Overview

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Title: Pollution & Health Effects in San Diego County

Subtitle: A dashboard for PHW251B

Data source: CalEnviroScreen 4.0

Background: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a common air pollutant and when inhaled, can penetrate within the lungs, cross into bloodstream and contribute to adverse health outcomes throughout the lifespan, including asthma, hypertension, chronic lung disease, and increased risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks (Du et al. 2016). Studies have shown the unequal distribution of PM2.5, making it a critical environmental justice issue. In this study, I reviewed the relationship between PM2.5, emergency visits stemming from heart attacks, and the prevailing environmental justice landscape. Through this study, we aim to shed light on the interplay between air quality, health, and social equity in the context of San Diego County.

Results: Overall, this work demonstrates that there is an association between elevated PM 2.5 concentrations in San Diego County communities with emergency hospital visits due to heart attacks and demographic indicators such as poverty and linguistic isolation. In addition, poverty is highly correlated with increased percentages of limited English speaking households and poor health outcomes.

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