Publications

Environmental justice (EJ) emphasizes the equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, ensuring that all communities, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, can live in a healthy environment. This review examines the complex interplay between environmental hazards and health inequalities, highlighting how low-income, minority, and Indigenous populations disproportionately bear environmental risks such as air and water pollution, hazardous waste exposure, and climate-related stressors. Drawing on historical, global, and local case studies, it explores mechanisms linking environmental exposures to adverse health outcomes, including social determinants of health, regulatory gaps, and community vulnerability. The review also emphasizes methodological approaches for assessing environmental inequities, including spatial mapping, epidemiological analysis, and community-based participatory research. Policy interventions, co-benefits of equitable strategies, and community empowerment emerge as critical levers to reduce disparities and promote health equity. This synthesis underscores the urgent need for inclusive, evidence-informed policies that integrate fairness, procedural justice, and local engagement to mitigate environmental health inequities worldwide.