Decades after the discriminatory practice of redlining was banned in the US, its lasting impact is still driving significant health disparities, particularly in asthma prevalence, according to recent studies. These findings highlight how the combination of poor housing conditions and environmental pollutants in historically redlined neighborhoods continues to fuel the asthma crisis, particularly among children. Addressing this crisis requires more than just healthcare interventions, according to GlobalData, a data and analytics company.
Redlining, a practice that historically denied financial services to predominantly minority neighborhoods, labeled these areas as “risky” and prevented necessary investments. Though outlawed in 1968, its effects persist, exposing these neighborhoods to higher pollution levels, poor housing conditions, and entrenched poverty.
Many redlined neighborhoods remain disproportionately exposed to harmful pollutants from industrial sites and high-traffic roadways, exacerbating respiratory issues. Poor housing quality in these areas, rife with mold, pests, and other asthma triggers, further worsens the condition for residents, making it an issue of environmental justice.
Sravani Meka, Senior Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The legacy of redlining is a multifaceted public health crisis. The intersection of environmental hazards, poor housing conditions, and healthcare access gaps has created a perfect storm for chronic asthma in these communities.”
Efforts are underway to address these disparities, with initiatives focusing on improving air quality, housing standards, and healthcare access. However, experts warn that systemic barriers remain.
Meka continues: “While policy reforms are being implemented, convincing decision-makers to prioritize these vulnerable communities and ensuring healthcare providers are equipped to manage the complex needs of these patients will be crucial for long-term change. If successful, these reforms could significantly reduce asthma rates and improve quality of life in historically disadvantaged neighborhoods.”
Meka concludes: “It’s essential that these communities receive sustained attention, not just short-term interventions, to truly dismantle the structural inequalities that drive these health disparities.”
