New research reveals that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air quality monitors are disproportionately placed in predominantly white neighborhoods, leaving communities of color under-protected from harmful pollutants like particulate matter, ozone, nitrous dioxide, and lead. This disparity has significant implications for public health and raises questions about whether the EPA has adequate monitors and is positioning them effectively.
"It seems like an obvious problem, but we don't see much about … how there's a measurement error in the gold standard for data collection," said Brenna Kelly, a University of Utah doctoral student and co-author of the study. She explained that the data collected by these monitors form the basis for pollution thresholds and determining which populations are most vulnerable to air pollution.
The researchers analyzed nearly 8,000 EPA monitors nationwide, comparing their locations to census block data. The study consistently found fewer monitors in areas with predominantly non-white populations. Chemicals like sulfur dioxide—emitted during natural gas extraction, oil refining, and metal processing—had the largest monitoring gaps for Native American and Pacific Islander groups. Sulfur dioxide exposure can lead to respiratory issues and exacerbate existing health problems.
According to Kelly, the process of determining monitor placement "can get pretty political," with wealthier, more politically powerful communities potentially influencing decisions. This disparity reflects broader issues of systemic inequality. "It's probably part of institutionalized racism," Kelly noted, explaining how marginalized groups are often allocated fewer resources.
The EPA's current monitoring system relies on single-point measurements to estimate regional air quality through interpolation, a method that can leave significant gaps. The study found that these gaps often affect communities of color.
Improving monitoring requires a multi-faceted approach. Satellite imagery could offer broader pollution tracking, but Kelly emphasized the need for more ground-level monitors to complement satellite data. "That's the big question: 'How do we get better data?'" Kelly said. "The dream is that we understand air pollution in every area at all times."
Link: The Guardian
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