Examining PM_2.5 concentrations in counties with and without state-run correctional facilities in Texas

Abstract

A high percentage of people who are incarcerated suffer from health problems that affect them both in prison and after they are released. Environmental hazards and pollutants can exacerbate these problems as well as contribute to the development of new health conditions. One specific type of pollutant that is associated with a wide array of health problems including decreased lung function, cancer, and asthma is particulate matter smaller than 2.5 µm (PM2.5). While prior research indicates that PM2.5 is not equally distributed throughout space, it remains unknown if levels of PM2.5 differ in areas with and without correctional facilities. The current study aims to address this gap by examining if counties with state-run correctional facilities have higher concentrations of PM2.5 relative to counties without state-run correctional facilities in Texas. Results of OLS regression models indicate that counties with one or more state-run correctional facilities have higher concentrations of PM2.5 relative to counties without these facilities. These findings highlight the importance of improving prison healthcare and addressing issues of environmental injustice in correctional facilities.

Unsafe communities: environmental injustice in carceral spaces

“…In fact, these chemicals have been known to accumulate in body tissue, causing cancer and other adverse chronic and acute health issues (EPA, 2023b). More recently, Block (2023) found that counties in Texas that included a state-run correctional facility had higher levels of small particulate matter in comparison to those counties that did not include a state-run facility. Still, additional studies that have examined environmental harms within prisons note water contamination, along with sewage and sanitation violations (Bernd et al , 2017; Bradshaw, 2018), all of which can contribute to negative health outcomes.…”

“…One concerning issue is the increased vulnerability of incarcerated persons to such harms, often due to inadequate environmental health and occupational work and safety protections within correctional facilities (Pellow, 2017). Though a robust literature exposing occupational and residential-based environmental justice concerns (Bowen, 2002; Braubach and Fairburn, 2010; Pastor et al , 2001), only recently has emergent scholarship explicitly considered environmental injustices as they relate to incarcerated persons (Block, 2023; Glade et al , 2023; León-Corwin et al , 2020). Centering the experiences of incarcerated persons is critical in understanding environmental injustices in carceral spaces because incarcerated persons and carceral spaces are highly susceptible to environmental harm due to the conditions of confinement and the nature of incarceration.…”

“…The growing trend of serving lengthier sentences adds to this concern (Wakefield and Uggen, 2010; Western, 2006), as prolonged incarceration means extended exposure to environmental hazards (Perdue, 2018). Whether it is, for instance, poor air quality (Block, 2023; Toman, 2023), or arsenic-contaminated water (León-Corwin et al , 2023), the consequences of long-term exposure can be severe and detrimental to the health and well-being of those confined in carceral spaces. Moreover, inequality and discrimination within the criminal legal system disproportionately impact non-white racial and ethnic groups, leading to increased exposure to environmental hazards for historically marginalized populations.…”

“…The negative consequences of exposure to environmental hazards are far-reaching and profoundly impact human health. Multiple health implications arise from prolonged exposure to such hazards, including respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders and an increased risk of developing chronic and fatal health conditions (Bernd et al , 2017; Block, 2023; León-Corwin et al , 2023). Furthermore, prolonged exposure to environmental toxins and pollutants can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infectious diseases.…”

“…Existing literature demonstrates the alarming reality that these facilities are often built on or near undesirable lands, such as coal ash (León-Corwin et al , 2023) and federally designated Superfund sites (Ashby et al , 2020), contributing to environmental justice concerns with carceral spaces (Abolitionist Law Center, 2014; Bernd et al , 2017; Davis, 2003; Opsal and Malin, 2019). Moreover, these facilities may also face elevated levels of ambient air pollution (Block, 2023; León-Corwin et al , 2020; Toman, 2023). Exposure to such environmental health hazards significantly increases the likelihood of adverse health outcomes.…”