Environmental Injustice: The Burden of Black Communities

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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The Roseland Explosion and Environmental Racism

The explosion at the Smitty’s Supply plant in Roseland, Louisiana, on August 22, 2024, serves as a stark reminder of environmental injustice. This incident, which occurred in a majority-Black town, left residents grappling with an oily substance and chemical residue. Millie Simmons, a 58-year-old childcare worker, could barely breathe for days after the blast (Capital B). Even weeks later, her nose remained "stopped up," and children at her workplace were still not allowed outside due to concerns about air quality (Capital B).

This event highlights a disturbing pattern: communities of color, especially Black and brown communities, disproportionately bear the brunt of environmental pollution and industrial disasters. In Roseland, the black, oily sludge coated homes, cars, and even gravestones, yet residents were largely left to clean it up themselves (Capital B). This stands in stark contrast to the federal response in predominantly white communities facing similar disasters.

Defining Environmental Justice

What is Environmental Justice?

Environmental justice is a concept and movement that advocates for the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. It addresses the disproportionate burden of environmental hazards often borne by low-income communities and communities of color.

Environmental justice is a movement advocating for the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, concerning environmental laws and policies. This concept directly addresses the fact that low-income communities and communities of color often bear a disproportionate burden of environmental hazards. Environmental racism is a key part of environmental justice, showing how white privilege and white supremacy can shape environmental injustices and how governments respond to them (journals.indianapolis.iu.edu).

Furthermore, understanding the experiences and voices of people in affected communities is essential for creating effective solutions to environmental racism and achieving environmental justice (journals.indianapolis.iu.edu). Spatial analysis of air pollution disparities, when viewed through an environmental justice lens, can reveal how certain groups are unfairly affected by environmental burdens (mdpi.com).

Unequal Federal Responses

The federal response to environmental disasters often varies significantly based on the demographics of the affected community. In Roseland, the EPA stated that the fire did not warrant federal cleanup support, despite the presence of an oily substance containing hazardous materials like arsenic, barium, chromium, lead, and cancer-causing nitrobenzene (Capital B). Residents were told to wash off the soot themselves, with no clear answers on the chemicals involved (Capital B).

In contrast, a similar warehouse fire in Richmond, Indiana, a town that is 80% white, saw a rapid deployment of EPA cleanup workers in 2023 (Capital B). This response included extensive community air monitoring and hazardous debris removal from over 300 properties at no cost to residents (Capital B). The EPA cited the presence of asbestos in the Richmond fire as a reason for the larger response (Capital B). This disparity in response highlights a systemic issue where communities of color receive less support during environmental crises.

Fenceline Communities and Chemical Risks

Understanding Fenceline Communities

Fenceline communities are residential areas situated directly adjacent to industrial facilities, such as chemical plants, refineries, or hazardous waste sites. Due to their proximity, residents often experience disproportionately high exposure to pollution, including air and water contaminants, noise, and odors, leading to significant health and quality of life impacts.

Fenceline communities are residential areas located directly next to industrial facilities like chemical plants or hazardous waste sites. Because of their close proximity, residents in these communities often face much higher exposure to pollution, including contaminated air and water, noise, and odors (epa.gov). This leads to significant impacts on their health and quality of life. Cleanup efforts at facilities like the Former DuPont East Chicago Facility address contamination in areas that would typically affect nearby communities (epa.gov).

The EPA's focus on cleaning up pollution and addressing public health risks, often through initiatives like the Superfund National Priorities List, directly benefits communities located near contaminated sites (city-countyobserver.com). However, the rollback of environmental regulations, such as the Risk Management Program rules, increases the risk of chemical disasters and disproportionately impacts these fenceline communities (Capital B).

Hazardous Chemicals and Health Impacts

The chemicals found in the Roseland soot, such as arsenic, barium, chromium, lead, and nitrobenzene, are hazardous due to their toxicity and potential to cause a range of adverse health effects. Arsenic, a highly toxic metalloid, can lead to skin lesions, internal cancers, cardiovascular disease, and neurological problems (epa.gov). Soluble barium compounds can cause gastrointestinal issues, muscle weakness, and damage to the nervous system, kidneys, and liver (epa.gov).

Hexavalent chromium is highly toxic and carcinogenic, causing respiratory problems, skin ulcers, and organ damage (epa.gov). Lead is particularly toxic to children, causing severe neurological damage, developmental delays, and behavioral problems (epa.gov). Nitrobenzene, if inhaled or absorbed, can reduce oxygen transport in the blood, leading to severe health issues and is a probable human carcinogen (epa.gov). Cleanup efforts at sites like the Former DuPont East Chicago Facility involve removing "metals contaminated soil," which contains hazardous metals that pose risks to human health (epa.gov).

The EPA's Cleanup Criteria

The EPA's cleanup response criteria are complex and depend on various factors. These include the type and concentration of contaminants, potential exposure pathways, land use, ecological risks, and available technologies (epa.gov). For Superfund sites, the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) outlines the process, emphasizing the protection of human health and the environment, compliance with applicable requirements, and cost-effectiveness (epa.gov).

