chemical exposure, obesity and diabetes in communities of color and low income communities...

Chemical Exposure, Chemical Exposure, Obesity and Diabetes in Obesity and Diabetes in

Communities of Color and Communities of Color and Low Income CommunitiesLow Income Communities

Presentation to the Presentation to the Chemicals, Obesity and Diabetes ConferenceChemicals, Obesity and Diabetes Conference

ByByMark A. Mitchell M.D., MPHMark A. Mitchell M.D., MPH

Mitchell Environmental Health AssociatesMitchell Environmental Health AssociatesOctober 14, 2011October 14, 2011

Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011Conference October 14, 2011

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Thanks to the sponsorsThanks to the sponsors

Environmental Health Strategy Environmental Health Strategy CenterCenter

Colby College Environmental Colby College Environmental Studies Program Studies Program

and and Goldfarb CenterGoldfarb Center

for including this important topicfor including this important topic


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Conflict DeclarationConflict Declaration

I Have No Commercial I Have No Commercial Interests in Products or Interests in Products or

Services PresentedServices Presented


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OverviewOverview

I will present:I will present:

Definition of environmental justice Definition of environmental justice Link between EJ and obesogensLink between EJ and obesogensPrevalence of obesity in Blacks and Prevalence of obesity in Blacks and

LatinosLatinosChemical exposures in Blacks and LatinosChemical exposures in Blacks and Latinos Increased vulnerability factorsIncreased vulnerability factorsHow low income people can decrease How low income people can decrease

risksrisks


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What is Environmental What is Environmental Justice?Justice?

The U.S. Environmental Protection The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines Environmental Agency defines Environmental Justices as:Justices as: ””The fair treatment and meaningful The fair treatment and meaningful

involvement of all people regardless of involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”policies.”


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What is Environmental What is Environmental Justice? Justice? ContinuedContinued

Fair treatment means that no group of Fair treatment means that no group of people, including racial, ethnic, or people, including racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group should bear a socioeconomic group should bear a disproportionate share of the negative disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies.”local, and tribal programs and policies.”


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Environmental Justice is Environmental Justice is About Health About Health

Environmental Hazards Disproportionately Environmental Hazards Disproportionately Located in Low-income and Black and Latino Located in Low-income and Black and Latino NeighborhoodsNeighborhoods

Contributes to Health DisparitiesContributes to Health Disparities Environmental Injustice is Institutional Environmental Injustice is Institutional

RacismRacism EJ is about Stopping Environmental Injustice EJ is about Stopping Environmental Injustice

and Changing Environmental Policy to and Changing Environmental Policy to reduce Health Effectsreduce Health Effects


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Point Source Air Pollution Point Source Air Pollution Emissions in Connecticut 2000Emissions in Connecticut 2000


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What Does Environmental What Does Environmental Justice Have to do With Justice Have to do With

Obesogens?Obesogens?

High and disproportionate exposureHigh and disproportionate exposure

Increased vulnerabilityIncreased vulnerability

Probable increased effectsProbable increased effects


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(*BMI 30)

White non-Hispanic

State-specific Prevalence of Obesity* State-specific Prevalence of Obesity* Among U.S. Adults, by Race/Ethnicity, Among U.S. Adults, by Race/Ethnicity,

NHANES 2006-2008NHANES 2006-2008


1111

(*BMI 30)

Hispanic


NHANES 2006-2008NHANES 2006-2008


1212

(*BMI 30)


NHANES 2006-2008NHANES 2006-2008Black non-Hispanic


1313(*BMI 30)

Hispanic


2006-20082006-2008White non-Hispanic

Black non-Hispanic


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Prevalence of obesity, by Prevalence of obesity, by region and race/ethnicity, region and race/ethnicity,

2006-20082006-2008Blacks had the highest prevalence, Blacks had the highest prevalence,

followed by Hispanics, and Whites followed by Hispanics, and Whites

For Blacks For Blacks − Overall prevalence of obesity—35.7%Overall prevalence of obesity—35.7%− Prevalence ranged from 23.0% (New Prevalence ranged from 23.0% (New

Hampshire) to 45.1% (Maine) Hampshire) to 45.1% (Maine)


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Summary (Cont’d)Summary (Cont’d) For Hispanics For Hispanics − Overall prevalence of obesity—28.7%Overall prevalence of obesity—28.7%− Lower prevalence was observed in Lower prevalence was observed in

the Northeast the Northeast

For Whites For Whites − Overall prevalence of obesity—23.7%Overall prevalence of obesity—23.7%− Higher prevalences were found in Higher prevalences were found in

the Midwest and Souththe Midwest and South


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Common Environmental Common Environmental Justice Issues Linked to Justice Issues Linked to

Chemical PolicyChemical PolicyLand and Solid Waste Land and Solid Waste

PollutionPollution

Landfills and DumpsLandfills and Dumps BrownfieldsBrownfields Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste Abandoned Storage Abandoned Storage

Drums of ChemicalsDrums of Chemicals PCB’s in SoilPCB’s in Soil TCE Contaminated SoilTCE Contaminated Soil

