Uneven Magnitude of Disparities in Cancer Risks from Air Toxics

Abstract

This study examines race- and income-based disparities in cancer risks from air toxics in Cancer Alley, LA, USA. Risk estimates were obtained from the 2005 National Air Toxics Assessment and socioeconomic and race data from the 2005 American Community Survey, both at the census tract level. Disparities were assessed using spatially weighted ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and quantile regression (QR) for five major air toxics, each with cancer risk greater than 10−6. Spatial OLS results showed that disparities in cancer risks were significant: People in low-income tracts bore a cumulative risk 12% more than those in high-income tracts (p < 0.05), and those in black-dominant areas 16% more than in white-dominant areas (p < 0.01). Formaldehyde and benzene were the two largest contributors to the disparities. Contributions from emission sources to disparities varied by compound. Spatial QR analyses showed that magnitude of disparity became larger at the high end of exposure range, indicating worsened disparity in the poorest and most highly concentrated black areas. Cancer risk of air toxics not only disproportionately affects socioeconomically disadvantaged and racial minority communities, but there is a gradient effect within these groups with poorer and higher minority concentrated segments being more affected than their counterparts. Risk reduction strategies should target emission sources, risk driver chemicals, and especially the disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Relation between Observed and Perceived Traffic Noise and Socio-Economic Status in Urban Blocks of Different Characteristics

“…The results presented in this paper give evidence for some assumptions derived from previous research [1][2][3][4][5][6]: it is indeed mostly people with a low(er) SES and young(er) people who live in noisy locations. As these findings refer back to the conceptual considerations on EJ, it still has to be proven that this situation is environmentally unjust.…”

Relationship of Racial Composition and Cancer Risks from Air Toxics Exposure in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.

“…By selecting variables with loadings of ≤−0.5 or ≥0.5, two factors were obtained: Group 1 variables reflect SES and racial composition, and Group 2 variables indicate population characteristics (Table A1). This analysis indicates that race and SES variables are highly correlated, as reported previously [16]. To avoid the co-linearity issue, we used AA% and population density for the following multivariable analysis.…”

Relations Between Residential Proximity to EPA-Designated Toxic Release Sites and Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Incidence

“…2 In addition, racial and socioeconomic disparities have been described with regard to exposure to airborne toxins, with benzene being one of the largest contributors. 6 The magnitude of disparity is highest in the poorest and most highly concentrated areas in which African Americans reside.…”

“…Some effects can occur at air levels of ≤1 ppm, suggesting that even low levels of chronic exposure can be harmful. 4 Our group was intrigued by reports that DLBCL risk is associated with residential proximity to industrial facilities, 5 data indicating that race and socioeconomic status are strongly associated with residential proximity to Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) facilities, 6–9 and our findings of racial differences in DLBCL incidence, presentation, and outcome. 2,10,11 As such, we sought to examine socioeconomic and racial differences in the spatial epidemiology of DLBCL and assess the relation between DLBCL incidence and residential distance from TRI exposure sites.…”