Article
Environmental Sciences
Casey Mullen, Aaron Flores, Sara Grineski, Timothy Collins
Summary: This article examines the distribution of sensors in the non-governmental air quality monitoring network PurpleAir in Los Angeles County, California, and reveals social inequalities in the distribution. Areas with higher percentages of Hispanic/Latino/a and Black residents and lower median household income have lower sensor density, while sensors are concentrated in areas with higher percentages of adults and seniors, higher occupied housing density, and higher PM2.5 pollution. This suggests that residents of low-income and minority neighborhoods have reduced access to information about local air pollution.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Economics
Priyanka N. deSouza, Sudheer Ballare, Deb A. Niemeier
Summary: The rapid expansion of the warehousing industry, driven by economic growth and increasing household consumption, has disproportionately affected low-income minority communities. Our research reveals a significant association between warehouse activity and air pollution and noise levels in southern California.
JOURNAL OF TRANSPORT GEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jayajit Chakraborty
Summary: This study reveals that socially disadvantaged children in Texas are disproportionately exposed to higher levels of vehicular pollution in public school districts. These districts also have greater proportions of racial/ethnic minority, foreign-born, disabled, and socioeconomically vulnerable children. The findings emphasize the urgent need for mitigation strategies to reduce pollution exposure, especially in districts with higher proportions of socially disadvantaged students.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Juan Du, Liwen Sun
Summary: This study proposes a benefit allocation model of joint prevention and control of air pollution (JPCAP) based on environmental justice, which calculates the control objectives and total benefits of JPCAP through the adjustment of optimal removal rates. An improved Shapley method is adopted to clarify the interest demands of various control subjects and benefit compensation scheme. The empirical analysis on SO2 governance in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) and its surrounding areas shows that the benefit allocation model based on environmental justice can accurately evaluate the benefits of joint control and achieve symmetry between control costs and benefits.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Juan Du, Liwen Sun
Summary: The study reveals that the joint prevention and control of air pollution (JPCAP) faces challenges due to low enthusiasm and unsatisfactory governance effects. By establishing a dynamic game model and analyzing changes in environmental tax rate and social welfare, it is found that the unfair distribution of social welfare among cities is a key factor in the unsatisfactory effect of JPCAP. Therefore, improving the JPCAP model by considering environmental justice can enhance social welfare in each city.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuzhou Wang, Joshua S. Apte, Jason D. Hill, Cesunica E. Ivey, Regan F. Patterson, Allen L. Robinson, Christopher W. Tessum, Julian D. Marshall
Summary: Air pollution levels in the United States have decreased, but racial-ethnic exposure disparities persist. Targeting specific locations for emission reductions can eliminate national exposure inequalities, while existing regulatory strategies require significant reductions. Additionally, location-specific strategies are found to be the most effective in reducing overall exposure and national inequalities.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Tara Illgner, Nikita Lad
Summary: This brief provides data on the intersection of polluting industrial facilities, marginalized communities, and the lack of air-quality monitors in South Chicago. The data highlights the chronic threat to air quality and health in Chicago's marginalized communities due to expanding polluting industries and inadequate monitoring. The data analysis methods can be used to examine air-quality disparities in other communities affected by environmental injustice.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Health Policy & Services
Mary L. Chesney, Karen Duderstadt
Summary: Environmentalists warn that the planet is in peril due to serious degradation and pollution of land, air, water, and food sources, with climate change exacerbating at an alarming rate. Disparities between high-income and low-income countries and zip codes in the United States result in marginalized populations bearing the brunt of pollution and environmental toxins, particularly infants and children. This review article emphasizes the importance of children's health and advocates for policies and strategies to support environmental protection rights.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Noli Brazil
Summary: Research has shown that neighborhoods have an impact on the health and well-being of their residents. This impact is particularly significant in low-income and minority neighborhoods, which tend to have more disadvantageous conditions. Additionally, the study finds disparities in air pollution exposure between different neighborhoods.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anmol Mital
Summary: Historical redlining led to the neglect of low-income and Black neighborhoods, resulting in a lack of generational wealth accumulation and worse health and environmental outcomes. This study examines the disparities in environmental quality between historically redlined and non-redlined communities in Richmond, Virginia, using Environmental Justice (EJ) scores for air and water pollution. The findings suggest a persistent environmental risk disparity, calling for policy interventions to address higher environmental risks in historically redlined communities.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sanaz Chamanara, Benjamin Goldstein, Joshua P. Newell
Summary: Environmental and social burdens from beef production are well understood, but supply chain complexities hinder precise identification of impacts and affected populations. A study in California mapped Costco's beef supply chain to highlight environmental burden of air pollution, emphasizing the need for more sustainable production and consumption practices. Results revealed significant PM2.5 emissions from feedlots in the San Joaquin Valley, impacting nearby communities with high rates of respiratory diseases.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Business
Yaxin Ming, Huixin Deng, Xiaoyue Wu
Summary: Research shows that people are less willing to engage in pro-environmental behavior when air pollution is severe, including purchasing pro-environmental products, participating in recycling, sustainable travel, and donating to environmental organizations.
