Environmental Justice and Environmental Health

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Environmental Justice and Environmental Health
Northern Manhattan Beyond
Grassroots AcademyApril 26, 2007

• Anhthu Hoang, General Counsel
• West Harlem Environmental Action
• (WE ACT for Environmental Justice)

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WHAT IS AIR POLLUTION
Definition Chemical, physical or biological
agents that alter the natural characteristics
of the Earths atmosphere
Examples Chemical Polycyclicaromatic
hydrocarbons (PAH) Persistent Organic
Pollutants (POPs) Physical Particulate
matter (PM), nuclear radiation Biological
Pollen, mold, germ warfare
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SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION
Human activities Manufacturing, trade
warfare Fuel power production Agricultural
production burning Transportation Household
activities waste disposal Construction Natura
l? Volcanic eruptions, wildlife emissions,
dust, wildfires, radiation
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ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF AIR
POLLUTION
Human Disease Cancer Cardiovascular
disease Respiratory disease Neurological
developmental Biological Environmental
Impacts Plant wildlife disease Genetic loss
species extinction Physical Environmental
Impacts Global Warming Climate change Acid
rain urban heat island
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NORTHERN MANHATTAN

• Demographics
• 4 communities
• East, Central, West Harlem Washington Hts
• Over 600,000 people
• in 7.4 mi2
• 44 African-American
• 44 Latino
• Median household income 14,896 (Central Harlem)
  29,479 (Morningside Hts)

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Evidence of Disproportionate Exposures in the
United States

• United Church of Christ Toxic Waste Race
  (1987)
• 3 of 5 black and Hispanic Americans live in
  communities with ? 1 unregulated waste site(s)
• Race single most important variable explaining
  proximity to toxic waste site
• Percentage of local population composed of people
  of color directly correlated with number of
  commercial waste sites
• 1994 Update
• 1980-1993 percent people of color in all zip
  codes w/ toxic waste facilities increased from
  25 to 31

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Northern Manhattan Sources of Pollution

• Six of seven Manhattan bus depots
• Municipal diesel garbage truck depots
• North River Sewage Treatment Plant
• Poor housing (roughly 70 housing units built
  before 1930)
• N. Manhattan hosts major inter- city truck routes
• Except E. Harlem with 28.3

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Lack of Positive Environmental Factors

• Lowest per capita and per acre ratio of parks,
  open space, grocery stores
• Poor pedestrian safety discourages physical
  activity, resulting in dangerous sedentary
  lifestyles
• Co-location of industrial land uses with housing
  creates incentive to stay indoors

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Impact on Environmental Health Asthma

• Health Disparities
• Black children asthma 237 the rate of white
  children (2001)
• People of color mortality rate 250 whites (2000)
• East Harlems childhood morbidity rate is 300
  citywide average and 600 national average
• Environmental links
• Diesel, PM, ozone other asthma triggers
• Housing disrepair lead to pests allergens

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Impact on Environmental Health Childhood Lead
Poisoning

• National Childhood Lead Poisoning Rates
• 64 children of color
• 12 white
• 36 unknown race
• (Centers for Disease Control, 2000)
• In NYC, 90 of new cases involve children of
  color
• (NYC DOHMH, 2001)

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Impact on Overall Environmental Health

• Poor Birth Outcomes
• Low Birthweight
• High Infant Mortality almost 2x city average
• Poor Adult Health
• Women who are overweight gt 2x state average
• Diabetes almost 2x state average
• Poor Cardiovascular Health
• Mental health and emotional distress

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For More Information
Anhthu Hoang WE ACT 271 W. 125th St. Suite
308 New York, NY 10027 anhthu_at_weact.org 212-961-10
00, Ext. 311