Environmental and Social Justice on the Border of Five Major U.S. Cities

Abstract

This study examines environmental and social justice metrics on the city and suburban borders of five major U.S. cities: Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and New York. The author expected a marked increase in measures of social injustice at the border but not for every environmental indicator. Using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)s EJSCREEN tool, 18 variables were extracted for 276 circular zones with a 1-mile radius (3.14 square miles) on both sides of the city-suburb border. The analysis found expected major differences at the border in low income, formal educational achievement, and minority populations, especially in Detroit and Philadelphia. Environmental indicators were much less clearly demarcated at the borders. Ozone and lead, as expected, did not demonstrate a border effect. Localized particulates, including fine particulates, and toxic air pollutants were disproportionately concentrated on the city side of borders, and higher values moderately correlated with lower income, minority, and linguistically isolated populations. Environmental exposure at the border is lower than that at clustered concentrations around ports, industrial centers, and other densely developed locations. However, it clearly exists and needs to be included in multipronged efforts to reduce environmental injustice.