AIR POLLUTION RISK & VULNERABILITY TO HEALTH IMPACTS: A LOOK AT WEST OAKLAND AB 617 Community Air Protection Program Consultation Group Meeting March 26, 2018 Muntu Davis, MD, MPH Alameda County Health Officer
West Oakland experiences high levels of air pollution from highways, the Port, & industrial facilities close to residents. 2 Source: OEHHA, CalEnviroScreen 3.0
3 West Oakland has a high burden of asthma emergency department and hospitalizations visits.
4 West Oakland has a high burden of asthma emergency department and hospitalizations visits.
Asthma hospitalization and emergency department visit rates are almost 2 times higher in West Oakland than for the County. 5 CHILDREN (<5 YEARS OLD) ALL AGES 2000 1500 1917 1658 ASTHMA EMERGENCY VISITS (per 100,000 pop.) 1000 500 0 1123 1048 868 555 2000 1500 ASTHMA HOSPITALIZATIONS (per 100,000 pop.) 1000 500 0 689 714 West Oakland Oakland 389 Alameda County 181 176 105 West Oakland Oakland Alameda County Source: OSHPD ED & PDD, 2013-3Q2015
Asthma hospitalizations have gone down in West Oakland, but child asthma emergency department (ED) visit rates went up. 6 CHILDREN (<5 YEARS OLD) ALL AGES 2000 1500 1796 1917 ASTHMA EMERGENCY VISITS (per 100,000 pop.) 1000 500 0 1219 1048 2000 1500 ASTHMA HOSPITALIZATIONS (per 100,000 pop.) 1000 500 0 1010 689 2009-2011 2013-2015 308 181 2009-2011 2013-2015 Source: OSHPD ED & PDD, 2013-3Q2015
Age-specific rate per 100,000 2002-2004 2005-2007 2008-2010 2011-2013 2013-2015 Multiple factors can contribute to the declining trend in child asthma hospitalizations. 7 1500 Improvements in asthma management Better access to healthcare Built environment improvements Reductions in air pollution emissions 1000 500 0 West Oakland WO Zips Codes Oakland Alameda County
Cancer, heart disease, stroke and chronic lower respiratory disease are top 5 leading causes of death in West Oakland. 8 Leading Causes of Death in West Oakland Percentage of all deaths Cancer 22% Heart Disease 20% Unintentional Injuries 9% Stroke 7% Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease 5% Homicide 3% Diabetes 3%
Those diseases are associated with air pollution, and West Oakland residents are dying from them at higher rates. 9 200 CANCER DEATHS (per 100,000 pop.) 160 120 80 40 0 189 159 142 HEART DISEASE DEATHS (per 100,000 pop.) 179 154 121 200 160 STROKE DEATHS (per 100,000 pop.) 120 80 40 0 68 West Oakland 42 37 Oakland Alameda County CHRONIC LOWER LUNG DISEASE DEATHS (per 100,000 pop.) 47 West Oakland 27 28 Oakland Alameda County Source: OSHPD ED & PDD, 2013-3Q2015
Due to cumulative health risks and impacts, life expectancy in West Oakland is 6.6 years less than in Alameda County. 10 West Oakland Life Expectancy 75.4 Alameda County Life Expectancy 82.0
These health inequities did not happen overnight. They have deep roots in historical practices, like Racial Redlining. 11 RESIDENTIAL SECURITY MAP, ALAMEDA COUNTY, 1937 (Created by Federal Home Owners Loan Corporation) INNER HARBOR
Impoverished areas see long-standing disinvestment, meaning fewer resources and weaker infrastructure to support health. 12 Persistence of Neighborhood Poverty by Census Tract INNER HARBOR
Continued disinvestment in persistent, very high poverty areas continues to be a main barrier to health in West Oakland. 13 50% POVERTY (<100 FPL), ALL AGES CHILD POVERTY (<100 FPL), <18 YEARS OLD UNEMPLOYMENT 46% 40% 30% 33% 29% 20% 20% 10% 13% 15% 14% 10% 8% 0% West Oakland Alameda Oakland County Source: American Community Survey, 2011-2015
Race and class demographics are changing in West Oakland, but it remains a predominantly low-income community of color. 14 PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION BY RACE BY YEAR, WEST OAKLAND (Total Population increased from 24,187 to 28,163) Other Asian/PI Latino 92% People of Color 75% Black Black 44% 84% White 1990 2000 2010 2017 Source: Census, 1990-2010; CAPE with data from ESRI, 2017
African American White Latino Asian African Americans are especially exposed to and impacted by cumulative health risks. 15 Life Expectancy (Years) at Birth by Place & Race 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Alameda County Oakland West Oakland Source: Alameda County Vital Statistics, 2012-2016
AB 617 provides opportunities to reduce air pollution emissions and maximize health co-benefits in communities like West Oakland. 16
To maximize the health co-benefits of AB 617, consider these health indicators when implementing and identifying strategies. 17 Air pollution exposure Specific health risks associated with air pollution Asthma, chronic lower respiratory disease Stroke, heart attacks, cancer Cumulative health risks and impacts All-cause mortality, life expectancy Social & economic factors that lead to extreme health vulnerability Persistent & high poverty Race & racism
Thank you! For questions or more info, please contact us. 18 Muntu Davis, MD, MPH Alameda County Health Officer muntu.davis@acgov.org Sandi Gálvez Director, Health Equity, Policy, & Planning sandi.galvez@acgov.org Anna Lee Local Policy Coordinator, Place Matters anna.lee@acgov.org Tammy Lee Community Epidemiologist tammy.lee@acgov.org