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Chemical Exposure, Obesity and Diabetes in Communities of Color and Low Income Communities

Chemical Exposure, Obesity and Diabetes in Communities of Color and Low Income Communities. Presentation to the Chemicals, Obesity and Diabetes Conference By Mark A. Mitchell M.D., MPH Mitchell Environmental Health Associates October 14, 2011.

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Chemical Exposure, Obesity and Diabetes in Communities of Color and Low Income Communities

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  1. Chemical Exposure, Obesity and Diabetes in Communities of Color and Low Income Communities Presentation to the Chemicals, Obesity and Diabetes Conference By Mark A. Mitchell M.D., MPH Mitchell Environmental Health Associates October 14, 2011

  2. Thanks to the sponsorsEnvironmental Health Strategy CenterColby College Environmental Studies Program and Goldfarb Centerfor including this important topic Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  3. Conflict Declaration I Have No Commercial Interests in Products or Services Presented Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  4. Overview I will present: • Definition of environmental justice • Link between EJ and obesogens • Prevalence of obesity in Blacks and Latinos • Chemical exposures in Blacks and Latinos • Increased vulnerability factors • How low income people can decrease risks Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  5. What is Environmental Justice? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines Environmental Justices as: ”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.” Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  6. What is Environmental Justice? Continued Fair treatment means that no group of people, including racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies.” Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  7. Environmental Justice is About Health Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011 Environmental Hazards Disproportionately Located in Low-income and Black and Latino Neighborhoods Contributes to Health Disparities Environmental Injustice is Institutional Racism EJ is about Stopping Environmental Injustice and Changing Environmental Policy to reduce Health Effects

  8. Point Source Air Pollution Emissions in Connecticut 2000 Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  9. What Does Environmental Justice Have to do With Obesogens? • High and disproportionate exposure • Increased vulnerability • Probable increased effects Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  10. State-specific Prevalence of Obesity* Among U.S. Adults, by Race/Ethnicity, NHANES 2006-2008 White non-Hispanic (*BMI 30) Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  11. State-specific Prevalence of Obesity* Among U.S. Adults, by Race/Ethnicity, NHANES 2006-2008 Hispanic (*BMI 30) Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  12. State-specific Prevalence of Obesity* Among U.S. Adults, by Race/Ethnicity, NHANES 2006-2008 Black non-Hispanic (*BMI 30) Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  13. State-specific Prevalence of Obesity* Among U.S. Adults, by Race/Ethnicity, 2006-2008 Black non-Hispanic White non-Hispanic Hispanic (*BMI 30) Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  14. Prevalence of obesity, by region and race/ethnicity, 2006-2008 • Blacks had the highest prevalence, followed by Hispanics, and Whites • For Blacks • Overall prevalence of obesity—35.7% • Prevalence ranged from 23.0% (New Hampshire) to 45.1% (Maine) Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  15. Summary (Cont’d) • For Hispanics • Overall prevalence of obesity—28.7% • Lower prevalence was observed in the Northeast • For Whites • Overall prevalence of obesity—23.7% • Higher prevalences were found in the Midwest and South Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  16. Common Environmental Justice Issues Linked to Chemical Policy Land and Solid Waste Pollution Landfills and Dumps Brownfields Hazardous Waste Abandoned Storage Drums of Chemicals PCB’s in Soil TCE Contaminated Soil Air Toxics Trash, Sewage Sludge and Other Incinerators Indoor air contaminants Water Contamination Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sewage Contamination Fish Contamination with PCB’s Sewage Sludge Compost/Pellets Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  17. Common Environmental Justice Issues Linked to Chemical Policy Industrial Pollution Refineries Chemical Plants Plastics/Rubber Factories Pharmaceutical Plants Industrial or Chemical Fires/Explosions/Spills Local Business Toxins Cement Kilns Agricultural Pesticides Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Listed Facilities Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  18. Common Environmental Justice Issues Linked to Chemical Policy Consumer Product Exposures Discount Store Selling Toxic Toys Home Pesticides Cosmetics/Personal Care Products BPA in canned food and drink containers Lead in tire weights Legacy lead in paint Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  19. Ethnic Cosmetic Toxicants Hair relaxers:sometimes contain placenta (linked with early puberty in children, toddlers) Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  20. Exposure Over the Chemical Lifecycle • Production • fenceline exposure, maintenance • Transportation and storage • accidents, fires, spills • Use • canned goods, lead tire weights • Disposal • incinerators, landfills (LBW) • Legacy • PCB’s, DDT, lead based paint Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  21. Vulnerability • Malnutrition • Lead absorbtion • PBT’s • Psychosocial stress • Income disparity Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  22. What Can Low Income People Do? • Wash fruits and vegetables to reduce pesticides • If they can’t eat organic, then low-fat foods, especially milk, meats and eggs • Look for hormone and antibiotic free meat and eggs • Don’t microwave in plastic containers or allow plastic wrap to touch hot food • Look for BPA-free plastic water bottles and baby bottles • Don’t buy PVC plastic containers • Eat fresh, frozen, or glass bottled rather than canned foods and drinks • Join organizations that work on chemical policy Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  23. Summary • Defined environmental justice • Link between EJ and obesogens • Higher obesity rates in Blacks and Latinos • Higher chemical exposures in Blacks and Latinos • Increased vulnerability factors • How low income people can decrease risks Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  24. Contact information Mark A. Mitchell M.D., MPH Mitchell Environmental Health Associates mmitchell@enviro-md.com (860) 794-9497 Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

  25. Table. Prevalence of obesity, by region and race/ethnicity, 2006-2008 Chemicas Obesity and Diabetes Conference October 14, 2011

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