REVIEW ARTICLE “RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DISPARITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: WORKING TOWARD SOLUTIONS”

Background

Environmental health research in America shows that people from ethnic minorities and low-income groups are exposed to greater environmental exposures which have a greater impact on health. Systemic racism is a major cause of these disparities. To address this issue, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) collaborates with community leaders, researchers, and staff to discuss and advance environmental justice initiatives and raise awareness of environmental racism.

 

Introduction

·       NIEHS efforts focused on environmental health disparities

In the United States, certain communities, particularly racial minorities and low-income communities, are disproportionately impacted by toxic waste and hazardous materials due to systemic environmental racism. These groups are at greater health risk because they often live closer to pollution sources. To address these disparities, NIEHS established the School of Environmental Health Disparities and Environmental Justice (EHD and EJ) in 2020. This group focuses on advancing environmental justice research, promoting health equity, and increasing collaboration between NIEHS and impacted communities.

·       NIEHS workshop addresses issues of racism and environmental health disparities

On December 10, 2021, NIEHS held a virtual workshop entitled “Addressing Racism as a Public Health Issue in Light of Environmental Health Disparities and Environmental Justice.” This workshop was held in collaboration with NIEHS EHD and EJ faculty and community partners and aims to increase awareness of systemic environmental justice issues. Keynote addresses and panel discussions explored research and education strategies to address health disparities. This commentary summarizes the workshop findings and action plan, and provides recommendations for NIEHS, other agencies, and communities to combat environmental racism and advance health equity.

·       Key environmental justice issues in communities

Workshop speakers focused on environmental justice issues and aimed to encourage research and action to improve health equity. They discuss how gentrification is causing conflict over projects like pipelines and mining in historically isolated communities. In North Carolina, concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Black and low-income communities cause significant water and air pollution, worsening respiratory and overall health. Natural disasters further increase pollution. Additionally, public schools in urban, rural, and tribal areas suffer from chronic pollution and structural problems that contribute to respiratory illnesses, neurodevelopmental problems, high absenteeism rates, and declining student academic achievement.

·       Partnerships with latino communities

The Safe and Just Cleaners project, funded by the NIEHS Research to Action program, is a collaboration between Make the Road New York (MRNY), Queen's University, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the University of Massachusetts Lowell. This initiative takes a participatory approach to protect the health of Latina cleaners.

·       Partnerships with urban communities

Funded by the NIEHS Research to Action program, the Community Action to Promote Healthy Environments (CAPHE) project aims to improve air quality and health in Detroit. This includes equal partnerships and collaboration between community-based organizations, health professionals, environmental groups, and academic researchers at the University of Michigan.

·       Partnerships with native American tribes

A partnership between researchers and the Navajo Nation addresses environmental threats, including heavy metals and particulate matter, from more than 500 abandoned uranium mines on Navajo land. This collaboration strengthens relationships with federal authorities and develops plans to protect tribal health.

·       Partnerships with indigenous and Alaska tribes

The Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) and academic researchers are collaborating with the Yupik Indian Nation on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, in a project funded by the NIEHS Research to Action program. This partnership, involving the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Middlebury University, the University at Albany, and Emory University, aims to clean up PCBs, solvents, pesticides, lead, mercury, asbestos, and emerging contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from two abandoned Cold War military bases on the island.Top of Form

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·       Recommendations for the future

Partnerships between academic researchers and community-based organizations can significantly improve public health, especially in regions facing environmental racism and health disparities. However, major challenges must be overcome to advance environmental justice and effective collaborative research.

 

Conclusion

Workshop speakers outlined a variety of factors that contribute to environmental injustice, including environmental, spatial, ethical, political, cultural, social, and scientific issues. Community-academic partnerships offer great potential for advancing environmental justice, but major barriers and challenges remain.

(State University of Surabaya, Undergraduate Study Program Islamic Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business)