Race or racial segregation? Modification of the PM2.5 and cardiovascular mortality association.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many studies have identified an inequitable distribution of exposure to PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns) by race. We investigated the association of PM2.5 and cardiovascular mortality considering both the decedents' race and neighborhood racial composition as potential modifiers.

Methods

We obtained geocoded cardiovascular mortality records of all black and white decedents from urban block-groups in Massachusetts between 2001 and 2011 (n = 130,863). We examined the association between PM2.5 and cardiovascular mortality, and assessed effect modification by three types of racial modifiers: decedents' race, census block-group percent black and white, and two novel measures of racial segregation. The Racial Residential Segregation (RRS) quantifies the

SUBMITTER: Yitshak-Sade M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7384646 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature