewiston and Belle Glade. The city's demographics include predominantly black people.
When these sugarcane fields burn, they are exposed to pollutants such as smoke and toxic ash. As a result, people living in these communities are at higher risk for pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer.
jackson water crisis
In 2022, the largest water treatment plant in Jackson, Mississippi, failed, leaving the city's 160,000 residents without water. Residents, many of whom are low-income and black, have faced issues with safe drinking water for decades. These communities were exposed to oily water, discolored water, and water with suspended particles.
Lack of access to clean water has had a negative impact on people receiving cancer treatment and those suffering from chronic diseases. Studies have shown that undrinkable, unclean water increases the risk of chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, infant death, and stroke.
Environmental racism can cause illness, disability, and even death in people of all ages. These issues often impact poor BIPOC communities in America. As a result, these communities are at higher risk of developing several health conditions, including:
- obesity
- asthma
- diabetes
- cancer
- COPD
- birth defect
- developmental conditions
- mental health condition
Children in particular are more vulnerable to the effects of environmental racism than adults. Exposure to toxic substances, air pollution, or water pollution can cause brain damage and chronic diseases that affect development and adult life. If we do not find appropriate solutions to environmental racism, these detrimental health effects will impact current and future generations.
People in low-income BIPOC communities have started the environmental justice movement. The movement dates back to anti-government protests in Warren County, North Carolina, in the late 1970s. This protest was against soil disposal. polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) is located in an area populated primarily by black communities. PCBs are carcinogenic chemicals that increase the risk of cancer.
However, before the environmental justice movement took off, several successful community-led events fighting environmental injustice occurred, including:
- Memphis Sanitation Strike in Memphis, Tennessee
- Northeast Community Action Group (NECAG), Houston, Texas.
- Sit-in protest against Warren County landfill
The environmental justice movement aims to protect against environmental and health risks and provide everyone (regardless of race, ethnicity, or income level) with the ability to participate in environmental decision-making processes. The movement aims to ensure that everyone has access to healthy working, living and learning environments.
The environmental justice movement has clear goals:
- Reduce harmful emissions from vehicles and improve air quality
- Clean and renewable energy project development
- Ensure that all public policies are based on justice and mutual respect for all people
- Converting contaminated land into clean, reusable areas
- Ensure a safe and healthy work environment for all workers
- Providing compensation and good health care to those affected by environmental injustice
- Preserve urban land by developing parks and gardens to encourage access to green space.
- Reduce exposure to hazardous waste sites
- Ensure all communities have access to clean drinking water
- Educating current and future generations about environmental issues
Hundreds of environmental justice organizations across the United States aim to provide environmental protections, especially to communities affected by environmental racism. The Biden administration created the Justice40 initiative to ensure that 40% of all climate change and clean energy federal investments go to communities overburdened by pollution.
However, there are still some challenges when it comes to environmental justice. There are still several policies in place that support the development of polluting industries such as oil drilling and gas drilling. While local and national governments are becoming more diverse, people in communities experiencing environmental racism are not always equitably represented in government. However, environmental justice groups continue to advocate for fair policies and representation in policy decisions.
Environmental racism is a type of racial inequality that often impacts poor BIPOC communities through increased exposure to environmental pollutants. This type of injustice typically occurs because local and national decision-makers purchase land in low-income communities and enact policies (such as oil fracking or gas drilling) that pollute the air, land, and water in those areas.
This exposure to hazardous substances significantly increases the risk of chronic health conditions in BIPOC communities. In fact, these communities are more likely to experience higher rates of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, asthma, and developmental problems. However, the environmental justice movement aims to reduce the effects of this racism and fight for protection, representation, and equity for communities suffering from environmental racism.