Disparities in Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Exposures at the US–Mexico Border: The Intersection of Race/Ethnicity and Older Age
Environmental justice research in the United States (US) documents greater air pollution exposures for Hispanic/Latino vs. non-Hispanic White groups. EJ research has not focused on the intersection of race/ethnicity and older age nor short-term fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>)...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/5/610 |
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| author | Timothy W. Collins Colby M. Child Sara E. Grineski Mathilda Scott |
| author_facet | Timothy W. Collins Colby M. Child Sara E. Grineski Mathilda Scott |
| author_sort | Timothy W. Collins |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Environmental justice research in the United States (US) documents greater air pollution exposures for Hispanic/Latino vs. non-Hispanic White groups. EJ research has not focused on the intersection of race/ethnicity and older age nor short-term fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) exposures. We address these knowledge gaps by studying US metropolitan area census tracts within 100 km of the US–Mexico border, a region with serious air quality issues. We use US Census American Community Survey data to construct sociodemographic variables and Environmental Protection Agency Downscaler data to construct long-term and short-term measures of PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure. Using multivariable generalized estimating equations, we test for differences in PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposures between census tracts with higher vs. lower proportions of older Hispanic/Latino residents and older non-Hispanic White residents. The results indicate that as the proportion of the Hispanic/Latino population ≥ 65 years of age increases, long-term and short-term PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposures significantly increase. In contrast, as the proportion of the non-Hispanic White population ≥ 65 years of age increases, changes in long-term and short-term PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposures are statistically non-significant. These findings illuminate how race/ethnicity and older age intersect in shaping PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure disparities and may inform efforts to mitigate air pollution exposures for overburdened people along the US–Mexico border. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1c8dcf00a3a148d3b6da50aeb8bc9ef0 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj-art-1c8dcf00a3a148d3b6da50aeb8bc9ef02025-08-20T02:33:38ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-05-0116561010.3390/atmos16050610Disparities in Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Exposures at the US–Mexico Border: The Intersection of Race/Ethnicity and Older AgeTimothy W. Collins0Colby M. Child1Sara E. Grineski2Mathilda Scott3School of Environment, Society, and Sustainability, Center for Natural & Technological Hazards, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USACenter for Natural & Technological Hazards, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USADepartment of Sociology, Center for Natural & Technological Hazards, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USADepartment of Sociology, Center for Natural & Technological Hazards, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USAEnvironmental justice research in the United States (US) documents greater air pollution exposures for Hispanic/Latino vs. non-Hispanic White groups. EJ research has not focused on the intersection of race/ethnicity and older age nor short-term fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) exposures. We address these knowledge gaps by studying US metropolitan area census tracts within 100 km of the US–Mexico border, a region with serious air quality issues. We use US Census American Community Survey data to construct sociodemographic variables and Environmental Protection Agency Downscaler data to construct long-term and short-term measures of PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure. Using multivariable generalized estimating equations, we test for differences in PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposures between census tracts with higher vs. lower proportions of older Hispanic/Latino residents and older non-Hispanic White residents. The results indicate that as the proportion of the Hispanic/Latino population ≥ 65 years of age increases, long-term and short-term PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposures significantly increase. In contrast, as the proportion of the non-Hispanic White population ≥ 65 years of age increases, changes in long-term and short-term PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposures are statistically non-significant. These findings illuminate how race/ethnicity and older age intersect in shaping PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure disparities and may inform efforts to mitigate air pollution exposures for overburdened people along the US–Mexico border.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/5/610air pollutionPM<sub>2.5</sub>hazardsenvironmental justiceolder agerace |
| spellingShingle | Timothy W. Collins Colby M. Child Sara E. Grineski Mathilda Scott Disparities in Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Exposures at the US–Mexico Border: The Intersection of Race/Ethnicity and Older Age Atmosphere air pollution PM<sub>2.5</sub> hazards environmental justice older age race |
| title | Disparities in Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Exposures at the US–Mexico Border: The Intersection of Race/Ethnicity and Older Age |
| title_full | Disparities in Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Exposures at the US–Mexico Border: The Intersection of Race/Ethnicity and Older Age |
| title_fullStr | Disparities in Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Exposures at the US–Mexico Border: The Intersection of Race/Ethnicity and Older Age |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disparities in Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Exposures at the US–Mexico Border: The Intersection of Race/Ethnicity and Older Age |
| title_short | Disparities in Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Exposures at the US–Mexico Border: The Intersection of Race/Ethnicity and Older Age |
| title_sort | disparities in fine particulate matter air pollution exposures at the us mexico border the intersection of race ethnicity and older age |
| topic | air pollution PM<sub>2.5</sub> hazards environmental justice older age race |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/5/610 |
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