Association between PM2.5 air pollution and social deprivation in Western Pennsylvania
Published in Environmental Epidemiology, 2025
The Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area, with an estimated population of 2.46 million, experiences elevated fine particulate (PM2.5) air pollution levels due to a combination of industrial activity and traffic-related emissions, exacerbated by the region’s distinct topographical features that trap pollutants. Using spatial analysis and pairwise comparisons, this observational investigation quantifies the relationship between satellite-derived PM2.5 exposure levels and social deprivation at the census block group level, revealing environmental injustices that are often obscured in aggregate-level analyses.
Recommended citation: Bryan, Luke, Whitman, Ella M, Bayly, Henry, Landrigan, Philip J. Association between PM2.5 air pollution and social deprivation in Western Pennsylvania. Environmental Epidemiology 9(3):p e386, June 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/EE9.0000000000000386
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