The figure below, borrowed from Matthew Yglesias, shows that poor children, especially poor black children, have higher concentration of lead in the blood than other middle class children.
Lead poisoning is a serious problem, causing cognitive delay, hyperactivity, and antisocial behavior. If poor children do less well in school and on standardized tests, it may be, in part, because of the environmental toxins to which they are disproportionately exposed.
See also a previous post in which I argue that lead poisoning remained a mother’s problem until the China toy scandal put middle class children at risk, at which point the state stepped in to ensure children’s safety.
Also see this post on race and toxic release facilities.
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Lisa Wade is a professor of sociology at Occidental College. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
Comments 6
T B — August 4, 2009
This page seems to give extended background about the study -
http://www.scienceprogress.org/2009/07/evidence-mounting-that-chemicals-in-the-environment-are-damaging-reproductive-
health/
Evidently all of the statistics are from New York city.
(I'm just highlighting a couple of crucial details that are in Yglesias' post.)
T B — August 4, 2009
Here's a related article -
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2009/2009-07-21-094.asp
fem pen — August 4, 2009
As a feminist and environmentalist, this makes my heart hurt. And unfortunately, the implications of higher toxins in poor communities extends beyond lead--PVC, pesticides, the list goes on and on...
ariseile — August 6, 2009
Does anyone else find it curious that Asian/APA is not a category, but forced to be lumped under 'other'? That's a huge category! And what about everyone of Latin descent NOT from Mexico?
Weird.
Anonymous — August 9, 2009
other races are sub-human.
Human Rights Facts (172): Race and Health « P.A.P. Blog – Human Rights Etc. — December 27, 2009
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