Graphic of the week

Last week, HPIO released a new Health Value Dashboard policy brief titled “A closer look at outdoor air pollution and health.” Among the findings in the brief are that Black Ohioans have an almost 1.5 times higher risk of air pollution exposure than white Ohioans, as displayed in the graphic above. Much of that difference can be explained by historic zoning policies and redlining that placed industrial plants and highways closer to predominantly Black neighborhoods and prohibited Black people from living in areas that did not have these sources of pollution near them. These policies increased both past and present risk of exposure to air pollution for Black Ohioans. Similar policy decisions made by federal, state and local officials left Black neighborhoods with less maintenance services (e.g., garbage removal and street cleaning) and without green spaces like parks. Because of these discriminatory policies and their lasting impact, people of color across the U.S. are exposed to higher levels of harmful air pollution regardless of region (i.e., urban or rural areas) or income level.

HPIO will be hosting a 30-minute webinar to highlight findings from the brief on Thursday, Feb. 16. at 1 p.m.  For more details and to register, visit: https://www.healthpolicyohio.org/webinar-outdoor-air-pollution-and-health/