title: Environmental epidemiologic issues and minority health.
abstract: There exist great differences in morbidity and mortality across racial, cultural, and socioeconomic groups. Certain factors, like limited access to health care, are known to contribute to these differences. The contribution of other factors, like disparities in exposure to environmental hazards, is largely unknown as to the effect on minority groups' morbidity and mortality. This article describes select environmental hazards faced by minorities, such as lead toxicity in children, proximity to hazardous waste sites, and consumption of food contaminated with toxic substances, as well as the role of epidemiologists in documenting adverse health effects and participation in interventions to prevent them.
authors.affiliation: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA 30333.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Coulberson
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D007223:Infant; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000208:ethnology*; D008913:Minority Groups; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006256:Hazardous Waste