Social disparities in nitrate-contaminated drinking water in California's San Joaquin Valley.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Research on drinking water in the United States has rarely examined disproportionate exposures to contaminants faced by low-income and minority communities. This study analyzes the relationship between nitrate concentrations in community water systems (CWSs) and the racial/ethnic and socioeconomic characteristics of customers.

Objectives

We hypothesized that CWSs in California's San Joaquin Valley that serve a higher proportion of minority or residents of lower socioeconomic status have higher nitrate levels and that these disparities are greater among smaller drinking water systems.

Methods

We used water quality monitoring data sets (1999-2001) to estimate nitrate levels in CWSs, and source location and census block group data to estimate customer demograp

SUBMITTER: Balazs C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3230390 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature