Tucson
Environment
Change CityPrint Report
Inequities found in
3
of 5 measures studied

Environment: What We Found

We measured the equity of environmental risks across the Tucson region by looking at differences in air and water toxins, lead paint exposure and nearby hazardous facilities.

How we measured equity
CANCER RISK FROM AIR POLLUTION
This chart shows the share of people in Tucson who live in neighborhoods the EPA has determined face the highest cancer risk from air pollutants. White families are less likely to live near these facilities in most cities. We considered a gap of more than five percentage points for any racial or ethnic group as inequity.
  • <1%White
  • <1%Black
  • <1%Latino or Hispanic
  • <1%All people of color
Data Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice screening system
RESPIRATORY RISK FROM AIR POLLUTION
This chart shows the share of people in the Tucson region who live in neighborhoods the EPA has deemed highest risk for respiratory illnesses caused by toxic air pollutants. White families are less likely to live near these facilities in most cities. We considered a gap of more than five percentage points for any racial or ethnic group as inequity.
  • 0%
  • 0.3%
  • 0.6%
  • 0.9%
  • 1.2%
  • 1.5%
  • 1.8%
  • 2.1%
  • 2.4%
  • 2.7%
  • 3%
  • White
  • Black
  • Latino or Hispanic
  • All people of color
Data Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice screening system
POLLUTED WATER
Inequity
This chart shows the share of Tucson area residents who live in neighborhoods the EPA has deemed highest risk for toxic discharges into nearby waterways. White families are less likely to live near these polluted streams and waterways in many major metro areas. We considered a gap of more than five percentage points for any racial or ethnic minority group as inequity.
  • 25%White
  • 23%Black
  • 39%Latino or Hispanic
  • 36%All people of color
Data Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice screening system
LEAD POISONING EXPOSURE
Inequity
This chart shows the share of people who live in Tucson area neighborhoods the EPA has deemed highest risk for potential lead poisoning caused by exposure to lead paint used in older housing. In about three-quarters of major metro areas, white people are less likely to live in these neighborhoods. We considered a gap of more than five percentage points for any racial or ethnic group as inequity.
  • 0%
  • 4%
  • 8%
  • 12%
  • 16%
  • 20%
  • 24%
  • 28%
  • 32%
  • 36%
  • 40%
  • White
  • Black
  • Latino or Hispanic
  • All people of color
Data Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice screening system
NEARBY HAZARDOUS FACILITIES
Inequity
The share of people who live in Tucson area neighborhoods the EPA has deemed highest risk for dangers posed by facilities hazardous enough to neighbors to require risk management plans. White families are less likely to live close to facilities posing this serious threat in most major metro areas. We considered a gap of more than five percentage points for any racial or ethnic group as inequity.
  • 0%
  • 1%
  • 2%
  • 3%
  • 4%
  • 5%
  • 6%
  • 7%
  • 8%
  • 9%
  • 10%
  • White
  • Black
  • Latino or Hispanic
  • All people of color
Data Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice screening system
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