AIR-POLLUTION HEALTH RISKS - DO CLASS AND RACE MATTER

Air pollution is not spread evenly across demographic groups. Exposure s and associated health risks appear to fall disproportionately on pop ulations that are poor and nonwhite. Although scientific evidence docu menting disparities in air pollution exposures, doses, and health effe cts is scant, the available data strongly support the contention that disadvantaged groups, many of whom are ethnic and racial minorities, r outinely encounter levels of air pollution that are higher than averag e. The extent to which exposure differentials contribute to observed d ifferences in health status by class and race is unknown, but worthy o f further investigation. We recommend several steps, all of them feasi ble and most of them relatively inexpensive, to improve our understand ing and ability to address environmental health disparities.