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Pollution drives families to relocate — but only the rich can afford to live in healthier areas

Pollution levels factor in households' decision to relocate within the United States, but only richer households can afford areas with improved air quality

Pollution levels factor in households’ decision to relocate within the United States, but only richer households can afford areas with improved air quality, a new study finds.

Research led by Lancaster University Management School and published in Environmental and Resource Economics examines county-to-county migration data from 2010 to 2014 provided by the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It uses a range of controls to account for households opting to move to a particular county — such as employment opportunities and amenities — and finds environmental quality plays a key role in a choice of destination.

“We believe our study is the first to examine both household income and environmental quality in households’ decisions to relocate,” Lancaster University’s Dr Aurelie Slechten, co-author of the study, explains.

“We find inequalities exist when it comes to who is exposed to the worst areas of pollution — with poorer families hit hardest. Richer households opt to move into cleaner, healthier areas that tend to be more expensive. However, poorer families are priced out of these counties and are the ones who move into areas with higher levels of toxic releases.”

Link between income, pollution, and location

Analysing detailed origin and destination information of households, rather than just aggregate migration flows, the new analysis uncovers a direct link between a household’s income and their newly chosen county of residence. Those who leave an area for a location that is less polluted earn more than the average household in their home community, whereas households earning a less-than-average income in their home area are the ones to move to more polluted destinations.

“This evidence demonstrates it is not just improvements to air quality standards and Toxic Release Inventory reporting that are important when it comes to environmental justice — inequality in income also needs to be considered, as it is clear some families may be forced to live in more polluted areas which may lead them to live unhealthier lives” co-author Dr. Anita Schiller, of Lancaster University, adds.

This new paper builds on the academics’ earlier study that looked at the behaviours of firms that cause pollution to discover if these organisations make strategic decisions on their site locations based on population demographics. Focusing on Texas, they found a correlation between lower-income locations and the probability of potentially polluting firms choosing to locate there.

Professor Dakshina De Silva of Lancaster University Management School is co-author of the study. He said: “This creates a vicious cycle where firms strategically locate polluting facilities in lower-income areas, and the resulting environmental burdens then fall disproportionately on disadvantaged communities. Wealthier households, meanwhile, are able to effectively ‘vote with their feet’ and avoid these negative impacts.

“Addressing both environmental justice and economic inequality is crucial to break this cycle and create more sustainable communities for all.”

Indoor air quality

Only seven countries in the world had air quality levels at or below the healthy annual average recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2023, according to one report from the Swiss air quality organization IQAir. In many cases, poor outdoor air quality is fueled by environmental factors, though the improvement of indoor air quality is equally as imperative to minimize the health effects associated with pollution. From the state of air quality in 2024 to the impact on human health, there are several simple ways in which indoor air quality can be improved for the sake of a healthier at-home environment.

Indoor air quality can also be influenced by the air quality outdoors, a concern that is more prevalent than ever before due to environmental factors like climate change. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls indoor air pollution “the world’s largest single environmental health risk.”

While outdoor air quality can have a major impact on the environment and human health, indoor air quality can be more deadly vs. outdoor air pollution “because it affects you in places where you spend 80% or more of your time each day.” Improving indoor air quality is essential — according to the EPA, it’s imperative to try and improve the indoor air quality in your home even if symptoms are not noticeable. This can be achieved by focusing on tasks such as vacuuming, minimizing clutter, and regularly cleaning bedding, drapes, and other items that attract allergens, among other things.


As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. 

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References/Sources/Materials provided by:

This article was written at Lancaster University.

https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/pollution-drives-families-to-relocate-but-only-the-rich-can-afford-to-live-in-healthier-areas

https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10640-024-00893-8

https://worldhealth.net/news/air-pollution-higher-rates-head-neck-cancer/

https://worldhealth.net/news/indoor-air-quality-addressing-public-health-issue-rise/

Posted by the WHN News Desk
Posted by the WHN News Deskhttps://www.worldhealth.net/
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