Exposure Disparities by Income, Race and Ethnicity, and Historic Redlining Grade in the Greater Seattle Area for Ultrafine Particles and Other Air Pollutants

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence shows ultrafine particles (UFPs) are detrimental to cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory health. Historically, racialized and low-income communities are exposed to higher concentrations of air pollution.OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to conduct a descriptive analysis of present-day air pollution exposure disparities in the greater Seattle, Washington, area by income, race, ethnicity, and historical redlining grade. We focused on UFPs (particle number count) and compared with black carbon, nitrogen dioxide, and fine particulate matter (PM2:5) levels.METHODS: We obtained race and ethnicity data from the 2010 U.S. Census, median household income data from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey, and Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) redlining data from the University of Richmond's Mapping Inequality. We predicted pollutant concentrations at block centroids from 2019 mobile monitoring data. The study region encompassed much of urban Seattle, with redlining analyses restricted to a smaller region. To analyze disparities, we calculated population-weighted mean exposures and regression analyses using a generalized estimating equation model to account for spatial correlation.RESULTS: Pollutant concentrations and disparities were largest for blocks with median household income of <$20,000, Black residents, HOLC Grade D, and ungraded industrial areas. UFP concentrations were 4% lower than average for non-Hispanic White residents and higher than average for racialized groups (Asian, 3%; Black, 15%; Hispanic, 6%; Native American, 8%; Pacific Islander, 11%). For blocks with median household incomes of <$20,000, UFP concentrations were 40% higher than average, whereas blocks with incomes of >$110,000 had UFP concentrations 16% lower than average. UFP concentrations were 28% higher for Grade D and 49% higher for ungraded industrial areas compared with Grade A. Disparities were highest for UFPs and lowest for PM2:5 exposure levels.DISCUSSION: Our study is one of the first to highlight large disparities with UFP exposures compared with multiple pollutants. Higher exposures to multiple air pollutants and their cumulative effects disproportionately impact historically marginalized groups. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11662

Automated summary

This study reveals disparities in air pollution exposure in the greater Seattle area based on income, race, ethnicity, and historical redlining grade. Ultrafine particles (UFPs) were found to be the main pollutant contributing to these disparities. The results highlight the disproportionate impact of air pollution on historically marginalized groups.