Low Income/Minority Communities And Their Proximity To Both Commercial Hazardous Waste Facilities And Polluting Industrial Ones
Low Income/Minority Communities And Their Proximity To Both
Commercial Hazardous Waste Facilities And Polluting Industrial Ones
The distribution of commercial hazardous waste facilities as well as polluting industrial ones both in California and across the U.S. is uneven leading to inequitable health and economic impacts. Low-income, minority, and immigrant communities are more likely to be situated near “hot spots” or “host areas”- areas where both greenhouse gas and co-pollutant emissions are either at or above average rates due to the type and amount of nearby facilities. Many of these facilities produce particulate pollution matter causing serious health effects such as respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease, premature death in addition to other health related issues.#
Racial Divide in “Host Areas”:
In 2000, approximately 9.2 million people lived within an estimated 2 miles of the nation’s 413 commercial hazardous waste facilities accounting for 3.3% of the entire U.S. population. In general, 55.9% people of color lived in a “host area,” a 9.7% increase since 1990. More specifically, at least 69.9% of minorities lived in a “host area” with one or more facility as opposed to only 30% of them living in areas with no facility at all.#
● Latinos represented at least 27.0% of those that lived in a “host area” while only 20.0% of African Americans, 6.7% of Asian/Pacific Islanders, and 0.7% of Native Americans lived in one.#
● Conversely, only about 4% of Latinos, 12% of African Americans, 4% of Asian/Pacific Islanders, and only 1% of Native Americans lived in neighborhoods with no facility at all.#
● Latinos were 2.3 times more likely to live in a “host area” with one or more facility while African Americans were 1.7 times as likely to do so compared to 1.8 times more likely for Asian/Pacific Islanders.#
California “Host Areas” And Their Racial Divide
45.9% of all Californians live within 6 miles of a polluting industrial facility such as a petroleum refinery, cement kiln, or power plant.#
● 62% of all Californians living within the 6 miles of the facility are people of color while only 38% are non-Hispanic Whites.#
● The percentage of African Americans living within half a mile of a facility is about twice as much as their share of the population living beyond 6 miles.#
● At least 40% of Latinos live within 2 1/2 miles from a facility as opposed to 28% of them living beyond 6 miles.#
● At least 21.4% of all California immigrants live within 6 miles of facility while only 12.2% of them live beyond the 6 mile range.#
There are at least 25 petroleum refineries, 108 power plants, and 13 cement kilns throughout California. Their particular matter emissions are not distributed evenly negatively impacting some neighborhoods more than others.#
● At least 2.3 million Californians live in areas with above average emissions in which 65.6% of them are people of color and only 34.4% are non-Hispanic whites.#
● An estimated 10.9 million Californians, or 32.4% of the State’s population, live in areas near average emission levels in which 62.35 of them are people of color and only 37.7% are non-Hispanic whites.#
● Only 6.6% of all Californians living near a “host area” actually live in a neighborhood with below average emission levels representing 56.5% people of color and 43.5% non-Hispanic whites.#
“Host Areas” Are Characterized By Great Income Inequalities:
● The poverty rate decreases for communities further away from any given facility and “host area.”#
● The poverty rate for people living within an estimated 4.5 miles of a facility was 18.3% as opposed to 12.2% beyond 4.5 miles.16-2#
● The mean household income in 2000 for people living within a “host area” was $8,678 lower than people living in neighborhoods with no facility at all; a 15% difference which increased since 1990.
● Mean household income is lower in neighborhoods with one or more facilities as opposed to neighborhoods with only on facility, an estimated $5,000 difference.
● There is a $12,048 mean household income greater difference between Metropolitan “host areas” and Metropolitan “non-host areas.”
● The mean housing value for properties near commercial hazardous waste facilities was $24,025 lower compared to the housing value of properties beyond the 4.5 mile threshold.
● Similarly, the mean owner-occupied housing value for metropolitan properties near commercial hazardous waste facilities was $36,858 lower compared to the housing value of properties beyond the 4.5 mile threshold.
