By David Halperin
A new study released today finds that the Americans who live near hazardous chemical industrial facilities are disproportionately African American or Latino, are more likely to live in poverty, and have lower incomes and education levels than the national average. These trends accelerate rapidly as one gets closer to the “fenceline” areas nearest dangerous chemical plants.
More than 134 million people live in danger zones created by about 3400 U.S. facilities that manufacture chemicals, produce paper, treat water, generate electric power, refine petroleum, or otherwise use or store hazardous materials. Millions more people work in or visit these areas.
The study examined the people living close to chemical plants and found:
- The poverty rate for the fenceline zones is 50% higher than for the U.S. as a whole.
- Average household incomes in the fenceline zones are 22% below the national average.
- The percentage of adults in the fenceline zones with less than a high school degree is 46%
greater than for the U.S. as a whole. - The percentage of Blacks in the fenceline zones is 75% greater than for the U.S. as a whole.
- The percentage of Latinos in the fenceline zones is 60% greater than for the U.S. as a whole.
Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment