Urban air pollution and health inequities: A workshop report

Over the past three decades, an array of legislation with attendant regulat ions has been implemented to enhance the quality of the environment and the reby improve the public's health. Despite the many beneficial changes that have followed, there remains a disproportionately higher prevalence of harm ful environmental exposures, particularly air pollution, for certain popula tions. These populations most often reside in urban settings, have low soci oeconomic status, and include a large proportion of ethnic minorities. The disparities between racial/ethnic minority and/or low-income populations in cities and the general population in terms of environmental exposures and related health risks have prompted the "environmental justice" or "environm ental equity" movement, which strives to create cleaner environments for th e most polluted communities. Achieving cleaner environments will require in terventions based on scientific data specific to the populations at risk; h owever, research in this area has been relatively limited. To assess the cu rrent scientific information on urban air pollution and its health impacts and to help set the agenda for immediate intervention and future research, the American Lung Association organized an invited workshop on Urban Air Po llution and Health Inequities held 22-24 October 1999 in Washington, DC. Th is report builds on literature reviews and summarizes the discussions of wo rking groups charged with addressing key areas relevant to air pollution an d health effects in urban environments. An overview was provided of the sta te of the science for health impacts of air pollution and technologies avai lable for air quality monitoring and exposure assessment. The working group s then prioritized research needs to address the knowledge gaps and develop ed recommendations for community interventions and public policy to begin t o remedy the exposure and health inequities.