Many of the same communities facing higher exposure to polluting facilities also face higher rates of respiratory and cardiac diseases

Black, Indigenous Peoples, and People of Color (BIPOC) and low-income communities are disproportionately exposed to environmental pollution and are more likely to be impacted by climate change, leaving these communities at higher risk of mortality and adverse health outcomes, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and heat-related illness.

Resources on the distribution of pollution-related health outcomes across the United States

• Khadke, S., Kumar, A., Al-Kindi, S., et al. March 2024. Association of Environmental Injustice and Cardiovascular Diseases and Risk Factors in the United States. Journal of the American Heart Association, 13(7). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.123.033428

• Beard, S., Freeman, K., Velasco, M.L. et al. “Racism as a public health issue in environmental health disparities and environmental justice: working toward solutions.” Environmental Health, 23(8). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-024-01052-8