An Environmental Justice Analysis of British Air Quality

2003 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 909-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon Mitchell ◽  
Danny Dorling
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Environmental Justice ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Car Ownership ◽  
National Study ◽  
Environmental Injustice ◽  
The Usa ◽  
History Of

This paper presents the results of the first national study of air quality in Britain to consider the implications of its distribution across over ten thousand local communities in terms of potential environmental injustice. We consider the recent history of the environmental justice debate in Britain, Europe, and the USA and, in the light of this, estimate how one aspect of air pollution, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, affects different population groups differentially across Britain. We also estimate the extent to which people living in each community in Britain contribute towards this pollution, with the aid of information on the characteristics of the vehicles they own. We find that, although community NO x emission and ambient NO2 concentration are strongly related, the communities that have access to fewest cars tend to suffer from the highest levels of air pollution, whereas those in which car ownership is greatest enjoy the cleanest air. Pollution is most concentrated in areas where young children and their parents are more likely to live and least concentrated in areas to which the elderly tend to migrate. Those communities that are most polluted and which also emit the least pollution tend to be amongst the poorest in Britain. There is therefore evidence of environmental injustice in the distribution and production of poor air quality in Britain. However, the spatial distribution of those who produce and receive most of that pollution have to be considered simultaneously to see this injustice clearly.

Implications for Community Health from Exposure to Bushfire Air Toxics

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabienne Reisen ◽  
Stephen K. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Community Health ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Community Response ◽  
Air Contaminants ◽  
Respirable Particles ◽  
Quality Guidelines ◽  
Toxic Air Contaminants ◽  
The Impact

Environmental Context. Significant bushfires have recently occurred in Indonesia (1997), Europe (2002), Australia (2000–2001) and the USA (2003), and burned large areas over extended periods of time. They cause widespread and serious air pollution through the release of respirable particles and other toxic air contaminants. These large fire events have shown clear impacts on community health and have caused increasing concern about the impact of bushfire smoke, whether from accidental or planned fires, on the health of surrounding communities. Abstract. Bushfires can cause widespread air pollution through the emission of high levels of toxic air contaminants that affect the health of surrounding communities. This review of studies that have evaluated the health impacts of bushfires in North America, Australia and South-East Asia shows that the primary pollutant consistently exceeding air quality guidelines is particulate matter. Elevated levels of respirable particles are likely to be the major cause of the higher number of hospital visits and admissions for respiratory and/or cardiovascular treatment, increased mortality, and elevated respiratory-related symptoms that were observed in communities after major bushfire events. Morbidity effects were found to be mostly short-lived and reversible after exposure ceased, and were more prevalent among susceptible groups such as asthmatics, children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing respiratory and/or cardiac illnesses. Implications of such exposures to the Australian population will be discussed in relation to existing (urban) air quality measures and options for community response to bushfire events.

scholarly journals Benefits of improved air quality on ageing lungs: impacts of genetics and obesity

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 1801780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anke Hüls ◽  
Dorothee Sugiri ◽  
Michael J. Abramson ◽  
Barbara Hoffmann ◽  
Holger Schwender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Lung Function ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Forced Expiratory Volume ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Risk Alleles ◽  
Related Risk ◽  
Z Scores

IntroductionThe beneficial effect of improving air quality on lung function in the elderly remains unclear. We examined associations between decline in air pollutants and lung function, and effect modifications by genetics and body mass index (BMI), in elderly German women.MethodsData were analysed from the prospective SALIA (Study on the influence of Air pollution on Lung function, Inflammation and Aging) study (n=601). Spirometry was conducted at baseline (1985–1994; age 55 years), in 2007–2010 and in 2012–2013. Air pollution concentrations at home addresses were determined for each time-point using land-use regression models. Global Lung Initiative 2012 z-scores were calculated. Weighted genetic risk scores (GRSs) were determined from lung function-related risk alleles and used to investigate interactions with improved air quality. Multiple linear mixed models were fitted.ResultsAir pollution levels decreased substantially during the study period. Reduction of air pollution was associated with an increase in z-scores for forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and the FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio. For a decrease of 10 µg·m−3 in nitrogen dioxide (NO2), the z-score for FEV1 increased by 0.14 (95% CI 0.01–0.26). However, with an increasing number of lung function-related risk alleles, the benefit from improved air quality decreased (GRS×NO2 interaction: p=0.029). Interactions with BMI were not significant.ConclusionsReduction of air pollution is associated with a relative improvement of lung function in elderly women, but also depends on their genetic make-up.

scholarly journals Air Pollution-Related Health Impacts on Individuals Experiencing Homelessness: Environmental Justice and Health Vulnerability in Salt Lake County, Utah

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (22) ◽  
pp. 8413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelina L. DeMarco ◽  
Rebecca Hardenbrook ◽  
Jeff Rose ◽  
Daniel L. Mendoza
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Environmental Justice ◽  
Salt Lake ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Lake County ◽  
Empirical Inquiry ◽  
Health Vulnerability ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Environmental Disamenities

Experiences of homelessness, although widely varied, are characterized by extensive time in public spaces, often outdoors. However, there has been little empirical research about the ways in which environmental factors affect individuals experiencing homelessness (IEHs). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use an environmental justice approach to understand how cardiopulmonary health of IEHs is affected by episodic poor air quality in Salt Lake County. It was hypothesized that people who had experienced unsheltered homelessness and those who had been experiencing homelessness for longer periods of time would report greater health difficulties from poor air quality exposure. Through a combination of in-person semistructured interviews with IEHs (n = 138) and access to corresponding state-based service provider databases, researchers examined both overall descriptives of and relationships between types (sheltered and unsheltered) and duration (chronic and nonchronic) of homelessness. More than 61% of IEHs reported physical reactions to air pollution, 37% reported air pollution-related emotional stress, and more than 89% had sought medical attention for a condition related to air pollution. Findings indicate that while IEHs report a number of health effects related to poor air quality, there were no significant differences between individuals based on either sheltered status or duration of their experiences of homelessness. This study provides an initial empirical inquiry to understand how environmental disamenities negatively influence IEHs, as well as noting that sheltered status and duration of homelessness are less impactful than originally hypothesized.

