AAAR 37th Annual Conference October 14 - October 18, 2019 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Environmental Justice and Fine Particulate Matter Exposure in California
SARAH CHAMBLISS, David Paolella, Christopher Tessum, Joshua Apte, Julian Marshall, University of Texas at Austin
Abstract Number: 803 Working Group: Aerosol Exposure
Abstract Studies investigating environmental justice (EJ) issues in air pollution have found that non-white communities experience higher exposure to air toxics, diesel particulate matter, and other PM2.5 constituents. With recent advances in reduced-complexity air quality models, researchers have expanded EJ analyses to include all major sources of anthropogenic air pollution and consider effects throughout the United States. In this study, we quantify the exposure disparities by race and socioeconomic status that result from anthropogenic emissions within the state of California and surrounding areas, with a view to identify control strategies with substantial EJ benefits. We use a version of the InMAP Source-Receptor Matrix centered around the state of California to examine the contribution of 60 major categories of primary PM2.5 and precursor emissions to exposure across a range of demographic groups. We find that compared to a population-weighted average concentration of 6.8 µg/m3, the white population average concentration is lower by 18%, while Hispanic, Asian, and black populations experience 17%, 6%, and 15% higher concentrations. Industrial emissions sources contribute most to this disparity, followed by on-road mobile sources, with the total magnitude and importance of different subcategories varying by race. Primary PM2.5 contributes more (61-63%) to exposure disparity among black and Asian populations, while the increased exposure among Hispanics is less strongly influenced by secondary PM2.5 (38%). When stratifying results by income, we see that exposure varies by income for white and Asian populations, but there is no relationship between exposure and income for Hispanic and black populations. These nuanced results reveal a number of possible strategies for reducing overall PM2.5 exposure and reducing exposure inequity in California and its surroundings.