Racial Disparities in Environmental Concerns Highlighted in New Gallup Survey

By Stacy M Brown, The Washington Informer

Black Americans are more likely than other racial or ethnic groups to express concerns about environmental threats and experience acute ecological crises, with many facing challenges in relocating to avoid environmental threats.

A new Gallup survey has revealed that Black Americans are more likely to express concerns and experience an environmental crisis where they face challenges in relocating.

Gallup found that Black Americans are notably more likely than other racial or ethnic groups to express concerns about environmental threats and to experience acute ecological crises.

According to the survey, 53% of Black adults are “very” or “fairly concerned” about exposure to air pollution in their communities. The concern is significantly higher than that among Hispanic adults, at 46%, and white adults, at 35%. Further, concerns about drinking water contamination among Black Americans are 15 percentage points higher than the national average and 20 points higher than among white Americans.

Black adults also reported elevated levels of concern about exposure to land or soil contamination (42%) and exposure to toxic building materials (39%) compared to other racial and ethnic groups.

Keep reading for the rest of the findings.

The concern is warranted, considering Black Americans are more likely to die from pollution.

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