Justice and Health Equity Matters

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mother holding baby

Why Justice and Health Equity Matters

The Science on How Chemicals and Disease are Disproportionately Impacting People of Color Can Guide the Selection of Building Materials to Improve Health Equity

According to the studies done by the CDC’s National Biomonitoring Program:

  • Black Americans have higher than average levels of arsenic, lead, mercury, PAHs, phthalates, and VOCs;
  • Asian Americans have higher than average levels of arsenic, cadmium, and mercury; and
  • Mexican Americans have higher than average levels of arsenic, lead, PaHs, pesticides, phthalates, and VOCs.

CDC Data on Disproportionate Exposures Can Be Used in Combination with the Science On Disproportionate Health Impacts in People Of Color

Chemical-linked
Health Condition

Groups Disproportionately Impacted

Birth risks and adverse birth outcomes

Black, Hispanic, American-Indian, Alaskan-Native (AIAN), Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI)

Obesity in children

Hispanic, Black

Hypertension

Black

Diabetes

Black, AIAN, Hispanic, NHOPI 

Childhood asthma

Black, Hispanic

Adult asthma

AIAN, Black

Prostate cancer

Black

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