Ellen Bannon, Wil Lieberman-Cribbin, Raenita Spriggs, Paris B Adkins-Jackson, Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne, Robbie M Parks, Seth J Prins, Anne E Nigra
{"title":"Disinfection Byproducts and Inorganic Contaminants in the U.S. Correctional Facility Public Water Systems.","authors":"Ellen Bannon, Wil Lieberman-Cribbin, Raenita Spriggs, Paris B Adkins-Jackson, Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne, Robbie M Parks, Seth J Prins, Anne E Nigra","doi":"10.1177/19394071261437035","DOIUrl":"10.1177/19394071261437035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Few studies have evaluated drinking water contaminants for people incarcerated in the United States. We predicted that community water systems (CWSs) that exclusively serve correctional facilities would report elevated contaminant concentrations compared to all other CWSs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Concentrations of inorganic contaminants (arsenic, chromium, fluoride, nitrate, uranium) and disinfection byproducts (total trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids) were derived from routine compliance monitoring records in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Six-Year Review database. We evaluated adjusted geometric means and 90th percentile differences of 2017-2019 average concentrations of inorganic contaminants and disinfection byproducts for 194 correctional facility CWSs (serving 437,394 people) and 42,434 other CWSs. We calculated the population served by correctional facility CWSs equal to or exceeding the U.S. EPA's maximum contaminant level nationwide, by region, and by seasonal monitoring periods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the Southwest, correctional facility CWSs reported higher arsenic concentrations (adjusted geometric mean 2.75 μg/L, 95% CI 1.46, 5.19) compared to all other CWSs (1.06 μg/L, 95% CI 1.03, 1.09; p value < 0.001) and higher adjusted 90th percentile arsenic concentrations. In fall, nationwide adjusted 90th percentile concentrations were higher for total trihalomethanes (difference 15.2 μg/L, 95% CI 11.3, 19.2) and haloacetic acids (12.3 μg/L, 95% CI 10.6, 13.9) in correctional facility CWSs compared with all other CWSs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We identified regional and seasonal inequities in regulated drinking water contaminants impacting people incarcerated in the United States. Comparing our findings to those previously published, inequities in arsenic exposure for people incarcerated in the Southwest have improved since 2006, supporting that regulatory, enforcement, and legal actions have reduced exposures.</p>","PeriodicalId":46143,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Justice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13132511/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147822050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amy J Schulz, Gretta M Rempel Fisher, Aresha Nadeem, Kathryn Savoie, Barbara A Israel, Theresa Landrum, Erin Stanley, Natalie Sampson
{"title":"Procedural Justice in Environmental Decision Making: An Analysis of Public Participation Language in State Level Cumulative Impact Legislation.","authors":"Amy J Schulz, Gretta M Rempel Fisher, Aresha Nadeem, Kathryn Savoie, Barbara A Israel, Theresa Landrum, Erin Stanley, Natalie Sampson","doi":"10.1177/19394071251378360","DOIUrl":"10.1177/19394071251378360","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The active engagement of those impacted by environmental decisions is foundational to environmental justice (EJ) movements. EJ advocates and state level policy makers are crafting legislation using cumulative impact (CI) frameworks. We examine language in state-level CI legislation related to public participation, with a particular focus on the degree of public influence in environmental decision-making.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used legislative tracking sites to identify state level CI legislation introduced or passed, 2017 -2024. We extracted language describing mechanisms for public participation and agency accountability, and coded each document using classifications based on the International Organization for Public Participation (IAP2) Spectrum of Public Participation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 44 legislative documents using CI frameworks introduced or passed, 2017-2024. Four (9%) included no public participation language and two (5%) were coded at IAP2's lowest level of public participation, \"inform\" (e.g. providing information). Twenty-four (54%) were coded in IAP2's \"consult\" category (e.g. inviting comments), with six (14%) coded as \"involve\" (e.g., assuring public concerns and aspirations are understood and addressed). Seven (16%) were coded as \"collaborate\" (e.g., active engagement of the public as partners in decision-making) and one (2%) was coded in the \"empower\" category (e.g. community members making the decisions).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Effective and just environmental governance requires collaborative and empowered decision making. Language in most state policies using CI frameworks falls short of collaborative or empowered public participation. Those with collaborative and empowered approaches to public participation offer important models for expanding public influence in environmental decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":46143,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Justice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12560229/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145402407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Defining \"Overburdened Communities\" in State Level Legislation Using Cumulative Impacts Frameworks to Inform Environmental Decision-Making: Implications for Environmental and Health Justice.","authors":"Amy J Schulz, Gretta M Rempel Fisher, Ricardo DeMajo, Graciela B Mentz, Gabrielle Young, Carina Gronlund, Kathryn Savoie, Laprisha Berry Daniels","doi":"10.1177/19394071251381112","DOIUrl":"10.1177/19394071251381112","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Problem statement: </strong>Geographic-specific strategies for reducing air pollutants are of increasing interest for informing policies that reduce disparate air pollution exposure and health impacts. State legislation identifying such geographic areas use varying definitions, often focused on pollutant levels and/or population characteristics, with implications that are not well understood.