JOURNAL OF BUSINESS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Akos Gosztonyi, Joanne C. Demmler, Sirkku Juhola, Sanna Ala-Mantila
Summary: Most studies indicate that individuals with lower socio-economic status are more exposed to higher air pollution levels. However, research in Europe has shown inconsistent results, often exhibiting non-linear patterns, highlighting the need to better understand the specific context of the relationship between socio-economic status and air pollution. Our study in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland, using a generalized additive model, reveals an inverted U-shaped relationship between median income and air pollution. Moreover, when considering the spatial distribution of different income groups, low-income individuals are found to be disproportionately affected by environmental disparities compared to others.
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
(2023)
Article
Economics
Danae Hernandez-Cortes, Kyle C. Meng
Summary: Market-based environmental policies can lead to spatial reallocation of pollution, raising concerns about environmental justice. This study examines the impact of California's carbon market, the world's second largest and most criticized for its environmental justice implications. The results show that the program reduced GHG, PM2.5, PM10, and NOx emissions by 3-9% annually between 2012-2017 for regulated industrial facilities. Using a pollution dispersal model, the study finds that the program narrowed the environmental justice gaps in PM2.5, PM10, and NOx by 6-10% annually. The findings highlight the importance of explicitly modeling pollution dispersal.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erika Moreno, Lara Schwarz, Sabine Host, Olivier Chanel, Tarik Benmarhnia
Summary: This study evaluates the most equitable approach to implementing the second phase of the low emission zone in Paris and presents a literature review of the benefits associated with low emission zones in Europe. The results show that expanding the low emission zone perimeter and increasing vehicle standards can prevent the highest number of cases and achieve a more equitable distribution of health benefits across different socioeconomic groups.
AIR QUALITY ATMOSPHERE AND HEALTH
(2022)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
Hang Deng, Hanna Breunig, Joshua Apte, Yue Qin
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zachari A. Pond, Carlos S. Hernandez, Peter J. Adams, Spyros N. Pandis, George R. Garcia, Allen L. Robinson, Julian D. Marshall, Richard Burnett, Ksakousti Skyllakou, Pablo Garcia Rivera, Eleni Karnezi, Carver J. Coleman, C. Arden Pope
Summary: The purpose of this study was to estimate the cardiopulmonary mortality associations for long-term exposure to PM2.5 species and sources. The findings suggest that EC, SOA, and vehicle sources are important contributors to the PM2.5 mortality relationship.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mackenzie B. Humes, Mingyi Wang, Sunhye Kim, Jo E. Machesky, Drew R. Gentner, Allen L. Robinson, Neil M. Donahue, Albert A. Presto
Summary: The study finds that aromatic compounds are the main contributors to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from volatile chemical products (VCPs), while ether and ester functional groups hinder the autoxidation process. Therefore, reducing the use of oxygenated aromatic compounds in VCPs may help decrease the generation of SOA in urban areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ying Chen, Yu Wang, Athanasios Nenes, Oliver Wild, Shaojie Song, Dawei Hu, Dantong Liu, Jianjun He, Lea Hildebrandt Ruiz, Joshua S. Apte, Sachin S. Gunthe, Pengfei Liu
Summary: This study reveals that Delhi, a highly polluted city, has the highest reported aerosol water content worldwide. The presence of high aerosol water exacerbates air pollution and reduces visibility, while also inhibiting the dispersion of pollutants.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Haley M. Lane, Rachel Morello-Frosch, Julian D. Marshall, Joshua S. Apte
Summary: Communities of color in the United States are disproportionately exposed to higher levels of air pollution, and this study shows a connection between this disparity and the historical redlining policy. The research finds that air pollution levels have a consistent association with redlining grade, and the disparities in NO2 and PM2.5 pollution levels based on redlining grade are larger than those based on race and ethnicity.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ahmad Bin Thaneya, Joshua S. Apte, Arpad Horvath
Summary: An exposure-based traffic assignment model has been developed to quantify PM2.5 exposure due to on-road vehicle flow. The study compares the exposure impacts of two optimization scenarios and finds that reducing exposure damages leads to an increase in travel time costs. The model can be used to evaluate different transportation exposure reduction strategies and assess the exposure impacts of new transportation infrastructure.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rebecca Tanzer-Gruener, Pavithra Ethi Rajan, Liam D. Dugan, Mark E. Bier, Allen L. Robinson, Albert A. Presto
