Health disparities attributable to air pollutant exposure in North Carolina: Influence of residential environmental and social factors

• Published in: Health & place Vol. 62; pp. 102287 - 8
• Main Authors: Son, Ji-Young, Lane, Kevin J., Miranda, Marie Lynn, Bell, Michelle L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2020; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Air; Air pollution; Crossovers; Environmental impact; Environmental justice; Environmental policy; Exposure; Health disparities; Mortality; Mortality risk; Older people; Pollutants; Public health; Social factors; Social justice; Subpopulations; North Carolina; United States > US; Air pollution; Mortality; Environmental justice; Health disparities
• ISSN: 1353-8292; 1873-2054
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102287

Understanding the environmental justice implications of the mortality impacts of air pollution exposure is a public health priority, as some subpopulations may face a disproportionate health burden. We examined which residential environmental and social factors may affect disparities in the air pollution-mortality relationship in North Carolina, US, using a time-stratified case-crossover design. Results indicate that air pollution poses a higher mortality risk for some persons (e.g., elderly) than others. Our findings have implications for environmental justice regarding protection of those who suffer the most from exposure to air pollution and policies to protect their health. •Higher PM2.5-mortality effect estimates were associated with age and urbanicity.•Blacks in poor communities had the highest, most certain PM2.5-mortality estimate.•Multiple disparity factors, race and SES, may affect PM2.5-mortality burdens.