</p><p><strong>Research question: </strong>How do commonly used legislative definitions of overburdened communities (OBCs) differ in capturing areas that experience excess air pollutants? What are implications for eliminating excess pollutant exposure and health inequities?</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We extracted OBC definitions from state legislation using cumulative impact frameworks introduced or passed before May 2024. Using Michigan as a case study, we calculated correlations, sensitivity, and specificity of common OBC indicators and thresholds with PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentration at the census block group (CBG) level. We used generalized linear mixed models to forecast change over time (2019-2039) in PM<sub>2.5</sub> disparities using selected OBC definitions and various scenarios.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>OBC definitions that included race/ethnicity had significantly larger disparities in PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentration, compared with definitions that foregrounded income. Forecasting models indicate increasing inequalities over time for all OBC definitions using current and moderately accelerated intervention scenarios: Inequalities decline or disappear only under modeling scenarios which double or quadruple current rates of change.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Differences in PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations were largest when OBC definitions included race/ethnicity, and if current trends continue, are projected to increase over time, regardless of OBC definition. Exposure inequalities for OBCs defined using race and ethnicity are only eliminated under scenarios that double or quadruple current rates of reduction.</p>","PeriodicalId":46143,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Justice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12609561/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145514649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eydie N Kramer-Kostecka, Sarah M Kaja, Junia N de Brito, Daheia J Barr-Anderson, Jaime C Slaughter-Acey, Dianne Neumark-Sztainer
{"title":"Park Acreage and Physical Activity Among Adolescents Living in Green Cities: Conceptualizing Urban Park Oases and Centering Equity.","authors":"Eydie N Kramer-Kostecka, Sarah M Kaja, Junia N de Brito, Daheia J Barr-Anderson, Jaime C Slaughter-Acey, Dianne Neumark-Sztainer","doi":"10.1177/19394071251383709","DOIUrl":"10.1177/19394071251383709","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":46143,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Justice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12893632/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146182930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrea A Chiger, Echo Alford, Kearni N Warren, Eve S Miari, Lora Snyder, Thom Nixon, Alexis Lightner, Ryan D Kennedy, Mary A Fox, Peter F DeCarlo, Keeve E Nachman, Sara N Lupolt
{"title":"Influences of Chemical and Nonchemical Stressors on Health and Quality of Life in Fenceline Communities: A Community-Based Participatory Research Survey in Southeastern Pennsylvania.","authors":"Andrea A Chiger, Echo Alford, Kearni N Warren, Eve S Miari, Lora Snyder, Thom Nixon, Alexis Lightner, Ryan D Kennedy, Mary A Fox, Peter F DeCarlo, Keeve E Nachman, Sara N Lupolt","doi":"10.1089/env.2024.0078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/env.2024.0078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Community organizers in Southern Delaware County, PA, expressed a desire to collect comprehensive data on environmental, health, and social conditions in their neighborhoods to inform advocacy efforts to prompt public health action.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, our team of academic and community coinvestigators developed an online community health survey to characterize residents' health concerns and the strengths, burdens, and needs of fenceline communities in Southern Delaware County. We included questions on chemical exposures, sources of pollution, financial stressors, health care, medical conditions, and priorities for policymakers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants reported experiencing adverse effects of poor air quality, odors, and noise in their communities. Eighty-six percent of participants reported experiencing at least two nonchemical stressors, such as poor housing conditions, food insecurity, and experiences of racism and discrimination. We found high proportions of reported asthma diagnoses and symptoms in participants and the children living in their households. Symptoms of asthma, depression, and anxiety were more common than clinician diagnoses of these conditions. Participants also commonly reported decreased quality of life or functioning associated with physical and mental health issues.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Our findings highlight the importance of characterizing chemical and nonchemical stressors among residents in fenceline communities and expanding consideration of health to include acute symptoms, well-being, and quality of life. Our study was strengthened by our CBPR approach.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our work demonstrates the value of assessing cumulative impacts and employing CBPR approaches in fenceline communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":46143,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Justice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12381651/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144973699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Environmental JusticePub Date : 2025-03-31eCollection Date: 2025-03-01DOI: 10.1089/env.2024.0008