Summary: This study measured the emissions of volatile organic compounds from water-based and oil-based paints. The results showed that oil-based paints had higher emissions compared to water-based paints, while the emissions were similar among low-gloss interior paints. Interior paints primarily emitted VOCs, while exterior paints emitted more IVOCs. Extended emission tests revealed that most emissions occurred within 12-24 hours after paint application.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zachari A. Pond, Provat K. Saha, Carver J. Coleman, Albert A. Presto, Allen L. Robinson, C. Arden Pope
Summary: The objective of this study was to estimate the associations between long-term exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) and primary PM2.5 components and all-cause, cardiopulmonary, and cancer mortality. The results showed significant associations between UFP and all-cause and cancer mortality, while the associations of organic PM2.5 components with mortality were independent of total PM2.5 mass exposure. PM2.5 mass was found to be a robust predictor of air pollution related mortality, supporting current regulatory policies.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fiona Greer, Ahmad Bin Thaneya, Joshua S. Apte, Arpad Horvath
Summary: Pollution from road transportation has chronic health impacts. Research on the life-cycle stages of paved roads and corresponding supply chains is limited. A new model has been developed to quantify human exposure to PM2.5 from pavement resurfacing and vehicle operation. Material production contributes significantly to pollution exposure, and people of color are more affected.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Su Yeong Kim, Elizabeth C. Matsui, Wen Wen, Hin Wing Tse, Sarah E. Chambliss
Summary: This study examines the association between air pollution levels in the residential areas of Mexican immigrant families and their psychosocial and demographic characteristics. The results show that lower PM2.5 concentrations are associated with more experiences of ethnic discrimination, higher socioeconomic status, and higher perceived neighborhood safety.
JOURNAL OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC HEALTH DISPARITIES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Kanan Patel, Sahil Bhandari, Shahzad Gani, Purushottam Kumar, Nisar Baig, Gazala Habib, Joshua Apte, Lea Hildebrandt Ruiz
Summary: New Delhi, India, the most polluted megacity, experiences extreme pollution episodes due to various factors. By using machine learning models, we can estimate the concentrations, composition, sources, and dynamics of particulate matter (PM) and analyze the influences of different factors.
AEROSOL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Brian M. Gentry, Allen L. Robinson, Peter J. Adams
Summary: People of color bear disproportionate health impacts of air pollution, making air quality a critical issue of environmental justice. A high-resolution reduced-complexity model (EASIUR-HR) is developed to evaluate the disproportionate impacts of ground-level primary PM2.5 emissions. The model reveals that low-resolution models underestimate the local spatial variation of air pollution exposure and the contribution of these emissions to national inequality.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Oladayo Oladeji, Mariana Saitas, Toriq Mustapha, Natalie M. M. Johnson, Weihsueh A. A. Chiu, Ivan Rusyn, Allen L. L. Robinson, Albert A. A. Presto
Summary: On February 3, 2023, a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, OH, leading to temporary evacuation and controlled burn of some of the hazardous cargo. Residents reported health symptoms, and initial data from air monitoring indicated potential concern for air toxics. Mobile air monitoring conducted later showed that the levels of some chemicals were below risk levels, but acrolein levels were high and additional unique compounds were found, suggesting the need for further monitoring to characterize long-term exposure and risk levels.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xing Chang, Bin Zhao, Haotian Zheng, Shuxia Wang, Siyi Cai, Fengqiao Guo, Ping Gui, Guanghan Huang, Di Wu, Licong Han, Jia Xing, Hanyang Man, Ruolan Hu, Chengrui Liang, Qingcheng Xu, Xionghui Qiu, Dian Ding, Kaiyun Liu, Rui Han, Allen L. Robinson, Neil M. Donahue
Summary: Organic aerosol (OA) is a significant component of aerosols that have a major impact on human health and global climate. Current models cannot accurately predict OA concentrations and source contributions. A new emission framework has been developed to address this issue and it shows that volatile chemical products, domestic combustion, and biomass open burning are the leading sources of secondary OA (SOA), which were previously underestimated.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Johanna R. Jahnke, Kyle P. Messier, Melissa Lowe, Anne Marie Jukic
Summary: This review examines the use of air pollution exposure assessments in studies of fertility, fecundability, and pregnancy loss. It highlights that while models have improved, many studies still rely on basic proximity models or surface monitor data, indicating room for advancement in utilizing more advanced models.
CURRENT EPIDEMIOLOGY REPORTS
(2022)