Warner Sydni C, Sagovac Simone, Godwin Christopher, Xia Tian, Batterman Stuart
Ms. Sydni C. Warner is a Project Manager at the JFM Consulting Group, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Ms. Simone Sagovac is a Project Director at the Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Environ Justice. 2023 Aug 1;16(4):286-296. doi: 10.1089/env.2021.0085.
Low-income urban communities of color, specifically African American and Hispanic populations living in industrial areas, are disproportionately affected by environmental health hazards, including exposure to air pollution and noise. In Southwest Detroit, a densely populated area with extensive industry and traffic, many residents are chronically exposed to air and noise pollution, contributing to a high prevalence of chronic illnesses such as asthma and cardiovascular disease.
To better understand environmental health concerns and perceptions of environmental hazards, we conducted phone interviews with 22 residents in Southwest Detroit. During the interviews, participants were asked to reflect on reports of air and noise pollution based on monitoring inside and outside of their home, how their health might be affected, and to identify their main environmental health concerns.
Through qualitative analysis of phone interview notes, we identified truck traffic and inadequate mitigation efforts as concerns for Southwest Detroit residents. Our results suggested that study participants are aware of their disproportionate exposures to air and noise pollution and that while some residents are actively involved in environmental justice efforts, additional structural preventive measures including reduced pollutant emissions, are necessary to preserve public health.
This study demonstrates that residents of Southwest Detroit are aware of high levels of both air pollutants and noise and perceive environmental exposures as critical components affecting health, both key aspects of environmental health literacy. This awareness, along with policy change, can facilitate community involvement in evaluating, understanding, and potentially abating air and noise pollution among minority populations.
城市中低收入有色人种社区，特别是居住在工业区的非裔美国人和西班牙裔人口，受到环境健康危害的影响尤为严重，包括接触空气污染和噪音。在底特律西南部，这是一个人口密集、工业和交通广泛的地区，许多居民长期暴露于空气和噪音污染中，导致哮喘和心血管疾病等慢性病的高发病率。
为了更好地了解环境健康问题以及对环境危害的认知，我们对底特律西南部的22名居民进行了电话访谈。在访谈过程中，参与者被要求根据其家中内外的监测情况，反思空气污染和噪音污染的报告，以及他们的健康可能受到的影响，并确定他们主要的环境健康问题。
通过对电话访谈记录的定性分析，我们确定卡车交通和缓解措施不足是底特律西南部居民关注的问题。我们的结果表明，研究参与者意识到他们在空气污染和噪音污染方面的暴露程度不成比例，虽然一些居民积极参与环境正义努力，但包括减少污染物排放在内的额外结构性预防措施对于保护公众健康是必要的。
这项研究表明，底特律西南部的居民意识到空气污染物和噪音水平都很高，并将环境暴露视为影响健康的关键因素，这是环境健康素养的两个关键方面。这种意识，连同政策变化，可以促进社区参与评估、理解并可能减少少数族裔人群中的空气污染和噪音污染。
