New Study Finds Black People Experience Higher Health Burdens Than Whites

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2018
Contact: Athena Motavvef, 202-548-4585, athena@weact.org

New York, NY — Last Thursday, EPA scientists published a study in the American Journal of Public Health that studied the unequal health outcomes nationwide. The study served to identify the national differences in the location of particulate matter or PM 2.5 and the surrounding population by race and income. The study found that while people of color and the low-income bore the greatest burden, black people experienced exposure to the pollutant at the highest rates.

In response, WE ACT for Environmental Justice Director of Federal Policy, Dr. Adrienne Hollis released the following statement:

“This study confirms what communities of color and low income communities have known for a long time – that our health and our communities are drastically and unfairly experiencing more environmental hazards than our counterparts. Environmental injustice leads to adverse health outcomes, more missed days at work and school and increases in healthcare burdens. Unfortunately, at a time when EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is rolling back crucial regulations, we expect this disparity to only grow wider. We hope that legislators take studies like this seriously and use this research to create policies that turn into better health outcomes for our communities. WE ACT will continue to work at the local, state, and federal level to develop strong and equal environmental protections that ensure healthy and safe communities for the most vulnerable among us.”

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WE ACT for Environmental Justice is a Northern Manhattan membership-based organization whose mission is to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and/or low income residents participate meaningfully in the creation of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. WE ACT has offices in Harlem, NYC and Washington, DC. Visit us at www.weact.org and follow us on Twitter @weact4ej.