Racial Residential Segregation and Airborne Fine Particulate Matter Components in the United States

摘要

Background/Aim Both exposure to particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) and African American racial residential segregation (RRS) in the United States (US) are associated with negative health outcomes including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, negative birth outcomes, and death. In this study we evaluate potential associations between African American RRS and PM2.5 total and component concentrations in US urban areas. Methods We calculated 2005-2015 average census tract concentrations of total PM2.5 (n=886) and aluminum (n=276), ammonium ion (NH4+) (n=213), arsenic (As) (n=276), bromine (Br) (n=274), calcium (n=276), chlorine (n=276), copper (Cu) (n=275), elemental carbon (EC) (n=201), iron (Fe) (n=276), lead (Pb) (n=276), mercury (n=162), nickel (Ni) (n=276), nitrate ion (N03-) (n=267), silicon (n=276), sodium (n=264), sodium ion (n=213), sulfate ion (SO42-) (n=277), titanium (n=276), vanadium (V) (n=276), and zinc (Zn) (n=276) using daily averages from the US Environmental Protection Agency. We used 2010 US Census data to calculate a spatial isolation (SI) index of RRS by census tract and 2008-2012 American Community Survey data to evaluate socioeconomic confounding. We used a one-way analysis of variance to evaluate differences in PM2.5 total and component concentrations by SI quintile and linear models to evaluate associations between PM2.5 concentrations and SI quintiles. Preliminary Results In preliminary analyses, concentrations of total PM2.5 and As, Br, Cu, EC, Fe, Ni, NO3-, Pb, SO42-, V, and Zn were higher for tracts in the highest quintile of SI than for those in the lowest. Linear models showed a 0.41-μg/m3 increase (95% CI: 0.27, 0.54, p<0.00001) in total PM2.5 per one-quintile increase in SI after controlling for poverty, region, educational attainment, and percent Hispanic/Latinx. Conclusion Results suggest that total PM2.5 concentrations are higher in more segregated areas and that associations appear to vary by PM2.5 composition in the US.