Jill E Johnston, Mariann Tobar, Amanda Jimenez, Bhavna Shamasunder
{"title":"Stressors in an Urban Environmental Justice Community During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic.","authors":"Jill E Johnston, Mariann Tobar, Amanda Jimenez, Bhavna Shamasunder","doi":"10.1089/env.2024.0008","DOIUrl":"10.1089/env.2024.0008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 crisis unfolded foregrounded by unprecedented levels of where historical underinvestment in basic infrastructure have left the working poor, uninsured, and underinsured vulnerable. Social inequalities related to race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status leads to certain groups being disproportionately exposed to multiple environmental hazards and social stressors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Building on the existing Health and Air Pollution Study cohort (established in 2017) based in the multiethnic urban neighborhoods in South LA, we assessed acute health symptoms, stress measures, and socioeconomic metrics between May and October 2020. We assessed the pandemic-associated traumatic stress score based on a 10-item questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 242 participants that completed a phone-based survey, we identified preexisting high-risk comorbidities: asthma or COPD (19%), diabetes (24%), hypertension (38%), and obesity (48.4%). Nearly four out of five respondents employed before the pandemic reported job loss or reduction of hours. Isolation, family, and economic concerns were among the top stressors reported by participants. Stress related to access to medical care was reported by one-quarter of participants. Stressors were reported more frequency among uninsured participants. Concern over isolation and inability to buy essential items were most associated with higher pandemic-associated traumatic stress score.</p><p><strong>Discussion and conclusions: </strong>Understanding the experiences, stressors, and resources in urban environmental justice neighborhoods are key to design policies and programs aimed at improving the socioeconomic impacts of the current-and in future-public health crises.</p>","PeriodicalId":46143,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Justice","volume":"18 2","pages":"146-154"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12038427/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144032250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alexis Lightner, Andrea A Chiger, Lora Snyder, Kearni N Warren, Eve S Miari, Thom Nixon, Echo Alford, Peter F DeCarlo, Mary A Fox, Ryan D Kennedy, Keeve E Nachman, Sara N Lupolt
{"title":"Community Perspectives on the Cumulative Impacts of Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors in Southeastern Pennsylvania.","authors":"Alexis Lightner, Andrea A Chiger, Lora Snyder, Kearni N Warren, Eve S Miari, Thom Nixon, Echo Alford, Peter F DeCarlo, Mary A Fox, Ryan D Kennedy, Keeve E Nachman, Sara N Lupolt","doi":"10.1089/env.2024.0079","DOIUrl":"10.1089/env.2024.0079","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The need to study and understand cumulative impacts, the combined influence of chemical and non-chemical stressors on health and quality of life, is becoming increasingly recognized. The goal of this study is to understand how residents in fenceline communities experience the cumulative impacts of pollution and other non-chemical stressors on their physical and mental health and to develop meaningful policy solutions to mitigate the harms caused by these cumulative burdens.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, partnering with residents in southern Delaware County, PA, experiencing environmental injustice, to design and conduct focus groups. Our focus groups aimed to better understand how residents characterize stressors related to their environmental, physical, and mental health. We used a deductive/inductive hybrid data analysis method to distill the most significant findings from the focus groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We conducted focus groups with residents (<i>n</i> = 22) of four Southeastern Pennsylvania fenceline municipalities. Participants discussed chemical (e.g., air pollution and odors) and non-chemical stressors (e.g., lack of access to green spaces) influencing their physical and mental health. Participants also described how these stressors are interconnected and worsen their health and quality of life. Participants identified solutions (e.g., policy change and community organizing) to mitigate the most pressing stressors.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This study is the first in the area to work alongside community investigators to understand how residents in fenceline communities experience cumulative impacts. Our findings were presented to key community stakeholders to inform future advocacy work to mitigate the cumulative burdens faced by these fenceline communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":46143,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Justice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12439864/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145082207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Seigi Karasaki, Arianna Libenson, Tien Tran, Komal Bangia, Lara J Cushing, Jenny L Rempel, Laura August, Lauren Baehner, Rachel Morello-Frosch, Clare Pace
{"title":"How a community-academic-government partnership for drinking water justice strengthens the rigor, relevance, reach, and reflexivity of science.","authors":"Seigi Karasaki, Arianna Libenson, Tien Tran, Komal Bangia, Lara J Cushing, Jenny L Rempel, Laura August, Lauren Baehner, Rachel Morello-Frosch, Clare Pace","doi":"10.1089/env.2024.0039","DOIUrl":"10.1089/env.2024.0039","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":46143,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Justice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12711330/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145783169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Connie Valencia, Brittany Morey, Dalia Calva, Ernesto Cortes, Lindsay Donaldson, Ruth Rodriguez, Lucy Herrera, Sora Park Tanjasiri, Alana M W LeBrón
