By Kayla Rinderknecht, MPH & Paul Mathewson, Ph.D.
Summary
Non-white and lower income populations have higher cumulative environmental health risk burden in their neighborhoods in most Wisconsin urban areas analyzed. Lead paint exposure, traffic-related air pollution, hazardous pollution sources, and impervious surfaces are the most important contributors to these racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities.
Key takeaways:
- Consistent with our prior statewide analysis, non-white and lower income populations experience a higher overall environmental exposure burden within most urban areas analyzed.
- Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Appleton/Oshkosh urban areas had the largest overall environmental burden racial/ethnic disparities.
- The most important drivers, for both racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities, varied between urban areas but there were some consistently important drivers.
- Lead paint exposure, traffic-related air pollution, proximity to hazardous air pollution sources, and impermeable surface cover were all among the most important drivers of racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities statewide and in 6 of the 7 urban areas analyzed.
- Targeted, place-based interventions are tailored to specific community needs. Statewide initiatives, although necessary, may not accurately target the different disparities that urban areas are experiencing.
