Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1367407
PolicyLink and PERE 88 An Equity Profile of Orange County 62 57 58 54 46 44 71 67 69 64 62 60 Below poverty Above poverty Below poverty Above poverty Below poverty Above poverty Orange County California United States 62 57 58 54 46 44 71 67 69 64 62 Below poverty Above poverty Below poverty Above poverty Below poverty Above poverty Orange County California U.S. White People of color People of color in poverty face highest pollution exposure Healthy neighborhoods are free of pollution and toxins that undermine the safety, health, and well-being of their residents. Neighborhoods with high concentrations of low-income families and people of color are more likely to be exposed to environmental hazards, putting them at higher risk for chronic diseases and premature death. In 2015, for cancer and non-cancer risk, people of color living above the federal poverty level actually had a higher air pollution exposure than white residents living below the federal poverty level—with the pattern holding for Orange County, California, and the United States overall. Pollution exposure index values range from 1 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) on a national scale. The index value is based on percentile ranking each risk measure across all census tracts in the United States and taking the average ranking for each geography and demographic group shown. People of color above the poverty level face a higher pollution burden than white people below the poverty level Connectedness 87. Air Pollution Exposure Index by Race/Ethnicity and Poverty Status, Cancer and Non-Cancer Risk, 2015 Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2011 National Air Toxics Assessment; U.S. Census Bureau. Universe includes all persons not in group quarters. Note: While data on people by race/ethnicity and poverty status reflect a 2011 through 2015 average, data on air pollution are from 2011. See the "Data and methods" section for details on the pollution exposure index calculations.