{"title":"Engaging Residents to Address Environmental Injustices and Socioecological Factors in Boyle Heights.","authors":"Connie Valencia, Brittany Morey, Dalia Calva, Ernesto Cortes, Lindsay Donaldson, Ruth Rodriguez, Lucy Herrera, Sora Park Tanjasiri, Alana M W LeBrón","doi":"10.1089/env.2024.0043","DOIUrl":"10.1089/env.2024.0043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study objective: </strong>Segregated Hispanic/Latino communities experience poor residential air quality. Toxic air pollution has been linked to higher mortality risk and chronic illnesses, including asthma. This qualitative study sought to develop a comprehensive understanding of facilitators and barriers to civic engagement among community organizers from a low-income community affected by environmental injustice who worked to develop an air pollution mitigation project.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Environmental justice community organizers (<i>n</i> = 21) affiliated with the Natural Park Air Pollution Solution project were interviewed. Participants were eligible if they (a) were current or former residents of Boyle Heights and thus, familiar with the neighborhood; (b) were between the ages of 18 and 75; and (c) participated in activities related to Legacy LA's Natural Park Air Pollution Solution project.</p><p><strong>Data analysis: </strong>The socioecological model (SEM) and flexible coding were used to analyze interviews.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four themes emerged related to project involvement: (a) personal factors and civic engagement, (b) interpersonal relationships, (c) organizational support, and (d) community-based resources. Knowledge, perceptions, and multiple responsibilities emerged as personal factors affecting civic engagement. Organizational support included opportunities to gain skills and access to information. Community partners, including elected officials, were identified as community-based resources affecting civic engagement.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study suggests the need to address factors at the personal, interpersonal, organizational, and community levels to increase civic engagement among predominantly Hispanic/Latino communities to advocate for clean air and relevant environmental justice issues affecting vulnerable neighborhoods.</p>","PeriodicalId":46143,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Justice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12978742/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147445667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jasmin A Eatman, Kaegan Ortlund, Anne L Dunlop, Dana Boyd Barr, Cherie C Hill, Patricia A Brennan, P Barry Ryan, Donghai Liang, Elizabeth J Corwin, Kaitlin R Taibl, Youran Tan, Stephanie M Eick
{"title":"Associations Between Self-Reported Experiences of Discrimination, Socioeconomic and Racial Polarization, and Birth Outcomes in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child Cohort.","authors":"Jasmin A Eatman, Kaegan Ortlund, Anne L Dunlop, Dana Boyd Barr, Cherie C Hill, Patricia A Brennan, P Barry Ryan, Donghai Liang, Elizabeth J Corwin, Kaitlin R Taibl, Youran Tan, Stephanie M Eick","doi":"10.1089/env.2024.0055","DOIUrl":"10.1089/env.2024.0055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Structural racism measures based on publicly available data alone do not capture the breadth of lived experiences of racism or their impacts. Few studies incorporate measures of lived experience in analyses of structural racism at the neighborhood level. We investigated associations between self-reported experiences of racism, measures of racialized economic segregation at the census tract level (a proxy for structural racism), and birth outcomes among pregnant African American people.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Participants were enrolled in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child Cohort (N=297). Experiences of racial and gender discrimination were measured during pregnancy using self-reported, validated questionnaires. The Index of Concentration at the Extremes (ICE) was used to quantify economic segregation (ICE<sub>income</sub>) and racialized economic segregation (ICE<sub>race-income</sub>) for the census tract of residence during pregnancy. Analysis of continuous ICE measures and self-reported experiences of discrimination were conducted using Kruska-Wallis rank-sum testing. Linear regression was used to estimate associations between self-reported experiences of discrimination and ICE scores with gestational age (in weeks) at delivery and birthweight for gestational age z-scores.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants living in areas of higher racialized economic privilege reported more frequent experiences of discrimination (χ<sup>2</sup> ICE<sub>income</sub> = 10.81; χ<sup>2</sup> ICE<sub>race+income</sub> = 6.30; p<0.05). An increase in frequency of self-reported experiences of discrimination was associated with reduced gestational age at delivery (β= -0.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.13, -0.03) but not with birthweight for gestational age in adjusted models. ICE scores were not associated with either birth outcome.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this Atlanta birth cohort, self-reported experiences of racial discrimination, but not measures of racialized economic polarization, were associated with reduced gestational age among African American pregnant people.</p>","PeriodicalId":46143,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Justice","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12321161/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144790266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}