via Wikimedia
Global warming, rising sea levels, shrinking mountain glaciers, devastating hurricanes - climate change is real and Black people are often hit hardest by the effects.
In fact, the latest “State of the Air” report by the American Lung Association (ALA) shows that many of us are breathing in toxic air, and it's us who are disproportionately exposed.
“These warmer temperatures, wildfires, [and] changing weather patterns all lead to increased levels of ozone and particulate pollution,” explained Dr. David Tom Cooke, ALA spokesperson.
Residential segregation and environmental racism go hand-in-hand, and we suffer. Our communities are near busy highways and roads, and sources of pollution, like factories, toxic dumping sites, and industrial facilities.
The report cited a study that found Black communities have “pollution burden,” in which Black people are “exposed to about 56% more PM2.5 pollution air particulate than is caused by their consumption."
Another found that while white people contribute more to air pollution, Black communities disproportionately inhale unclean air.
Even a little bit of toxic air can have major health ramifications, and many us have health issues that can be connected to bad air, like asthma, eczema, cardiovascular issues, and cancer.
So with higher levels of air pollution in our communities, we need to see environmental justice as OUR issue - and fight for it.