Identifying Environmental Racism in Indiana Counties Using Demographic, Air Quality, and Per Capita Income Data

Robert Bullard coined the term environmental racism as a concept that “refers to any policy, practice, or directive that differentially affects or disadvantages (whether intended or unintended) individuals, groups, or communities based on race or color.” In the United States, environmental racism is widely prevalent with “71% of African Americans liv[ing] in counties in violation of federal air pollution standards, as compared to 58% of non-Hispanic whites.” The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) asserts that this is not the case for Indiana as they say there is no instance of environmental racism (less environmental protection, thus more environmental hazards for people of color (POC)). However, analyzing demographic and air quality data, demonstrates that there is environmental racism in Indiana, thus prompting a more critical look to be taken against how Indiana promotes environmental justice.

This paper defines and identifies areas of environmental racism in Indiana by county. It  focuses on air quality (measured by ozone (O₃) and particulate matter(PM_2.5) concentrations) as the indicator of environmental racism, and it will differentiate counties based on air quality in combination with the proportion of POC in the county. The study achieves this by analyzing the relationships between air quality and proportion of POC in each county with air quality data on O₃ and PM_2.5 concentrations. This study finds a relationship between counties with higher proportions of POC and decreased air quality. To eradicate environmental racism, it is important to identify where it takes place and this study, through identifying environmental racism, takes one step further towards the goal of environmental justice in Indiana and the United States.

My research found that there are three Indiana counties (Lake, Porter, and LaPorte) that lie above the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for O₃ (0.070ppm). Each of these counties are considered to have a high proportion of POC for Indiana (above 0.1). Several of the other counties fall within just 0.005 ppm away from being at the NAAQS for O₃. Figure 1 below displays the relationship between proportion of POC and O₃ concentration. 

 

Figure 1 demonstrates a positive relationship between these two variables. The correlation test run for these variables gave a correlation of 0.37 with a p-value of 0.06. The regression analysis gave a similar result of the relationship between proportion of POC and O₃ concentration being positively correlated, but not significant at an alpha level of 0.05. 

For PM_2.5, my research found that there are no counties that had concentrations above the NAAQS for the pollutant (12 µg/m3). Marion County and Lake County had the highest concentrations in the state (with Marion at 11µg/m₃ and Lake at 9.6µg/m₃). Below, Figure 2 shows the relationship between proportions of POC and PM_2.5 concentrations in Indiana. 

 

Figure 2 demonstrates that there is a positive relationship between the two variables. The results of the correlation test gave a correlation of 0.61 (which is strong and positive) and a p-value of 0.004 (significant). The regression analysis showed similar results. The statistically significant p-values suggest that there is a positive and strong relationship between the proportion of POC and the PM_2.5 concentration in Indiana counties.

Using per capita personal income as a control and breaking down the effects O₃ and PM_2.5 concentrations have for each race stated in the Census, there were three significant conclusions that were found. The first conclusion found that the Non-Hispanic Black or African American population per Indiana county has a significant and positive relationship with concentration of PM_2.5 in counties with or without income being controlled. The second conclusion found that the relationship between the Hispanic population and O₃ concentration is significant without income being controlled. The third conclusion is that the Non-Hispanic White population and the POC populations both have significant relationships with PM_2.5 concentrations (the Non-Hispanic White population having a negative relationship and the POC population having a positive relationship). 

The results found above and close to the NAAQS illuminated that there is inequity in air quality across the state of Indiana, specifically concerning the counties with the highest proportions of POC. For environmental policy to be truly sustainable, it must be more inclusive. Any environmental policy worth its salt will be inclusive of all who live within a community and will address and account for the disparities in adverse environmental impact along racial, historical, and socioeconomic lines. The air quality of Indiana should at least be meeting the national standards, but as a state, we can do much more to protect our communities of color and to lower air pollution standards to below dangerous levels.

Claire Malone is a senior at Indiana University – Bloomington pursuing a dual degree in Informatics with a cognate in Environmental Management and Environmental & Sustainability Studies with a concentration in Environmental Ethics and Justice.