Air pollution more likely to harm people of color in Wisconsin, especially in Milwaukee, study finds
Laura SchulteMADISON - People of color in Wisconsin are more likely to be exposed to harmful air pollution than white people, creating the third-largest disparity in the country, according to a state environmental advocacy group.
Clean Wisconsin analyzed data from a recent study from the University of Illinois, which calculated the exposure to fine particulate matter in the air among different racial-ethnic groups. The study, overall, found that people of color are exposed to more particulate air pollution than white residents.
In Wisconsin, analysts found one of the largest racial disparities between the impacts of dangerous particulate matter.
“People of color in Wisconsin are exposed to 26% more dangerous particulate matter than the state average," Paul Mathewson, staff scientist for Clean Wisconsin, said in a release. "The largest disparity was with Black residents, who are exposed to about 41% more fine particulate pollution than the average.”
More: UW study finds elimination of air pollution could save more than 53,000 lives each year in the U.S.
The analysis showed Wisconsin has the third-highest racial disparity in the nation, behind only New York and Pennsylvania.
The report looked at particulate matter — tiny airborne particles about 30 times smaller than the diameter of a single strand of hair — that originated from agriculture, road dust, vehicles, coal utilities, construction, industrial and several other sources.
The fine particles that make up the pollution can be particularly harmful because they can get past the body's typical defenses for keeping things out of the lungs, said Dr. Jed Downs, an osteopathic manipulative therapy specialist.
When the particles settle in the lungs, they can cause an asthma attack or worsen other existing lung issues. The particles are also small enough to get into the bloodstream, causing inflammation and clotting that could lead to strokes and heart attacks.
“There are so many issues related to particulate matter exposure. It shortens lives and
causes a variety of health problems," Mathewson said. "It’s incredibly important that we understand which communities are being hurt by this exposure the most and focus our efforts on the sources contributing the most to the problem.”
Agriculture was found to be the largest emitter of particulate matter in Wisconsin for all racial-ethnic groups, according to the analysis, while a lower amount came from coal combustion. People living nearer to heavy traffic and industrial areas were often more likely to be exposed to the pollution.
Milwaukee showed the highest levels of disparities between impacts by the pollution, the analysis found, though disparities exist in other areas of the state, including Green Bay, Appleton, Wausau and Sheboygan.
"It is shocking that Wisconsin has the third-highest racial disparity in the country for
exposure to particulate matter, disproportionately killing black residents," said Dr. Claire Gervais, a clinical associate professor with the University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.
"Doctors can only do so much. We must have better public policy to reduce industrial and transportation sources of fossil fuel burning,” Gervais said.
Particulate matter in the air has long been a problem in the greater Milwaukee area, especially for those who live near the We Energies coal plant in Oak Creek.
Residents nearby complained of a fine dust settling over their homes and vehicles for years, and worried it was impacting their health. In 2019, the company set up a windscreen to help keep the dust from making its way into the neighborhood.
Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on Twitter at @SchulteLaura.