scholarly journals Environmental justice and air quality in Santiago de Chile

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richelle Rose Perez
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Environmental Justice ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Metropolitan Region ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Spatial Differences ◽  
Socioeconomic Data

<p><strong>Objective </strong>The metropolitan region in Santiago, Chile has an air quality problem.  However, the larger issue may lie in the inequities created by the distribution of the air pollution.</p><p><strong>Methods </strong>To assess the inequities created by the spatial differences in air pollution, the author analyzed fine particle pollution levels for 2008-2011 at monitoring stations throughout the region. The author also compared air quality data with socioeconomic data.</p><p><strong>Results </strong>The areas of the Santiago metropolitan region with the worst air quality have lower socioeconomic levels. Pollution in these areas reaches levels higher than the current Chilean 24 hour standard for fine particles. These areas also have longer time periods of unhealthy air and 21 % more days with unhealthy levels of air pollution.</p><p><strong>Discussion </strong>The differences in exposure to pollution create an inequality and environmental injustice among the socioeconomic groups in the metropolitan region. Chilean policymakers have the regulatory tools needed to improve environmental justice. However, they need to improve the implementation of these tools in order to achieve that goal: Chilean policy makers should consider local sources of air pollution in the most polluted municipalities; Government decision makers should make extra efforts to listen to the community and improve access to environmental information; Environmental justice advocates should involve stakeholders from the social justice movement and other related areas; Policy makers should track progress towards environmental justice by evaluating differences in health outcomes related to differential exposure to air pollution in different parts of the Santiago metropolitan area.</p>

COVID-19 Infection and Air Pollution Characteristics in USA

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 16-35
Author(s):  
Sharanpreet Kaur ◽  
Satwinder Singh
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Air Quality Index ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Death Cases

Coronavirus is diagnosed as a human-to-human infection at the initial stage by many of the researchers. As coronavirus is primarily targeting the respiratory system of the human body, the study tries to explore the relationship between pollution and increased number of cases in the states of the USA. The objective of the study is to determine whether the air quality index (AQI) of the year 2019 has a concern in the increasing number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in USA. This study included data of coronavirus confirmed and death cases from the dates January 22nd 2020 to June 30th 2020 for more than 45 states of the USA. Six AQI defining parameters—CO, NO2, Ozone (O3), PM10, PM2.5, and SO2—are selected for the study. The present study tried to identify whether air pollution is playing a significant role in spreading the coronavirus pandemic or not. Results confirmed that air quality index (AQI) defining parameters are not the sole factor behind the rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the USA.

scholarly journals Municipal Courts and Environmental Justice in South African Local Government

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 1-40
Author(s):  
Andrew Molaiwa
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Environmental Management ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Environmental Justice ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Environmental Harm ◽  
Environmental Injustice ◽  
Municipal Service

Environmental injustice is part and parcel of the fundamentals of international and domestic environmental law. In South Africa, section 2(4)(c) of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA) establishes environmental justice (EJ) as part of the environmental management principles to direct decision-making. This is particularly relevant because of the country’s legacy of continuing environmental injustices and inequalities, especially concerning natural-resource dependent services and benefits. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 further establishes a developmental local government (DLG) of which the objects are to ensure a safe and healthy environment, sustainable delivery of services, promotion of social and economic development as well as public participation in decision-making. These objects are complemented by section 24 environmental right in the Bill of Rights.  Municipal service delivery of water and sanitation, electricity, land matters and municipal health, should supplement, not compromise the state of local communities' environment and access should be equal. The absence of the latter may result in the form of environmental injustice as has been described by authors such as Bullard, McDonald and Schlosberg. In the event of service delivery-related environmental injustices, it is to be expected that communities must have remedial options available.  One of which may be accessible to the judicial system.   Therefore, this paper focuses on and explains the role that Municipal Courts specifically may play in fortifying the relationship between municipal service delivery and improved grass-root level environmental justice in South Africa. The underlying question is whether such courts can be agents of (environmental) change where local communities are exposed to environmental harm as a consequence of the failure of municipal services or the environmentally harmful actions of other community members or local industries. 

scholarly journals Air pollution perception in ten countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

AMBIO ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baowen Lou ◽  
Diego Maria Barbieri ◽  
Marco Passavanti ◽  
Cang Hui ◽  
Akshay Gupta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Pollutant Concentration ◽  
Demographic Indicators ◽  
Scale Response ◽  
Likert Scale Response ◽  
The Usa

AbstractAs largely documented in the literature, the stark restrictions enforced worldwide in 2020 to curb the COVID-19 pandemic also curtailed the production of air pollutants to some extent. This study investigates the perception of the air pollution as assessed by individuals located in ten countries: Australia, Brazil, China, Ghana, India, Iran, Italy, Norway, South Africa and the USA. The perceptions towards air quality were evaluated by employing an online survey administered in May 2020. Participants (N = 9394) in the ten countries expressed their opinions according to a Likert-scale response. A reduction in pollutant concentration was clearly perceived, albeit to a different extent, by all populations. The survey participants located in India and Italy perceived the largest drop in the air pollution concentration; conversely, the smallest variation was perceived among Chinese and Norwegian respondents. Among all the demographic indicators considered, only gender proved to be statistically significant.

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