Benefits of environmental inequality assessments for action

Braubach, Matthias

doi:10.1136/jech-2012-201390

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This index covers the different known domains of the socioeconomic deprivation including family and household, immigration status and mobility, employment and income, education, and housing. Because social disadvantage is a multidimensional concept, deprived population groups are often disadvantaged in more than one way (Braubach, 2013). Figure 2 shows the spatial distribution of the deprivation index classified by tertiles across the census blocks of the 4 metropolitan areas.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The concept draws attention to the questions of whether certain socioeconomic groups, including the economically and politically disadvantaged, bear a disproportionate burden of environmental externalities, and whether policies and practices that relate to sources of nuisances and pollution or, conversely, to wholesome environments (e.g., green spaces), are equitable and fair (Bowen, 2002; Braubach, 2013). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Air quality and social deprivation in four French metropolitan areas—A localized spatio-temporal environmental inequality analysis

Padilla

Kihal-Talantikite

Vieira

et al. 2014

Environmental Research

124

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Several studies have documented that more deprived populations tend to live in areas characterized by higher levels of environmental pollution. Yet, time trends and geographic patterns of this disproportionate distribution of environmental burden remain poorly assessed, especially in Europe. We investigated the spatial and temporal relationship between ambient air nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations and socioeconomic and demographic data in four French Metropolitan Areas (Lille in the north, Lyon in the center, Marseille in the south, and Paris) during two different time periods. The geographical unit used was the census block. The dependent variable was the NO2 annual average concentration (µg/m3) per census block, and the explanatory variables were a neighborhood deprivation index and socioeconomic and demographic data derived from the national census. Generalized additive models were used to account for spatial autocorrelation. We found that the strength and direction of the association between deprivation and NO2 estimates varied between cities. In Paris, census blocks with the higher social categories are exposed to higher mean concentrations of NO2. However, in Lille and Marseille, the most deprived census blocks are the most exposed to NO2. In Lyon, the census blocks in the middle social categories were more likely to have higher concentrations than in the lower social categories. Despite a general reduction in NO2 concentrations over the study period in the four metropolitan areas, we found contrasting results in the temporal trend of environmental inequalities. There is clear evidence of city-specific spatial and temporal environmental inequalities that relate to the historical socioeconomic make-up of the cities and its evolution. Hence, general statements about environmental and social inequalities may not properly characterize situations where people of higher social status find the benefits of living in a specific city outweigh the detriment of higher pollution.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Air quality and social deprivation in four French metropolitan areas—A localized spatio-temporal environmental inequality analysis

Padilla

Kihal-Talantikite

Vieira

et al. 2014

Environmental Research

124

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Reducing health inequalities involves the characterization and the identification of how factors accumulate and interact in an area. Certain socioeconomic groups bear a disproportionate burden of environmental externalities [ 3 ], and vulnerable to the health effects resulting from this exposition [ 4 ]. Previous studies have demonstrated that population with a low socioeconomic status tends to be more highly exposed to air pollutants and toxicants, due especially to their residential proximity to pollution sources (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of geographic indicators of healthcare, environment and socioeconomic factors to characterize environmental health disparities

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundAn environmental health inequality is a major public health concern in Europe. However just few studies take into account a large set of characteristics to analyze this problematic. The aim of this study was to identify and describe how socioeconomic, health accessibility and exposure factors accumulate and interact in small areas in a French urban context, to assess environmental health inequalities related to infant and neonatal mortality.MethodsEnvironmental indicators on deprivation index, proximity to high-traffic roads, green space, and healthcare accessibility were created using the Geographical Information System. Cases were collected from death certificates in the city hall of each municipality in the Nice metropolitan area. Using the parental addresses, cases were geocoded to their census block of residence. A classification using a Multiple Component Analysis following by a Hierarchical Clustering allow us to characterize the census blocks in terms of level of socioeconomic, environmental and accessibility to healthcare, which are very diverse definition by nature. Relation between infant and neonatal mortality rate and the three environmental patterns which categorize the census blocks after the classification was performed using a standard Poisson regression model for count data after checking the assumption of dispersion.ResultsBased on geographic indicators, three environmental patterns were identified. We found environmental inequalities and social health inequalities in Nice metropolitan area. Moreover these inequalities are counterbalance by the close proximity of deprived census blocks to healthcare facilities related to mother and newborn. So therefore we demonstrate no environmental health inequalities related to infant and neonatal mortality.ConclusionExamination of patterns of social, environmental and in relation with healthcare access is useful to identify census blocks with needs and their effects on health. Similar analyzes could be implemented and considered in other cities or related to other birth outcomes.

show abstract

“…This multilevel interpretation is to a certain extent comparable to an approach used by WHO to define action in order to reduce environmental inequalities [43,44]. In his editorial Braubach states that action should focus on (1) societal structures and mechanisms that cause or contribute to environmental inequalities at the macro level; (2) the resulting disparities in environmental exposures existing at the community or neighborhood level; and (3) the potential vulnerability differences existing at the individual level [43].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…In his editorial Braubach states that action should focus on (1) societal structures and mechanisms that cause or contribute to environmental inequalities at the macro level; (2) the resulting disparities in environmental exposures existing at the community or neighborhood level; and (3) the potential vulnerability differences existing at the individual level [43]. These three entry points for action are also distinguished in the priority public health conditions analytical framework developed by the Priority Public Health Conditions Knowledge Network of WHO to investigate how health equity could be improved in the first place through public health programs.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Causes Environmental Inequalities and Related Health Effects? An Analysis of Evolving Concepts

Kruize

Droomers

Kamp

et al. 2014

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Early environmental justice studies were exposure-oriented, lacked an integrated approach, and did not address the health impact of environmental inequalities. A coherent conceptual framework, needed to understand and tackle environmental inequalities and the related health effects, was lacking. We analyzed the more recent environmental justice literature to find out how conceptual insights have evolved. The conceptual framework of the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) was analyzed for additional explanations for environmental inequalities and the related health effects. This paper points out that recent environmental justice studies have broadened their scope by incorporating a broader set of physical and social environmental indicators, and by focusing on different geographic levels and on health impacts of environmental inequalities. The CSDH framework provided additional elements such as the role of structural determinants, the role of health-related behavior in relation to the physical and social environment, access to health care, as well as the life course perspective. Incorporating elements of the CSDH framework into existing environmental justice concepts, and performing more empirical research on the interactions between the different determinants at different geographical levels would further improve our understanding of environmental inequalities and their health effects and offer new opportunities for policy action.

show abstract

Benefits of environmental inequality assessments for action

Cited by 8 publications

References 16 publications

Air quality and social deprivation in four French metropolitan areas—A localized spatio-temporal environmental inequality analysis

Air quality and social deprivation in four French metropolitan areas—A localized spatio-temporal environmental inequality analysis

Use of geographic indicators of healthcare, environment and socioeconomic factors to characterize environmental health disparities

What Causes Environmental Inequalities and Related Health Effects? An Analysis of Evolving Concepts

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About