Environmental justice, cumulative environmental risk, and health among low- and middle-income children in upstate New York.
OBJECTIVE
We documented inequitable, cumulative environmental risk exposure and health between predominantly White low-income and middle-income children residing in rural areas in upstate New York.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data for 216 third- through fifth-grade children included overnight urinary neuroendocrine levels, noise levels, residential crowding (people/room), and housing quality.


RESULTS
After control for income, maternal education, family structure, age, and gender, cumulative environmental risk exposure (0-3) (risk >1 SD above the mean for each singular risk factor [0, 1]) was substantially greater for low-income children. Cumulative environmental risk was positively correlated with elevated overnight epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol in the low-income sample but not in the middle-income sample.


CONCLUSIONS
Cumulative environmental risk exposure among low-income families may contribute to bad health, beginning in early childhood.
Evans
Gary W
GW
Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-4401, USA. gwe1@cornell.edu
Marcynyszyn
Lyscha A
LA
D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003441:Crowding; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects; D011156:Population Density; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012923:Social Class; D012931:Social Environment; D012935:Social Justice; D016482:Urinalysis