Analyzing and Solving Environmental Issues Affecting African Americans

This essay identifies and analyzes significant environmental justice issues affecting the African American community, including air pollution, illegal waste dumping, and water safety. It details the health impacts of these issues, such as respiratory infections, cardiovascular diseases, and developmental problems, linking them to factors like proximity to industrial sites and inadequate infrastructure. The essay further explores the root causes, including fossil fuel burning and urban development, and proposes solutions such as promoting sustainable practices, advocating for eco-efficient manufacturing, and implementing public policies to address climate change and corporate regulation, highlighting the urgent need for environmental equity.

Running head: SOLUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Solution to environmental issues
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

SOLUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 1
Table of Contents
Three most significant environmental issues.............................................................................2
Impact of environmental issues on health..................................................................................2
Major causes of these problems.................................................................................................3
Significant steps.........................................................................................................................3
References..................................................................................................................................5

SOLUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 2
African Americans are the ethnic community of Americans with the partial ancestry
of African groups.The community is currently the third largest ethnic group in the United
States (Percival et al., 2017).The assignment focuses on the environmental issues faced by the
community and presented some possible solutions to these issues.
Three most significant environmental issues
Three of the most significant environmental justice problems affecting the African
American community that needs attention are:
Air pollution: According to the environmental reports, smog contributes to outdoor pollution
in the air (Bell, 2016).The community people are more prone to infection and dangerous
disease caused due to the intake of polluted air.
Illegal dumping of waste materials: The African American community resides near oil
refineries,power plants and waste management areas.Most of the time, the undisposed
industrial wastes get down in the water bodies and agricultural lands damaging the crops
(Agyeman et al.,2016).These affects the health of the community people.
Safety of water: The community people lack safe and clean water for drinking and
sanitation.Most of the African Americans does not have access to clean water and uses waste
contaminated water for household purposes (Bell, 2016).
Impact of environmental issues on health
The impact of environmental risk factors on health varies widely.The effects can
sometimes result in death.Inhaling too much-polluted air causes eye problems and higher
levels of lead in the blood (Percival et al., 2017).The community people face a higher risk of
infant death syndrome and infections in their respiratory tract.According to several reports,

SOLUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 3
the African Americans are three times prone to the risk of death caused by asthma than other
peoples (Agyeman et al.,2016 ; Percival et al., 2017).The waste materials from factories that
includes toxic wastes contribute significantly to the increase in respiratory infections,
cardiovascular diseases, cancer and liver infections.Besides this, the community suffers from
increased blood lead levels, a higher level of mercury exposure due to fluoridation chemicals
in the water.Polluted water results in premature birth rates, hygiene issues among women and
various disabilities among the community people.
Major causes of these problems
Some of the major causes of the pollution are the burning of the fossil fuels like
natural gas, coal.The majority of the community of African Americans resides near the coal
factories in the U.S (Goldman Environmental Foundation, 2015).They get affected by the
polluted gas and smog which are the major components of the air pollution.
The development and formation of industries and skyscrapers in the urban areas of the U.S
are leading to decreasing in the green space for the community people.Another cause of the
issues are heat in the city (Agyeman et al.,2016).Since the majority of the community people
resides in the inner part of the cities, they are prone to heat-stress and heat-related diseases.
Significant steps
Some of the recommended steps that could be taken to reduce the impact of the
environmental problem are:
• Suggesting and guiding people to use less water, fewer energies and adapt the
recycling method.
• Making the process of distribution and manufacturing more eco-efficient.

SOLUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 4
• Promoting food security and sustainable agriculture (Bell, 2016).
• Recommendation of public policies to challenge the changes in the climate
The environmental problem is a serious problem for the African American community.More
market-based instruments and corporate regulations are needed to restrict the private
companies and control the pollution level.

SOLUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 5
References
Agyeman, J., Schlosberg, D., Craven, L., & Matthews, C. (2016). Trends and directions in
environmental justice: from inequity to everyday life, community, and just
sustainabilities. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 41.
Bell, J. (2016). 5 Things to Know About Communities of Color and Environmental
Justice. Center For American Progress. Retrieved from Goldman Environmental
Foundation. (2015). Environmental Racism in America: An Overview of the
Environmental Justice Movement and the Role of Race in Environmental Policies.
Retrieved from https://www.goldmanprize.org/blog/environmental-racism-in-
america-an-overview-of-the-environmental-justice-movement-and-the-role-of-race-
in-environmental-policies/
Goldman Environmental Foundation. (2015). Environmental Racism in America: An
Overview of the Environmental Justice Movement and the Role of Race in
Environmental Policies. Retrieved from
https://www.goldmanprize.org/blog/environmental-racism-in-america-an-overview-
of-the-environmental-justice-movement-and-the-role-of-race-in-environmental-
policies/
Percival, R. V., Schroeder, C. H., Miller, A. S., &Leape, J. P. (2017). Environmental
regulation: Law, science, and policy. Wolters Kluwer Law & Business.