Environmental Inequality\nin Estimated Cancer Risk\nfrom Airborne Toxic Exposure across United States Communities from\n2011 to 2019

US Census Bureau data were matched to U.S. Environmental\nProtection\nAgency estimated cancer risks from airborne toxics from 2011 to 2019\nto explore environmental inequality with nationwide census tract resolution.\nSpearman correlations showed modest associations between various socioeconomic\nstatus factors and estimated cancer risk. Multiple linear regression\nanalyses show positive associations with increased estimated cancer\nrisk (<i>p</i> < 0.05) for high proportions of Blacks\nin suburban and rural areas. A positive relationship with estimated\ncancer risk was found for increasing proportions of Asians and Hispanics\nin nonurban areas. Urban tracts that suffer from the highest estimated\ncancer risks were concentrated among the communities with a population\nof higher proportion of minorities. While environmental inequality\nseems to have improved across the examined years for certain demographics\nwith respect to estimated cancer risk from air toxics, equity is far\nfrom achieved, and future work in identifying the sources of environmental\ninequality could help in achieving a more just environment.