Air ToxicsAir Toxics Trash, Sewage Sludge Trash, Sewage Sludge

and Other Incineratorsand Other Incinerators Indoor air contaminantsIndoor air contaminants

Water ContaminationWater Contamination Chemical and Chemical and

Pharmaceutical Sewage Pharmaceutical Sewage ContaminationContamination

Fish Contamination with Fish Contamination with PCB’sPCB’s

Sewage Sludge Sewage Sludge Compost/PelletsCompost/Pellets


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Chemical PolicyChemical Policy

Industrial PollutionIndustrial Pollution

RefineriesRefineries Chemical PlantsChemical Plants Plastics/Rubber Plastics/Rubber

FactoriesFactories Pharmaceutical Pharmaceutical

PlantsPlants Industrial or Chemical Industrial or Chemical

Fires/Explosions/SpillsFires/Explosions/Spills

Local BusinessLocal BusinessToxinsToxins

Cement KilnsCement Kilns Agricultural PesticidesAgricultural Pesticides Toxic Release Inventory Toxic Release Inventory

(TRI) Listed Facilities(TRI) Listed Facilities


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Chemical PolicyChemical Policy

Consumer Product ExposuresConsumer Product Exposures Discount Store Selling Toxic ToysDiscount Store Selling Toxic Toys Home PesticidesHome Pesticides Cosmetics/Personal Care ProductsCosmetics/Personal Care Products BPA in canned food and drink BPA in canned food and drink

containerscontainers Lead in tire weightsLead in tire weights Legacy lead in paintLegacy lead in paint


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Ethnic Cosmetic ToxicantsEthnic Cosmetic Toxicants

Hair relaxers:Hair relaxers: sometimes sometimes contain contain placenta placenta (linked with (linked with early puberty early puberty in children, in children, toddlers)toddlers)


2020

Exposure Over the Chemical Exposure Over the Chemical LifecycleLifecycle

ProductionProduction fenceline exposure, maintenancefenceline exposure, maintenance

Transportation and storageTransportation and storage accidents, fires, spillsaccidents, fires, spills

UseUse canned goods, lead tire weightscanned goods, lead tire weights

DisposalDisposal incinerators, landfills (LBW)incinerators, landfills (LBW)

LegacyLegacy PCB’s, DDT, lead based paintPCB’s, DDT, lead based paint


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VulnerabilityVulnerability

MalnutritionMalnutritionLead absorbtionLead absorbtionPBT’sPBT’s

Psychosocial stressPsychosocial stressIncome disparityIncome disparity


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What Can Low Income People What Can Low Income People Do?Do? Wash fruits and vegetables to reduce Wash fruits and vegetables to reduce

pesticidespesticides If they can’t eat organic, then low-fat foods, If they can’t eat organic, then low-fat foods,

especially milk, meats and eggsespecially milk, meats and eggs Look for hormone and antibiotic free meat Look for hormone and antibiotic free meat

and eggsand eggs Don’t microwave in plastic containers or Don’t microwave in plastic containers or

allow plastic wrap to touch hot foodallow plastic wrap to touch hot food Look for BPA-free plastic water bottles and Look for BPA-free plastic water bottles and

baby bottlesbaby bottles Don’t buy PVC plastic containersDon’t buy PVC plastic containers Eat fresh, frozen, or glass bottled rather Eat fresh, frozen, or glass bottled rather

than canned foods and drinksthan canned foods and drinks Join organizations that work on chemical Join organizations that work on chemical

policypolicy


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SummarySummary

Defined environmental justiceDefined environmental justiceLink between EJ and obesogens Link between EJ and obesogens Higher obesity rates in Blacks and Higher obesity rates in Blacks and

LatinosLatinosHigher chemical exposures in Blacks Higher chemical exposures in Blacks

and Latinosand Latinos Increased vulnerability factorsIncreased vulnerability factorsHow low income people can decrease How low income people can decrease

risksrisks


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Contact informationContact information

Mark A. Mitchell M.D., MPHMark A. Mitchell M.D., MPH

Mitchell Environmental Health Mitchell Environmental Health Associates Associates

[email protected]

(860) 794-9497(860) 794-9497


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Table. Prevalence of obesity, by region and race/ethnicity, 2006-Table. Prevalence of obesity, by region and race/ethnicity, 2006-20082008

Non-Hispanic whiteNon-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic blackNon-Hispanic black HispanicHispanic

Total Total

Both sexesBoth sexes 23.723.7 35.735.7 28.728.7

MenMen 25.425.4 31.631.6 27.827.8

WomenWomen 21.821.8 39.239.2 29.429.4

NortheastNortheast


MenMen 25.025.0 26.526.5 26.926.9

WomenWomen 20.020.0 36.136.1 26.026.0

Midwest Midwest


MenMen 27.027.0 32.132.1 29.729.7

WomenWomen 23.823.8 40.140.1 29.229.2

SouthSouth


MenMen 26.326.3 32.632.6 28.328.3

WomenWomen 22.522.5 40.640.6 29.729.7

WestWest


MenMen 22.122.1 34.134.1 27.327.3

WomenWomen 19.819.8 32.032.0 30.430.4

chemical exposure, obesity and diabetes in communities of color and low income communities...

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