Research, current incidents, and worldwide consequences of environmental discrimination
In the United States, a disturbing pattern of environmental injustice, known as environmental racism, has been evident since the 1980s. This phenomenon refers to the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on communities of color and low-income populations.
One of the most notable examples is the Warren County, North Carolina, incident in 1982. A hazardous waste landfill was established in a predominantly Black community, sparking protests that highlighted racial disparities in environmental decision-making and marking the origin of the environmental justice movement.
Another significant case is the Flint Water Crisis, which began in 2014. The predominantly Black city of Flint, Michigan, was exposed to lead-contaminated water due to cost-cutting measures and government neglect, causing health issues and 12 deaths from Legionnaires' disease.
The "Cancer Alley" in Louisiana, between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, is another area of concern. Industrial pollution along the Mississippi River disproportionately exposes mostly African American communities to toxic pollution and elevated health risks.
The Valley of the Drums, a largely poor and minority area in Kentucky, serves as another example. An illegal dumping site for hazardous waste exposed residents to contaminants.
The term environmental racism was formally recognized in a 1983 report by the United States General Accounting Office, which found that 75% of communities near harmful landfill sites were predominantly Black.
More recent research has identified additional environmental burdens causing racial inequality, including poor water quality, lack of sanitation, and high exposure to carbon dioxide emissions in Communities of Color. In San Joaquin Valley, California, arsenic contamination is higher in low-income communities and Communities of Color.
End-of-life electrical waste is often shipped to countries within Africa and Asia for disposal, exposing those populations to toxins. A 2003 study revealed that the United Kingdom was transporting undeclared e-waste to countries such as India.
The Sunshine Project, a development in Louisiana's "Cancer Alley," is estimated to more than double the risk of local people developing cancer. The project, which will produce polyethylene, polypropylene, polymer, ethylethylene glycol, and significant carbon emissions, is projected to have annual carbon dioxide production in a single parish that is greater than what is produced in 113 countries combined. This development is expected to accelerate climate change and contribute to the global plastic waste issue.
These conditions can cause health problems such as cancer and respiratory illnesses like asthma. Activism and policy efforts have increasingly sought to address these injustices under the environmental justice framework.
The 1984 Bhopal, India, disaster, caused by a Union Carbide pesticide plant leak, resulted in the death of 25,000 people and health conditions in over 120,000 people. The site has never been cleaned up, serving as a stark reminder of the global reach of environmental racism.
In conclusion, environmental racism continues to be a persistent issue in the United States and around the world. It is crucial that we address these inequalities to ensure a healthier and more just future for all communities.
Environmental science research highlights the link between environmental burdens and racial inequality, predicting a higher incidence of medical-conditions such as cancer and respiratory conditions in Communities of Color due to poor water quality, lack of sanitation, and elevated exposure to carbon dioxide emissions. For instance, San Joaquin Valley, California, shows arsenic contamination to be higher in low-income communities and Communities of Color.
The environmental impact of climate change is expected to disproportionately affect low-income populations and communities of color, as demonstrated by the Sunshine Project in Louisiana's "Cancer Alley," which could increase the risk of local people developing cancer and worsen existing respiratory conditions like asthma.
Recent studies emphasize that end-of-life electrical waste, often shipped to countries within Africa and Asia for disposal, contributes to the health issues and environmental concerns faced by the affected populations, making environmental science a critical aspect in the pursuit of health-and-wellness and sustainable development.
A 2003 study exposed that the United Kingdom was transporting undeclared e-waste to countries such as India, reflecting the global implications of environmental racism. This phenomenon was formally recognized in a 1983 report by the United States General Accounting Office, which found that 75% of communities near harmful landfill sites were predominantly Black.
The 1984 Bhopal, India, disaster, caused by a Union Carbide pesticide plant leak, is a sad reminder of the global reach of environmental racism, serving as a stark reminder of the consequences of ignoring the health and well-being of Communities of Color. To address these injustices and ensure a healthier and more just future for all communities, activism and policy efforts have increasingly sought to address environmental environmental issues under the environmental justice framework.
