Inequity in consumption of goods and services adds to racial–ethnic disparities in air pollution exposure

Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) air pollution exposure is the largest environmental health risk factor in the United States. Here, we link PM 2.5 exposure to the human activities responsible for PM 2.5 pollution. We use these results to explore “pollution inequity”: the difference between the environmental health damage caused by a racial–ethnic group and the damage that group experiences. We show that, in the United States, PM 2.5 exposure is disproportionately caused by consumption of goods and services mainly by the non-Hispanic white majority, but disproportionately inhaled by black and Hispanic minorities. On average, non-Hispanic whites experience a “pollution advantage”: They experience ∼17% less air…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Award: EE0004397
• UE
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

  Award: RD83587301
• NI
  National Institute of Food and Agriculture

  Awards: MN-12-083, 2013-67009-20377