Looking at environmental justice from an environmental health perspective.
Although scientific evidence is scarce and uneven, there are mounting concerns that environmental health risks are borne disproportionately by members of the population who are poor and nonwhite. From an environmental health perspective, research to reduce critical uncertainties in health risk assessment must necessarily be at the heart of efforts to evaluate and resolve issues of environmental justice--helping to define the dimensions of the problem, understand its causes, and identify effective and efficient solutions. The full range of environmental health sciences, including exposure analysis, epidemiology, toxicology, biostatistics, and surveillance monitoring, is needed to build a strong scientific foundation for informed decision making. This is the best and surest way to promote health and safety for all members of our society, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, health condition, race, or socioeconomic status.
Sexton
K
K
Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
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D004782:Environmental Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011287:Prejudice; D011634:Public Health; D011640:Public Policy; D012308:Risk Management; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class