Low Income/Minority Communities And Their Proximity To Both Commercial Hazardous Waste Facilities And Polluting Industrial Ones
The distribution of commercial hazardous waste facilities as well as polluting industrial ones both in California and across the U.S. is uneven leading to inequitable health and economic impacts. Low-income, minority, and immigrant communities are more likely to be situated near “hot spots” or “host areas”- areas where both greenhouse gas and co-pollutant emissions are either at or above average rates due to the type and amount of nearby facilities. Many of these facilities produce particulate pollution matter causing serious health effects such as respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease, premature death in addition to other health related issues.#
Racial Divide in “Host Areas”:In 2000, approximately 9.2 million people lived within an estimated 2 miles of the nation’s 413 commercial hazardous waste facilities accounting for 3.3% of the entire U.S. population. In general, 55.9% people of color lived in a “host area,” a 9.7% increase since 1990. More specifically, at least 69.9% of minorities lived in a “host area” with one or more facility as opposed to only 30% of them living in areas with no facility at all.#● Latinos represented at least 27.0% of those that lived in a “host area” while only 20.0% of African Americans, 6.7% of Asian/Pacific Islanders, and 0.7% of Native Americans lived in one.#● Conversely, only about 4% of Latinos, 12% of African Americans, 4% of Asian/Pacific Islanders, and only 1% of Native Americans lived in neighborhoods with no facility at all.#● Latinos were 2.3 times more likely to live in a “host area” with one or more facility while African Americans were 1.7 times as likely to do so compared to 1.8 times more likely for Asian/Pacific Islanders.#
California “Host Areas” And Their Racial Divide45.9% of all Californians live within 6 miles of a polluting industrial facility such as a petroleum refinery, cement kiln, or power plant.#● 62% of all Californians living within the 6 miles of the facility are people of color while only 38% are non-Hispanic Whites.#● The percentage of African Americans living within half a mile of a facility is about twice as much as their share of the population living beyond 6 miles.#● At least 40% of Latinos live within 2 1/2 miles from a facility as opposed to 28% of them living beyond 6 miles.#● At least 21.4% of all California immigrants live within 6 miles of facility while only 12.2% of them live beyond the 6 mile range.#
There are at least 25 petroleum refineries, 108 power plants, and 13 cement kilns throughout California. Their particular matter emissions are not distributed evenly negatively impacting some neighborhoods more than others.#● At least 2.3 million Californians live in areas with above average emissions in which 65.6% of them are people of color and only 34.4% are non-Hispanic whites.#● An estimated 10.9 million Californians, or 32.4% of the State’s population, live in areas near average emission levels in which 62.35 of them are people of color and only 37.7% are non-Hispanic whites.#● Only 6.6% of all Californians living near a “host area” actually live in a neighborhood with below average emission levels representing 56.5% people of color and 43.5% non-Hispanic whites.# “Host Areas” Are Characterized By Great Income Inequalities:● The poverty rate decreases for communities further away from any given facility and “host area.”# ● The poverty rate for people living within an estimated 4.5 miles of a facility was 18.3% as opposed to 12.2% beyond 4.5 miles.16-2#● The mean household income in 2000 for people living within a “host area” was $8,678 lower than people living in neighborhoods with no facility at all; a 15% difference which increased since 1990.● Mean household income is lower in neighborhoods with one or more facilities as opposed to neighborhoods with only on facility, an estimated $5,000 difference.● There is a $12,048 mean household income greater difference between Metropolitan “host areas” and Metropolitan “non-host areas.”● The mean housing value for properties near commercial hazardous waste facilities was $24,025 lower compared to the housing value of properties beyond the 4.5 mile threshold.● Similarly, the mean owner-occupied housing value for metropolitan properties near commercial hazardous waste facilities was $36,858 lower compared to the housing value of properties beyond the 4.5 mile threshold.
