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Inequities in ambient fine particulate matter: A spatiotemporal analysis in Canadian communities.

Authors :
Kirby-McGregor M
Chen C
Chen H
Benmarhnia T
Kaufman JS
Source :
The Science of the total environment [Sci Total Environ] 2023 Feb 01; Vol. 858 (Pt 1), pp. 159766. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Oct 26.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Background: Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> ) is associated with adverse health outcomes but communities are not randomly exposed to PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> . Previous cross-sectional environmental injustice analyses in Canada found disproportionately higher exposure to PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> in low-income populations, visible minorities and immigrants. Beyond static surveillance, it is also important to evaluate how changes in PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> exposure over time may differentially impact disadvantaged communities. We examine whether communities with different sociodemographic characteristics benefited equitably from the overall decreases in ambient concentrations of PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> from 2001 to 2016 in Canada.<br />Methods: We derived census tract level estimates of average annual PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> using validated satellite-based estimations of annual average PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> concentration surfaces. We investigated how the spatial distribution of PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> has evolved over 15 years (2001-2016) by comparing absolute values and rank percentiles of census tract level annual average PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> concentrations in 2001 and 2016. Using decennial census data and multivariable linear regression, we determined if sociodemographic characteristics are associated with changes in exposure to PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> , accounting for geographic boundary changes between census periods.<br />Results: Overall, ambient PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> concentrations decreased from 2001 (median of 9.1 μg/m <superscript>3</superscript> ) to 2016 (median of 6.4 μg/m <superscript>3</superscript> ), with varying provincial patterns. Across communities, ranked census tract specific PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> in 2001 and in 2016 are highly correlated (Spearman's rho = 0.75). We found that, on average and accounting for provincial differences and baseline PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> , communities with greater density of aboriginal population, lower education, higher shelter-cost-to-income ratio, unemployment or lower income experienced smaller absolute decreases in PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> from 2001 to 2016.<br />Conclusions: Identifying sociodemographic groups that benefit least from decreasing exposure to PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> highlights the need to consider environmental injustice when designing or revising air pollution policies.<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Hong Chen reports financial support was provided by Government of Canada.<br /> (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1879-1026
Volume :
858
Issue :
Pt 1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
The Science of the total environment
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
36309259
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159766