Power, proximity, and physiology: does income inequality and racial composition amplify the impacts of air pollution on life expectancy in the United States?
This study advances research at the intersection of environmental degradation, social stratification, and population health in the United States. Expanding the theoretical principles of power, proximity, and physiology, we hypothesize that the harmful effect of fine particulate matter on life expect...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab6789 |
| _version_ | 1797747656849620992 |
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| author | Andrew K Jorgenson Terrence D Hill Brett Clark Ryan P Thombs Peter Ore Kelly S Balistreri Jennifer E Givens |
| author_facet | Andrew K Jorgenson Terrence D Hill Brett Clark Ryan P Thombs Peter Ore Kelly S Balistreri Jennifer E Givens |
| author_sort | Andrew K Jorgenson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study advances research at the intersection of environmental degradation, social stratification, and population health in the United States. Expanding the theoretical principles of power, proximity, and physiology, we hypothesize that the harmful effect of fine particulate matter on life expectancy is greater in states with higher levels of income inequality and larger black populations. To test our hypothesis, we use two-way fixed effects regression analysis to estimate the effect of a three-way interaction between fine particulate matter, income share of the top ten percent, and the percent of the population that is black on state-level average life expectancy for all US states and the District of Columbia (2000–2014). The findings support our hypothesis: the estimated effect of the three-way interaction on average life expectancy is negative and statistically significant, net of various socioeconomic and demographic controls. Using post-estimation techniques, we visually illustrate that the harmful effect of fine particulate matter on life expectancy is especially pronounced in states with both very high levels of income inequality and very large black populations. We conclude by summarizing the theoretical and substantive implications of our findings, the limitations of the study, and potential next steps in this evolving area of interdisciplinary research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:53:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5fd6a4c46a004decbf23c7d020800a68 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-9326 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:53:40Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-5fd6a4c46a004decbf23c7d020800a682023-08-09T15:01:13ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Letters1748-93262020-01-0115202401310.1088/1748-9326/ab6789Power, proximity, and physiology: does income inequality and racial composition amplify the impacts of air pollution on life expectancy in the United States?Andrew K Jorgenson0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5902-3704Terrence D Hill1Brett Clark2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3929-1322Ryan P Thombs3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8823-6143Peter Ore4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2213-9682Kelly S Balistreri5Jennifer E Givens6Boston College, Department of Sociology, McGuinn Hall 426, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, United States of AmericaThe University of Arizona , School of Sociology, Social Sciences Building, Room 427, 1145 E. South Campus Drive, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States of AmericaUniversity of Utah , Department of Sociology, 380 S 1530 E RM 301, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States of AmericaBoston College, Department of Sociology, McGuinn Hall 426, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, United States of AmericaUniversity of Arizona , School of Sociology, Social Sciences Building, Room 427, 1145 E. South Campus Drive, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States of AmericaBowling Green State University , Department of Sociology, 218 Williams Hall, Bowling Green, OH 43403, United States of AmericaUtah State University , Department of Sociology, 0730 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322-0730, United States of AmericaThis study advances research at the intersection of environmental degradation, social stratification, and population health in the United States. Expanding the theoretical principles of power, proximity, and physiology, we hypothesize that the harmful effect of fine particulate matter on life expectancy is greater in states with higher levels of income inequality and larger black populations. To test our hypothesis, we use two-way fixed effects regression analysis to estimate the effect of a three-way interaction between fine particulate matter, income share of the top ten percent, and the percent of the population that is black on state-level average life expectancy for all US states and the District of Columbia (2000–2014). The findings support our hypothesis: the estimated effect of the three-way interaction on average life expectancy is negative and statistically significant, net of various socioeconomic and demographic controls. Using post-estimation techniques, we visually illustrate that the harmful effect of fine particulate matter on life expectancy is especially pronounced in states with both very high levels of income inequality and very large black populations. We conclude by summarizing the theoretical and substantive implications of our findings, the limitations of the study, and potential next steps in this evolving area of interdisciplinary research.https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab6789air pollutionenvironmental degradationenvironmental inequalityenvironmental justicepopulation healthsocial stratification |
| spellingShingle | Andrew K Jorgenson Terrence D Hill Brett Clark Ryan P Thombs Peter Ore Kelly S Balistreri Jennifer E Givens Power, proximity, and physiology: does income inequality and racial composition amplify the impacts of air pollution on life expectancy in the United States? Environmental Research Letters air pollution environmental degradation environmental inequality environmental justice population health social stratification |
| title | Power, proximity, and physiology: does income inequality and racial composition amplify the impacts of air pollution on life expectancy in the United States? |
| title_full | Power, proximity, and physiology: does income inequality and racial composition amplify the impacts of air pollution on life expectancy in the United States? |
| title_fullStr | Power, proximity, and physiology: does income inequality and racial composition amplify the impacts of air pollution on life expectancy in the United States? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Power, proximity, and physiology: does income inequality and racial composition amplify the impacts of air pollution on life expectancy in the United States? |
| title_short | Power, proximity, and physiology: does income inequality and racial composition amplify the impacts of air pollution on life expectancy in the United States? |
| title_sort | power proximity and physiology does income inequality and racial composition amplify the impacts of air pollution on life expectancy in the united states |
| topic | air pollution environmental degradation environmental inequality environmental justice population health social stratification |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab6789 |
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