Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Environmental Injustice: Unequal Carcinogenic Air Pollution Risks in Greater Houston

Abstract

Disparate residential hazard exposures based on disadvantaged gender status (e.g., among female-headed households) have been documented in the distributive environmental justice literature, yet no published studies have examined whether disproportionate environmental risks exist based on minority sexual orientation. To address this gap, we use data from the US Census, American Community Survey and the Environmental Protection Agency at the 2010 census tract level to examine the spatial relationships between same-sex partner households and cumulative cancer risk from exposure to hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) emitted by all ambient emission sources in Greater Houston (Texas). Findings from generalized estimating equation analyses demonstrate that increased cancer risks from HAPs are significantly associated with neighborhoods having relatively high concentrations of resident same-sex partner households, adjusting for geographic clustering and variables known to influence risk (i.e., race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, renter status, income inequality, and population density). However, HAP exposures are distributed differently for same-sex male versus same-sex female partner households. Neighborhoods with relatively high proportions of same-sex male partner households are associated with significantly greater exposure to cancer-causing HAPs while those with high proportions of same-sex female partner households are associated with less exposure. This study provides initial empirical documentation of a previously unstudied pattern, and infuses current theoretical understanding of environmental inequality formation with knowledge emanating from the sexualities and space literature. Practically, results suggest that other documented health risks experienced in gay neighborhoods may be compounded by disparate health risks associated with harmful exposures to air toxics.

Environmental injustice and sexual minority health disparities: A national study of inequitable health risks from air pollution among same-sex partners

“…Due to an error in the 2010 Census enumeration, an indirect correction method was developed to provide accurate estimates of same-sex partner households at the county level (O’Connell and Feliz, 2011). We used established techniques to downscale corrected county-level count estimates of same-sex male and female partner households to the census tract level (Collins et al, 2017; Gates, 2013; Poston and Chang, 2013; Spring, 2013). We then generated variables for the proportions of partner households comprised of (a) same-sex partners, (b) same-sex male partners, and (c) same-sex female partners for all US census tracts.…”

“…Income and housing tenure are commonly used indicators of neighborhood socioeconomic status in EJ research (Mohai and Saha, 2006). EJ studies have found positive associations between income inequality and toxic exposures (Chakraborty et al, 2014; Collins et al, 2017), and income inequality is important to adjust for here because of the links documented in the US between gay enclaves, gentrification, and neighborhood class inequalities (Brown et al, 2014; Freeman, 2009). …”

“…This cluster definition was selected because it corresponds with spatiotemporal dimensions of the built-environment associated with the historical-geographical formation of environmental injustice (Bolin et al, 2005; Pulido, 2000), and because it enables us to adjust for contextual factors that vary substantially nationwide. Similar cluster definitions have been used previously (Collins et al, 2015a; Collins et al, 2015b; Collins et al, 2017). GEEs require specification of a within-cluster dependency correlation matrix (Liang and Zeger, 1986).…”

“…Other health problems with disparate impacts on sexual minorities—such as obesity, stress, HIV and related comorbidities—may be influenced by and/or interact with environmental exposures (Baillie-Hamilton, 2002; Chen et al, 2008; Djawe et al, 2013; Kampa and Castanas, 2008). However, only one extant study, which focused on one US metro area, has investigated disparities in environmental health risks among sexual minorities (Collins et al, 2017). …”

Remote Sensing in Environmental Justice Research—A Review

“…Environmental justice research studies which focused on air pollutants identified stronger exposures of low-income or racialized neighborhoods in Canada (e.g., [30]), Great Britain (e.g., [16]), and Germany (e.g., [18]). In a most recent study Collins et al [91] were able to find that the exposure towards air pollution might also be dependent on the sexual orientation which might in turn be linked to social discrimination.…”