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Review
. 2022 Sep;9(3):451-464.
doi: 10.1007/s40572-022-00360-w. Epub 2022 May 28.

Racial Disparities in Climate Change-Related Health Effects in the United States

Alique G Berberian  1 , David J X Gonzalez  2 , Lara J Cushing  3
Affiliations
Review

Racial Disparities in Climate Change-Related Health Effects in the United States

Alique G Berberian et al. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Climate change is causing warming over most parts of the USA and more extreme weather events. The health impacts of these changes are not experienced equally. We synthesize the recent evidence that climatic changes linked to global warming are having a disparate impact on the health of people of color, including children.

Recent findings: Multiple studies of heat, extreme cold, hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires find evidence that people of color, including Black, Latinx, Native American, Pacific Islander, and Asian communities are at higher risk of climate-related health impacts than Whites, although this is not always the case. Studies of adults have found evidence of racial disparities related to climatic changes with respect to mortality, respiratory and cardiovascular disease, mental health, and heat-related illness. Children are particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change, and infants and children of color have experienced adverse perinatal outcomes, occupational heat stress, and increases in emergency department visits associated with extreme weather. The evidence strongly suggests climate change is an environmental injustice that is likely to exacerbate existing racial disparities across a broad range of health outcomes.

Keywords: Environmental justice; Environmental racism; Global warming; Health disparities; Health equity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Summary of evidence of climate-related health impacts in racially marginalized communities
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The number of studies documenting racial/ethnic disparities in children’s health associated with climatic changes by health outcome
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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