People of Color

This data is included as part of the Environmental Health Disparities Version 3.0 map. To see this map, visit our webpage. For more technical information on this map and the model used, visit our Environmental Health Disparities Map Report Version 3.0. Background Racial discrimination leads to differences in exposure to environmental hazards and air pollution. Historically minoritized communities of color and ethnic minorities are disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards. This is true regardless of income. Potentially harmful sites are more likely to be built in communities of color. These include places like superfund sites, hazardous waste sites, landfills, and factories. People living near these places can be exposed to harmful things like toxic waste and pollution. Minoritized communities are also exposed to more air pollution, lead, and climate change impacts. More exposure leads to more health impacts for people in those communities. Racism also affects things like access to healthy food, financial security, housing, and health care. These can directly and indirectly affect the health impacts of exposure to pollution. Children and women of color are especially at risk for health problems caused by pollution. These risks include negative birth outcomes, heart and lung diseases, and more hospitalizations due to chronic health conditions. Evidence Racial and ethnic groups are unequally affected by environmental risk factors. Historically minoritized communities are more likely to be exposed to air pollution [1]. Water systems serving Latino communities are more likely to have high nitrate levels in drinking water [2]. Superfund sites and other hazardous sites are more likely to be built near communities of color [3]. Black communities have higher death rates after exposure to increased ozone levels [4]. Black and American Indian/Alaska Native adults are more likely to have asthma. This is made worse by air pollution [5]. Data source 2022 population estimates from the Washington State Office of Financial Management Methods The data we used come from the Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM). OFM uses mathematical models of births, deaths, and migration to make demographic estimates. They base these models on numbers obtained from the Census Bureau. OFM calls its numbers "estimates" because they are not an actual count of people. We added together the OFM estimates for all race/ethnicity categories EXCEPT White and Non-Hispanic. This includes: Black. American Indian/Alaskan Native. Asian. Native Hawaiian-Other Pacific Islander. Two or more races. The ethnicity grouping of "Spanish/Hispanic/Latino". We then calculated the percentage of people of color by dividing by the estimated total population. Sources Kravitz-Wirtz, N., Crowder, K., Hajat, A., & Sass, V. (2016). The long-term dynamics of racial/ethnic inequality in neighborhood air pollution exposure, 1990-2009. Du Bois Review, 13(2), 237-59. Schaider, L.A., Swetschinski, L., Campbell, C. et al. (2019). Environmental justice and drinking water quality: are there socioeconomic disparities in nitrate levels in U.S. drinking water? Environ Health, 18, 3. Pollock, P., & Vittas, M. (1995). Who bears the burdens of environmental pollution? Race, ethnicity, and environmental equity in Florida. Social Science Quarterly, 76(2), 294-310 Bell, M., & Dominici, F. (2008). Effect modification by community characteristics on the short term effects of ozone exposure and mortality in 98 US communities. American Journal of Epidemiology, 167(8), 986-97. Washington State Department of Health (DOH). (2013) The burden of asthma in Washington state: 2013 update. https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/345-240-AsthmaBurdenRept13.pdf Citation Washington Tracking Network, Washington State Department of Health. Web. "People of color". Data obtained from the Office of Financial Management, 2022 Population Estimates Data. Published September 2025.本数据集为环境健康差异第3.0版（Environmental Health Disparities Version 3.0）地图的组成部分。如需查看该地图，请访问官方网页；如需了解该地图及所用模型的更多技术细节，请查阅《环境健康差异地图报告第3.0版》。 ## 背景 种族歧视会导致人群在环境危害与空气污染暴露层面出现显著差异。历史上长期遭受边缘化的有色人种与少数族裔社群，其环境危害暴露水平显著高于其他群体，且这一现象不受收入水平影响。有害场所更易选址于少数族裔社区，包括超级基金场地（superfund sites）、危险废物场地、垃圾填埋场与工厂等。居住在这些场所周边的人群，会接触到有毒废物、污染物等有害物质。此外，少数族裔社群还面临更高水平的空气污染、铅暴露以及气候变化影响。更高的暴露水平会为这些社群带来更严重的健康后果。种族主义同时还会影响健康食品获取、金融保障、住房与医疗保健等资源的可及性，这些因素会直接或间接影响污染暴露带来的健康影响。其中，少数族裔儿童与女性因污染引发健康问题的风险尤为突出，这些风险包括不良妊娠结局、心肺疾病，以及因慢性健康状况导致的更高住院率。 ## 证据 不同种族与族裔群体受环境风险因素的影响存在不均等性。历史上长期遭受边缘化的社群，其空气污染暴露水平普遍更高[1]。为拉丁裔社群供水的饮用水系统，其饮用水中硝酸盐含量超标的可能性更高[2]。超级基金场地（superfund sites）与其他危险场所更易选址于少数族裔社区附近[3]。在臭氧水平升高的环境暴露后，黑人社区的死亡率更高[4]。黑人与美洲印第安人/阿拉斯加原住民成年人的哮喘患病率更高，而空气污染会进一步加重这一病情[5]。 ## 数据来源 华盛顿州财政管理办公室（Washington State Office of Financial Management）2022年人口估算数据。 ## 研究方法 本研究所用数据由华盛顿州财政管理办公室（Washington State Office of Financial Management, OFM）提供。该办公室基于美国人口普查局获取的统计数据，通过生育、死亡与移民的数学模型开展人口统计估算。由于该数据并非实际人口普查计数，OFM将其命名为"人口估算值"。本研究将除白人及非西班牙裔之外所有种族/族裔类别的OFM人口估算值进行加总，涵盖以下群体：黑人、美洲印第安人/阿拉斯加原住民、亚裔、夏威夷原住民-其他太平洋岛民、多种族群体，以及"西班牙裔/拉丁裔"族裔类别。随后以总估算人口为分母，计算得到少数族裔人口占总人群的比例。 ## 参考文献 [1] Kravitz-Wirtz, N., Crowder, K., Hajat, A., & Sass, V. (2016). 1990-2009年邻里空气污染暴露中种族/族裔不平等的长期动态. 《杜波依斯评论》, 13(2), 237-259. [2] Schaider, L.A., Swetschinski, L., Campbell, C. 等. (2019). 环境正义与饮用水水质：美国饮用水中硝酸盐水平是否存在社会经济差异？《环境健康》, 18, 3. [3] Pollock, P., & Vittas, M. (1995). 谁承担了环境污染的负担？佛罗里达州的种族、族裔与环境公平. 《社会科学季刊》, 76(2), 294-310. [4] Bell, M., & Dominici, F. (2008). 社区特征对美国98个社区臭氧暴露短期效应与死亡率的修正效应. 《美国流行病学杂志》, 167(8), 986-997. [5] 华盛顿州卫生部（Washington State Department of Health, DOH）. (2013) 华盛顿州哮喘负担：2013年更新. https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/345-240-AsthmaBurdenRept13.pdf ## 引用格式 华盛顿追踪网络（Washington Tracking Network），华盛顿州卫生部. 网络资源. "少数族裔群体"数据源自财政管理办公室2022年人口估算数据. 发布于2025年9月.