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Race, Income, and Environmental Inequality in the U.S. States, 1990–2014

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  • Debra J. Salazar
  • Stacy Clauson
  • Troy D. Abel
  • Aran Clauson

Abstract

Objective To examine state‐level environmental inequality trends over time by constructing a new, longitudinal data set and comparing change in environmental and economic inequality. Methods We use Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) RSEI (Risk‐Screening Environmental Indicator) database to create measures of exposure to industrial air toxins and inequality in exposure by race and poverty status. Measures were calculated for each of three periods: 1990–1994, 2000–2004, and 2010–2014. Results Exposure declined but inequality persisted. The geographic patterns displayed by race‐ and poverty‐related environmental inequality differ. But, states with higher levels of race‐based inequality had higher levels of exposure. Poverty‐based environmental and economic inequality exhibited a moderate, positive relation that was spatially patterned. Conclusion While environmental quality improved, we saw little progress in reducing environmental inequality. Though both race‐ and poverty‐based inequality remain, they result from different mechanisms. Future research should examine the relations between deindustrialization and economic, environmental, and political inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Debra J. Salazar & Stacy Clauson & Troy D. Abel & Aran Clauson, 2019. "Race, Income, and Environmental Inequality in the U.S. States, 1990–2014," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 100(3), pages 592-603, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:100:y:2019:i:3:p:592-603
    DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.12608
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    Cited by:

    1. Luna, Marcos & Nicholas, Dominic, 2022. "An environmental justice analysis of distribution-level natural gas leaks in Massachusetts, USA," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    2. Grineski, Sara & Collins, Tim & Renteria, Roger & Rubio, Ricardo, 2021. "Multigenerational immigrant trajectories and children's unequal exposure to fine particulate matter in the US," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    3. Zheng, Shiming & Yao, Rongrong & Zou, Ke, 2022. "Provincial environmental inequality in China: Measurement, influence, and policy instrument choice," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).

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