Seasonal green space, air pollution, and temperature in the United States: Spatial disparities among people with disabilities

This paper advances research on environmental justice through analysis of multiple concurrent environmental exposures (green space, air pollution, temperature) among overlooked marginalized populations (people with disabilities) during both summer and winter seasons in the year 2021. To date, environmental justice research and policy in the United States and other parts of the world have traditionally focused on how low-income communities and racialized minorities navigate higher levels of environmental hazards, and the adverse consequences to health and quality of life. Much less attention has been paid to environmental injustices among people with disabilities. This study contributes to this knowledge gap by (1) identifying seasonal neighborhood clusters with high environmental exposures and predominantly socially marginalized groups; and (2) quantifying the distributions of green space, air pollution, and temperature among disabled residents in the contiguous United States. Using local join count statistics for the first objective, 169 clusters were detected in 21 cities. These locations are where environmental risks are highest and environmental justice interventions are most needed. Philadelphia is notable for having the most hotspots, and for being the only city to have clusters in both summer and winter. Using Kruskal-Wallis tests and Generalized Additive Models for the second objective, the results suggest that neighborhoods with more residents with disabilities have more green space. The air pollution and temperature findings are inconclusive at the national scale, indicating a need for further investigation in regions or cities. This study contributes much needed empirical insights on environmental exposures among disabled populations as part of a larger endeavor to better understand how changing environmental conditions impact marginalized communities.