What should you know about environmental racism?

1. WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM? Environmental racism is the philosophy that some communities are disproportionately impacted by pollution. One study found that certain communities of color are 4 to 16 times more likely to live near a Superfund site than white people. Environmental racism is also thought to play a role in disproportionate rates of food insecurity, poverty, and violent crime. These environmental injustices create a cycle of health problems and disabilities which can last for generations. HOW ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM LEADS TO OTHER PROBLEMS? According to the National Resources Defense Council, one way to determine if you are living in a polluted area is to find out if your community is low-income or has a high percentage of non-white residents. If so, the air quality and water quality will most likely be poor. A study conducted by researchers from MIT found that there are several contributing factors to environmental racism. These include housing and employment discrimination, the lack of access to clean water, and the existence of Superfund sites. Another explanation is that groups such as African Americans may have been exposed to dangerous chemicals in the environment that they would not have been exposed to if they lived in a white community. This raises the question: What happens to neighborhoods with high pollution? Some studies show that higher rates of crime, asthma and other health problems can be found in neighborhoods with high pollution levels. LIGHTMONEY.COM