Green infrastructure can limit but not solve air pollution injustice

Outdoor air pollution contributes to millions of deaths worldwide yet air pollution has differential exposures across racial/ethnic groups and socioeconomic status. While green infrastructure has the potential to decrease air pollution and provide other benefits to human health, vegetation alone cannot resolve health disparities related to air pollution injustice. We discuss how unequal access to green infrastructure can limit air quality improvements for marginalized communities and provide strategies to move forward.

Automated summary

Outdoor air pollution leads to millions of deaths worldwide, with differential exposures among racial/ethnic groups and socioeconomic status. Although green infrastructure has the potential to reduce air pollution and improve human health, it is not sufficient to address health disparities related to air pollution injustice. Unequal access to green infrastructure may limit air quality improvements for marginalized communities, and strategies are needed to address this issue.