As a global phenomenon, environmental racism occurs when communities of color are disproportionately affected by exposure to toxic substances due to the areas in which they live. Due to factors such as reasonable rents and inability to access land, historical racism, and the inability to fight corporations, Blacks, Latinos, and Indigenous peoples are typically forced to live on industrial land, landfills, truck routes, ports, and military bases. are forced to live in areas close to
Unfortunately, Arizona is no exception when it comes to environmental racism and social injustice.there is 7 military bases in the state Was or is now a source of considerable pollution among communities of color.
that’s all Six million Arizonans live in areas with poor air quality, high particulate matter levels, and ozone pollution. Perhaps the most undeniable evidence that environmental racism is alive and well in the state is that a person of color is 3.5 times more likely to live in areas with low air quality ratings.
Additionally, high concentrations of arsenic fluoride are common in marginalized communities, especially tribal lands. Women with high ozone exposure 12% more likely to miscarry Early pregnancy. They are also 13% more likely to lose a pregnancy due to exposure to air pollution.
Phoenix has a racially dispersed community of color in the south and west of the city in areas within a 5-mile radius of highways, specifically I-10, I-17, and 202 South . It is lined with industrial parks, waste facilities and toxic landfills.
The south side of the city is zoned for industrial facilities and landfills, which release harmful environmental toxins into residential areas near Phoenix. The city has labeled the site “dangerous land,” which says a lot about the pollution levels there.
But a lesser-known contributor to environmental racism among disenfranchised communities is Arizona’s abundant military bases.
Arizona military bases are major sources of PFAS and other toxic chemicals
Since 1967, military firefighters have used the AFFF extinguishing agent to extinguish jet fuel and oil fires.because sometimes Contains up to 98% perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances – PFAS, a group of over 5,000 toxic chemicals – extremely dangerous to human health. Exposure to these substances can prostate and bladder canceramong other serious illnesses.
While firefighters are most at risk of developing health problems, everyone living on and near military bases bears a greater health burden than the general population from PFAS exposure. These harmful chemicals can seep into groundwater and wells in nearby communities, which are major sources of drinking water.
One of Arizona’s military bases with heavy PFAS contamination Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Located within the city limits of Tucson, he is one of the most active facilities in the country.
A few years ago, military bases had PFAS levels of up to 3,300 ppt, well above safe exposure limits. Still, the EPA’s current limit of 70 ppt for his PFAS in drinking water is considered too high by some environmental advocacy groups, including: Environmental Working Groupupholds the 1 ppt limit.
Given this new limit, PFAS contamination at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is probably far more dangerous than safe.
In a region that accounts for 78% of the Latino population, Residents of Southside Tucson We have always faced economic, racial and social disparities. The existence of this military base is just one factor in the environmental racism they have to endure. These disadvantaged people are also exposed to volatile organic compounds, trichlorethylene, and petroleum hydrocarbons.
Hughes Aircraft Co. regularly dumped degreasers in the Tucson International Airport area from 1952 to 1981. The degreaser, later found to contain trichlorethylene, a toxic solvent, seeped into the groundwater that provided drinking water for the population of the South.
Another military base in Arizona that is concerned about environmental pollution is Fort Huachuca Army Base. Founded in 1877 and located in Cochise County, multiple poisons Along with PFAS such as pesticides, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and petroleum hydrocarbons, it was found lurking at this military facility.
of Large dairy business Riverview Causing a water crisis and releasing toxic dust clouds into the Kansas settlement, it was already a serious health threat to residents of Cochise County. The addition of toxic substances, most likely leaked into the groundwater from Fort Huachuca Army Base, dramatically increases the health burden on these communities.
Lung Cancer Behind Davis-Monthan AFB
Susan W., a petite and frail woman, is a 74-year-old Tucson resident who has lived near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base since 1971. She had a lingering cough and shortness of breath, but I didn’t think much of it at the time. Susan wasn’t a smoker, so the idea that she had developed lung cancer never crossed her mind for a second, but she knew very little about the effects of her PFAS exposure on her health. I did.
In March 2021, she was seen by a doctor and diagnosed with stage II non-small cell lung cancer. After surgery to remove a malignant tumor in her right lung and months of chemotherapy, Susan was cancer-free.
Shortly after discovering what caused her illness, she also decided to seek legal recourse. most people experience irreversible health effects from breathing or ingesting hazardous chemicals.
How can victims achieve environmental justice?
Public law has repeatedly failed communities of color affected by environmental racism. If a company produces air pollution that exceeds safe exposure limits in areas populated by Blacks, Latinos, or Indigenous peoples, they usually receive lower fines, allowing the vicious cycle of corruption and environmental racism to continue. Private law, on the contrary, provides affected communities with much more effective tools to combat unethical and greedy corporations, including toxic torts and class action lawsuits.
Release pollution among vulnerable populations and enforce better regulation by forcing industries that violate environmental laws to pay massive compensation to communities of color who have no choice but to live in highly polluted areas It is hoped that you will be discouraged from doing so.
A good example of how private law can be beneficial is the Hualapai tribe of northwest Arizona taking legal action to stop the construction of lithium mines that threaten key water resources. this spring, Federal Judge Stops Construction of Mine Because it can affect indigenous lands.
