In Gary, Indiana, a city with a predominantly Black population, industrial pollution continues to pose significant health risks, highlighting the ongoing environmental injustice faced by minority communities. The city’s history of heavy industry, particularly steel manufacturing, has left a legacy of contamination that disproportionately affects its residents.
Recent air quality data reveals alarming levels of pollutants in Gary. The city’s air contains particulate matter at concentrations 20 times higher than less industrialized areas, putting residents at increased risk for respiratory issues, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. This pollution burden is particularly heavy for the 84% of Gary’s population who identify as Black.
The environmental challenges in Gary are compounded by socioeconomic factors. With a poverty rate of 33%, many residents lack the resources to relocate or adequately protect themselves from environmental hazards. This situation exemplifies the intersection of racial and economic disparities in environmental health.
Local activists like Kimmie Gordon are fighting for change. Gordon emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stating, “People are dying. That’s not an exaggeration, that’s a fact.” Her words underscore the real human cost of industrial pollution in communities like Gary.
Despite some progress in reducing emissions, the legacy of pollution continues to impact Gary’s residents. Soil samples from residential areas show elevated levels of lead, arsenic, and other toxic metals, posing long-term health risks, especially to children.
The situation in Gary serves as a stark reminder of the persistent environmental health disparities faced by minority communities across the United States, highlighting the need for more robust environmental protection policies and targeted interventions to address these longstanding inequities.
See: “People are dying: How industrial pollution continues to plague Gary, Indiana” (December 18, 2024)
