fbpx

New study shines light on environmental racism’s health consequences

Environmental racism harms children's health, leading to neurotoxic chemical exposure and developmental delays.

Children from low-income families and families of color are exposed to more neurotoxic chemicals and experience greater harm that affects brain development and contributes to developmental delays, according to a review in the peer-reviewed journal, Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP).

What Are Neurotoxic Chemicals?

Neurotoxic chemicals include lead, particulate matter, organophosphate pesticides, PBDE flame retardants, PCBs, and phthalates in air, water, soil, food, food packaging, and plastics.

Who Performed the Research?

The 2023 study, “Disparities in Toxic Chemical Exposures and Associated Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: A Scoping Review and Systematic Evidence Map of the Epidemiological Literature,” is based on research by an alliance of scientists, medical professionals, and environmental advocates who are part of  Project TENDR and focuses on exposure to a range of neurotoxic chemicals.

The EHP review notes that neurotoxic chemicals can harm brain development and cause developmental delays in children — problems that can be amplified by poverty and “policies and processes such as racial residential segregation, disproportionate citing of polluting sources in communities of color, and government-backed policies to dispossess Native Americans of their lands and cultures.”

The studies examined exposure to combustion-related air pollution, like car exhaust or industrial emissions, which increases the risk of respiratory ailments, heart disease, and strokes, as well as exposure to lead, which can cause developmental delays, neurological problems, and behavioral challenges in children.

Findings confirmed by the analysis include:

  • Children in communities of color and low-income communities were exposed to larger concentrations of air pollution, phthalates and lead, as well as organophosphate pesticides.
  • Babies living in economically disinvested neighborhoods in their first year of life and exposed to air pollution were more likely to be diagnosed with autism.
  • Lower socioeconomic status magnified the harmful effects of lead exposure on children’s cognitive function.
  • Air pollution exposure was associated with adverse performance IQ scores in children.

Toxic exposure has lifelong consequences

The combined research demonstrates that environmental injustice impacts the health of all age groups and has lifelong implications.

Devon Payne-Sturges, co-lead author and associate professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health, notes that children are exposed to many neurotoxicants at a time, which he says is the crux of the problem. “Policies that allow these exposures to continue are really just stealing children’s future potential,” he said. “And we wanted to highlight this issue about cumulative exposures and cumulative effects.”

The researchers are hopeful their work will inspire targeted interventions, shape new policies, and encourage greater investment to eliminate health disparities. Their finding also bolsters the need for a greater emphasis on the role of race when researchers are studying harmful environmental exposures.

How We Help Victims of Toxic Exposure

With a national presence and a wealth of experience prosecuting toxic exposure cases, Waters Kraus & Paul has battled corporate giants on behalf of individuals like you for 20 years, aggressively fighting to hold them responsible for failing to keep workers safe. If you have suffered catastrophic injury or cancer caused by exposure to harmful chemicals, we can help.

What are my chances?

That’s the first question everyone asks. The truth is it’s impossible to know. But we can tell you this. Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel has what it takes to fight against big corporate interests and win. That’s why we’ve taken more mesothelioma trials to verdict than any other firm. And that’s why we’ve recovered more than $1.3 billion for clients like you. Do you think you have a case? Contact us now to speak with an attorney.

Call 800.226.9880