Unveiling Environmental Racism in Greater Boston: A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Copious Pollution in Marginalized Communities

Funding disclosure: Bridgewater State University Undergraduate Research

Abstract

This project addresses the theory of environmental racism as present in the greater boston area and aims to gather both first qualitative, then quantitative data to research which pollutants marginalized communities are affected by and possible health risks associated with sed pollutants. Environmental racism also referred to under “the environmental justice movement” is the theory that marginalized communities containing non white races as well as ethnic immigrants are affected disproportionately by the negative environmental impact humans have on society. According to a document by The United Church of Christ through the Commision for Racial Justice and published by the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commision) it has been studied and recorded in many parts of the United States that areas which have a populus containing African Americans, Hispanic Americans. Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans in a higher concentration than of their national concentration are more likely to have a hazardous chemical producing facility, in the Greater Boston Area, predominantly natural gas which emits CO2, SO2, and NOX, which can have serious impacts on public health. It was also reported in the document that these communities “are far more likely to be unknowing victims of exposure to such substances”. As of right now there is little published research on this matter in the greater boston area which is why it is detrimental to the environmental and social justice causes for one of America’s biggest cities to have data like this - to know what change to fight for.