Decisions often involve risk assessments to determine acceptable exposure levels and the extent of remediation needed to reduce risks to a safe level (epa.gov). Community input is also a factor, though its weight can vary. The EPA's cleanup at the Former DuPont East Chicago Facility, which involved removing contaminated soil and in-situ stabilization, shows a tailored approach based on specific contaminants and their location (epa.gov). The addition of a permeable soil cover at the DuPont facility suggests a risk management strategy that considers long-term protection and containment (epa.gov).

Pollution and Health Disparities

The oil and gas industry's pollution events disproportionately affect Black and Asian communities, leading to significant health disparities. A national study found that 91,000 people die prematurely in the U.S. each year due to pollution from this industry (Capital B). Black and Asian people are most likely to experience these negative health outcomes (Capital B).

Annual Health Impacts from Oil & Gas Pollution in the U.S.

91,000
Premature Deaths

10,350
Preterm Births

216,000
Childhood Asthma Cases

1,610
Cancer Cases

These statistics highlight the severe annual health consequences attributable to pollution from the oil and gas industry in the U.S. Source: Capital B

The study concluded that pollution from the industry causes 10,350 preterm births, 216,000 childhood cases of asthma, and 1,610 cancer cases annually (Capital B). The worst impacts are seen in Texas and Louisiana due to "downstream" oil and gas activities, where crude oil is refined and transported (Capital B). Pollution contributes to these health outcomes through various mechanisms, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage (epa.gov).

The Threat of Regulatory Rollbacks

Rollbacks of environmental regulations, such as the Risk Management Program (RMP) rules, increase the risk of chemical disasters and disproportionately impact fenceline communities. The RMP rules are regulations enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act (epa.gov). These rules require facilities that use, store, or produce certain highly hazardous chemicals to develop and implement a risk management plan (epa.gov). The primary goal of RMP rules is to prevent accidental releases of these chemicals and to minimize the impact of any releases that do occur on workers, the public, and the environment (epa.gov).

In March 2024, the EPA launched efforts to dismantle strengthened Risk Management Program rules, which were designed to prevent and respond to chemical disasters (Capital B). This rollback targets nearly 12,000 chemical facilities and strips away protections for disaster prevention, worker involvement, community transparency, and extreme weather planning (Capital B). Experts warn that these rollbacks directly put workers, first responders, and fenceline communities in greater danger, increasing the likelihood of evacuations and long-term health, housing, and economic harms (Capital B). On average, a fatal or life-threatening chemical incident occurs at a chemical facility every 2.5 days (Capital B).

Lack of Transparency and Long-Term Health

Residents in affected communities often face a lack of transparency and information regarding the chemicals released and the long-term health impacts. In Roseland, residents were told to wash off the soot themselves, but there were no definitive answers on what chemicals were contained in the black, oily sludge (Capital B). The mayor also expressed concern about the lack of clarity on released chemicals (Capital B).

Assessing long-term health effects from chemical exposures typically involves health registries, epidemiological studies, biomonitoring, and community health surveys (epa.gov). However, the challenge lies in attributing specific health outcomes to particular exposures and ensuring transparent communication of findings to affected communities (epa.gov). The comprehensive cleanup at the Former DuPont East Chicago Facility aims to mitigate future exposure and reduce long-term health risks (epa.gov).

Quantum Computing and Community Concerns

The South Side of Chicago is facing community anxiety over a quantum computing development. While quantum computing is a digital technology, concerns about pollution or displacement can arise from indirect factors (eri.iu.edu). The manufacturing of quantum computing hardware could involve specialized materials and processes that generate hazardous waste or require significant energy (eri.iu.edu).

Large-scale quantum computing facilities might require substantial energy consumption and cooling systems, potentially increasing demand on local power grids and contributing to emissions (eri.iu.edu). The establishment of high-tech hubs could also drive up property values, leading to gentrification and displacement of existing residents, particularly in low-income communities (eri.iu.edu). Many residents were unaware of the plan, and advocates say the rushed timeline made it difficult for their voices to be heard (insideclimatenews.org).

Legal and Policy Remedies

Legal protections and policy changes are crucial to address environmental injustice. These include strengthening environmental regulations, such as the Clean Air Act and RMP rules, to reduce emissions and prevent chemical accidents (epa.gov). It is also important to implement and enforce policies that mandate federal agencies to consider environmental justice in their decision-making, permitting, and enforcement actions.

Requiring cumulative impact assessments that consider the combined health impacts of multiple pollution sources in a community is also vital (epa.gov). Strengthening legal frameworks that hold polluters financially responsible for cleanup costs and damages, potentially through Superfund-like mechanisms or civil lawsuits, would also help (epa.gov). Additionally, enhancing laws that provide communities with information about hazardous chemicals used and released by local facilities empowers them to advocate for their health (epa.gov).

The Human Cost of Neglect

The Roseland explosion underscores the unequal burden placed on vulnerable communities. A largely Black, rural town with higher poverty, lower healthcare coverage, and limited funding is left with little help from the federal government (Capital B). Some residents worry about speaking out, knowing jobs and family incomes are tied to the industry's byproducts (Capital B).

The unacknowledged labor of residents, like Millie Simmons and Jimmy Zander's wife's grandmother, who are left to clean up the mess themselves, is a stark reminder that environmental injustice is not just about where pollution happens, but about who shoulders its cleanup, who gets answers, and who is left holding the rag (Capital B). A class-action lawsuit has been filed by Roseland residents seeking damages related to the mandatory evacuation (Capital B).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.