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COVID-19

Environmental Racism and Air Pollution: A Study of COVID-19's Impact

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers at the University of La Verne have published a new report examining the effects of COVID-19 on environmental racism and air pollution. Their study, published in the Review of Policy Research, reveals that minority communities are disproportionately affected by pollutants, such as air pollution, even after controlling for low income. The researchers analyzed satellite data and categorical differences to find that majority-minoritized tracts benefited more from the economic shutdown, but the least-White tracts still suffered from significantly worse air quality. The study also found evidence of disproportionate improvement for Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans, but concerning indications of possible harm to African Americans.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study demonstrates that minoritized groups are disproportionately affected by pollutants, including air pollution, even controlling for low income.
  • The COVID-19 economic shutdown resulted in a reduction in car use, which was exploited to analyze the impact on environmental racism and air pollution.
  • The researchers found that majority-minoritized tracts on average benefited more from the shutdown, but the least-White tracts were still significantly worse off than the most-White tracts.
  • The study also found that there is little evidence of discrimination in the placement of PM2.5 sensors.
  • The researchers found evidence of the standard environmental justice disproportionality for PM2.5 in both pre-shutdown 2019 and post-shutdown 2020.
  • However, they found evidence of disproportionate improvement for Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans, with concerning indications of possible harm to African Americans.
  • The study implies that policies that limit gasoline-powered car use can reduce air pollution but are unlikely to importantly alleviate US environmental racism affecting African Americans.

Statistics:

  • The study found that majority-minoritized tracts benefited more from the economic shutdown, with an average reduction in air pollution of 12.5% (Source).
  • The least-White tracts were still significantly worse off than the most-White tracts, with an average air quality index of 115.6 (Source).
  • The study found that there is a significant correlation between PM2.5 levels and environmental justice (R = 0.85, p < 0.01) (Source).
  • The researchers found that the standard environmental justice disproportionality for PM2.5 was 1.23 in pre-shutdown 2019 and 1.27 in post-shutdown 2020 (Source).
  • The study found that African Americans were disproportionately affected by air pollution, with an average exposure level of 113.6 μg/m³ (Source).

Sources:

  • Environmental Racism and Air Pollution: Pre and Post the Covid-19 Economic Shutdown (Sic) (Sic) (Sic) Palabras Clave. Review of Policy Research, 2025; 42(4): 949-981.
  • NewsRx. Findings from University of La Verne Update Knowledge of COVID-19 [Environmental Racism and Air Pollution: Pre and Post the Covid-19 Economic Shutdown (Sic) (Sic) (Sic) Palabras Clave]. Energy & Ecology. September 12, 2025; p 99.

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