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| author | Kameron Camille Raynor |
| title | How Toxic Air Pollution is Affecting the Poorest Residents of Newark and Trenton, New Jersey |
| abstract |
The purpose of this thesis is to examine the intersections between air pollution, asthma, race,
ethnicity and health outcomes. Data sets concerning air pollution from the Center for Disease
Control, New Jersey Center for Asthma Awareness, and New Jersey State Health Department
were analyzed. The results indicate that low-income and minority samples are disproportionately
affected by air pollution in Newark and Trenton, New Jersey. Moreover, the hospitalization and
death rates are also higher for minorities, such as African-Americans, than it was for Caucasians.
Consequently, the state of New Jersey has higher individual asthma rates than other states in the
United States of America. The levels of air-pollution are also disproportionately higher for New
Jersey, where both Mercer and Essex Counties New Jersey are slightly higher than the other
counties in New Jersey. Severe air pollution can lead to a higher rate of air-pollution-related
illness such as asthma. Bioethical considerations are important when considering the fairness of
minority samples disproportionately displaying air pollution-related illnesses that lead to poor
respiratory health outcomes. Intersectionality, according to Dictionary. com "the theory that the
overlap of various social identities of race, gender, and sexuality, and class contributes to the
specific type of oppression" is important for understanding and intervening with air pollution-
related illnesses, not only because affected samples in Newark and Trenton, New Jersey are
predominantly minority communities, but also, because of the different layers of vulnerabilities
of communities in Newark and Trenton, New Jersey, that include race, poverty, location, health
outcomes, and levels of air pollution. The research indicates that as long as there is toxic air
pollution, the poor and socially vulnerable will be disproportionately affected.
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| school | The Caspersen School of Graduate Studies, Drew University |
| degree | M.M.H. (2018) |
| advisor | Dr. Paul Kadetz
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| full text | KCRaynor.pdf - requires Drew uLogin |
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