Industrial pollution in the United States leaves a lasting impact not just on those living near factories today, but on entire minority communities for generations. New research from the University of Utah reveals that children whose mothers or grandmothers lived close to clusters of industrial plants during pregnancy have a much higher risk of intellectual disabilities. These dangers are felt most acutely among communities of color, as decades of discriminatory housing and zoning policies have placed Black and Hispanic families in neighborhoods adjacent to major sources of pollution.
Experts highlight that proximity to industrial facilities is strongly linked to health risks—and that race is a bigger driver than income in determining who faces the highest exposures and consequences. Minority families, especially African American and Hispanic communities, are far more likely to be exposed to hazardous air toxics. For these populations, the burden of pollution risk far exceeds any employment or economic benefits the factories might offer. Sara Grineski, lead researcher, warns that “[higher density of industrial facilities corresponded to higher risk for the grandchild]” and urges agencies to recognize the scale of harm.
The legacy of systemic racism means Black Americans, in particular, suffer the highest rates of pollution-related premature deaths. Environmental exposures, compounded by centuries of unequal access to safe housing and healthcare, amplify disparities in cognitive and developmental health across generations. Advocacy groups urge immediate action to address these inequities to protect future children and grandchildren in the nation’s most vulnerable communities.
See: “Industrial pollution’s imprint on cognitive health can last generations” (August 20, 2025)
