Some exceptions from New York City, Los Angles, and cities in Canada finding areas with Higher SES had higher air pollutant concentrations or differences in levels of pollution. These results may be because these cities developed with the high SES individuals clustered around roadways.

Indiana University

In North America, the studies primarily found that lower SES individuals and communities were exposed to higher concentrations of air pollution. In the US, evidence supports that many communities with low SES are disproportionately affected by air pollution. For these communities, it is plausible that differential exposure to air pollution may be a contributor to higher associations between air pollution and health than seen in better-off populations. 



Results of North American Studies

Hajat, A., Hsia, C., & O'Neill, M. S. (2015). Socioeconomic Disparities and Air Pollution Exposure: a Global Review. Current environmental health reports, 2(4), 440–450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-015-0069-5


Socioeconomic Disparities and Air Pollution Exposure: A Global Review


Exceptions to Overall Conclusion in North America

A review of global studies provides strong evidence supporting the Hypothesis of Environmental Inequality. Despite regional study variations, research consistently demonstrates that communities with low socioeconomic status (SES) are disproportionately exposed to higher concentrations of air pollutants, which further exacerbates health disparities in these populations.

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