Environmental Justice under Our Skin? Socio-Stratifying Human Biomonitoring Results of Adolescents Living Near an Industrial Hotspot in Flanders, Belgium

Environmental justice research suggests that inequalities in the distribution of environmental quality systematically disadvantage the lower social strata of society. The effects of these inequalities on the human exposure to specific chemical pollution remain, however, to a large extend unknown, especially in hotspot areas where surrounding neighbourhoods are exposed to a mixture of diverse pollution. In Flanders, the northern part of Belgium, a community-based participatory approach was set up between 2009-2010 to collect blood, urine and hair samples of 197 socially and ethnically diverse adolescents (14-15 years of age) living in the close proximity of a non-ferro industrial area. We conduct a socio- stratification of human biomonitoring results by associating the internal body concentration of three types of chemical pollution (heavy metals, POPs and volatile compounds) with individual socioeconomic status (SES) and ethnic background. Social gradients in exposure to these chemicals are assessed with geometric means, using multiple regression models, controlling for covariates and confounders. Our results show that, depending on the (type of) pollutant, adolescents with a lower SES can either have higher or lower internal concentrations. Socially constructed factors, such as dietary and lifestyle habits, play an important role in these relations. We conclude that when assessing the human exposure concentrations of pollutants, more complex patterns of social stratification emerge than can be assumed on the basis of the environmental justice hypothesis. It therefore remains important to consider the chemical environment in relation to the social environment when monitoring environmental health risks. By emphasising on transparent communication and relevant interaction between residents, local stakeholders and scientists, monitoring environmental health could enhance the empowerment of socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.

ISBN:978-1-84888-251-5

Publication year:2013

Keywords:human biomonitoring