Environment/Climate Change
Redlining in new york city: impacts on particulate matter exposure during pregnancy and birth outcomes Teresa Herrera* Teresa Herrera Akhgar Ghassabian Eunsil Seok Robin Ortiz Whitney Cowell Leonardo Trasande Sheryl Magzamen Eric Dwayne Brown Jr Anne Marie Stroustrup Ako A. Ako
Recent evidence suggests historical redlining policies have played a role in shaping the built environment and health outcomes of residents in urban areas. To date, only a handful of studies have examined redlining’s association with air pollution and adverse birth outcomes in New York City (NYC). Additionally, no NYC-specific studies have examined the impact of redlining on birth weight.
Using a prospective cohort design, this study analyzed data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program to investigate the extent to which maternal residence in a historically redlined neighborhood is associated with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure during pregnancy at the residential address level using multivariable regression models. Additionally, we examined the extent to which maternal residence in a historically redlined neighborhood during pregnancy influenced birth weight z-score, preterm birth (PTB), and low birth weight (LBW).
Our air pollution model showed that having reported a residential address in a D graded census tract or an ungraded census tract was associated with increased PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy. We also found having reported a residential address in a D graded census tract or an ungraded census tract during pregnancy was associated with lower birth weight z-score. This association remained significant when controlling for individual and census-tract level race/ethnicity and income. When we controlled for PM2.5 in our secondary analyses assessing the relationship between redlining grade and birth outcome, our results did not change.
Our study supports the literature linking historical redlining to air pollution and birth outcomes. Our research warrants further investigation into the extent to which historical policies influence present-day environmental and health outcomes. This study contributes to our understanding of historical racism and perinatal health.