Examining air pollution exposure dynamics in disadvantaged communities through high-resolution mapping

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adm9986?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_bPrX7JsArmkkn2TTACgTnRIJkCBFxP2fFVQ2S34-19gbXyriaOMDcGhSabWJ3-wggEOo00uYbuIjmd4hYXQNhVuDAww&_hsmi=319357722&utm_content=319357722&utm_source=hs_email Disadvantaged communities are exposed to more air pollution Breathing in air pollution, including particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone, can be bad for your health. But maps of air pollution are typically based on low-resolution data sources, like annual measurements or sensors that are few and far between. But a new study in Science Advances compiles data from several sources, including Google Earth, to model air pollution on a daily, block-by-neighborhood-block basis in California. This high-resolution model allowed researchers to see that over the span of 2012-2019, though air pollution overall decreased, disadvantaged communities experienced higher levels of air pollution. Manufacturing plants, major roadways, and industrial facilities are more likely to be located near disadvantaged communities, which also have fewer parks and green spaces to trap pollutants. For more on how where you live affects your health, check out STAT reporter Angus Chen’s recent story on how your neighborhood affects the biology of tumors. https://www.statnews.com/2024/08/08/cancer-genetics-neighborhood-social-determinants/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8pBn0ixjmSsT2ZueUvTjJQ3ND4ZJAWYMHjj4MEu4OJuIfBZkta5RUKF825E4CHLUxvPtWUoO-EjG_PfsSJJ_BKvJ73Og&_hsmi=319357722&utm_content=319357722&utm_source=hs_email