Air pollutants can mess with DNA methylation, which can cause health problems. As pollution is most commonly seen in neighborhoods that are inhabited by majority BIPOC communities, it raises the question of how certain demographics of people are more prone to developing complications with DNA methylation and what can be done to subsidize the issue.
Air Pollution and Environmental Racism
Everyday, countless factories emit large quantities of harmful chemicals to produce the items that you, the consumer, is bound to buy. In 2022 alone, nitrogen-based fertilizer facilities, paper manufacturing facilities, and electric utilities were the lead causes of the 571 million pounds of toxic chemicals that were released into the atmosphere in the U.S. Those most affected by this absurd air pollution are people of color because factories and other industrial facilities like to establish themselves in the least inexpensive areas, which are often low-income neighborhoods with majority brown and black communities. For example, located in Richmond, CA is a Chevron Oil Refinery, the primary polluter in the state. The refinery not only affects the entirety of California, but the immediate public that Richmond is home to, which is predominantly people of color.
According to the Princeton Student Climate Initiative, environmental racism “refers to the unequal access to a clean environment and basic environmental resources based on race.” Polluters in low-income neighborhoods is an example of environmental racism because these areas are usually made up of marginalized peoples who, in the U.S, have historically been ostracized and not given as much access to resources in comparison to their white counterparts. Additionally, as these neighborhoods are often underfunded, they are unable to easily revamp the state of their living spaces and instead, have to comply with the cruel efforts of powerful, polluting corporations. Moving is an expensive solution to the problem and reaching a compromise with the opposing industries is very challenging.
The fuel, agricultural, and fast fashion industries are some of the biggest contributors to air pollution, mass producing items on high demand. Consequently, they have to constantly expand their business to make more and more profit, taking advantage of cheap land to build onto their empires. These large organizations and corporations, like Nestlé and H&M, can afford to lose money to be more environmentally friendly, however, they choose not to for convenience. In 2018, Nestlé, the biggest global food and beverage company, claimed to have plans of making their packaging “100% recyclable or reusable by 2025” (Earth.ORG) in hopes of reducing their carbon footprint. However, a statement with the steps they would take to reach their goal was never released to the public and in 2020, the company was declared one of “the world’s top plastic producers for the third year in a row” (Earth.ORG). Similarly, in 2019 H&M, a popular fast fashion company, released a controversial line of clothing called “Conscious”, which was advertised as sustainable in using materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester. It was later revealed that the clothing line was a sly marketing tactic made to appeal to a wider audience and wasn’t actually environmentally friendly.
Both these and other companies would rather put their money towards expanding their businesses and largening their pool of customers. Consequently, communities of color have no choice but to reside in zones where lots of chemicals are emitted by greedy corporations.
Today, there is a steady increase in the development of health issues and disorders within people of color linked to their exposure to hazardous chemicals. In February of 2024, The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) and CEO Roundtable on Cancer reported that “56% of people living in the U.S within 3 kilometers of carcinogenic sites were people of color”. These sites were facilities that polluted the air daily, raising the risk for cancer across ethnic minorities. Furthermore, the impacts on a molecular level are often not brought up when speaking on the damaging, long-term effects of air pollution.
DNA Methylation
Each person has their set genomes, but they can get rewired when a series of environmental changes like air pollutants are introduced to the home body. In each of a person’s cells, there are tumor suppressor genes, which prevent their cells from multiplying and growing uncontrollably. Those genes act as a break for cell division and can initiate cell death. However, when someone is in an environment that is engulfed in air pollution, those breaks can be turned off in an instant.
The potential risks that air pollution might pose on one’s DNA structure and or function are concerning. For example, “Air pollution can catalyze the production of cancer cells. These air pollutants impact our epigenetics and can disrupt our DNA methylation. It’s a serious problem” says Christine Wilkinson, an educator of molecular genetics and chemistry at Lick-Wilmerding High School. According to BioMed Central, DNA methylation is “a chemical modification of DNA through the addition of a methyl group to the DNA molecule, which mainly happens at cytosine-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) sites [43, 44]”. This modification can affect gene expression without changing a DNA sequence (epigenetics), which is key in understanding the development of genetic mutations and how they work in the body. DNA methylation can be altered by both environmental and genetic factors. Recent studies show that air pollution is causing widespread changes in DNA methylation, leading to genetic diseases such as cancer, asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema (all respiratory issues). When fossil fuels are burned, they release gasses like Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) that can negatively impact DNA methylation, specifically impacting “two respiratory function related genes”, like “arginase (ARG2) hypermethylation and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2A) hypomethylation” (BioMed Central).
Are the effects of air pollution on DNA reversible? “Yes, you can unmark DNA actually” says Wilkinson, “but the niche process requires access to resources that are very expensive.” People who are suffering the most with drastic flips within their DNA methylation are those who cannot avoid it all even if they have a desire to do so. Marginalized communities of Black and Brown folk cannot just move from their neighborhoods or go to the best doctors or specialists in the country because they do not have the money. For example, in 2022, the average American household spent more than 11.2% of their income on food, while the average, low-income household spent about 32.6% of their income. Additionally, one of the biggest problems low-income, BIPOC families in the U.S face is getting health insurance and or paying for costly medical procedures that often range in the thousands. These families have to pick and choose what they should prioritize and in most cases, healthcare is wanted, but out of the question. “It’s tough”, says Wilkinson, “It’s not convenient to have to move from place to place for the sake of less exposure to pollutants, but that is why we must come up with achievable solutions for everyone.”
Taking Action
Although tackling air pollution and reducing its impacts seems unrealistic, it is definitely possible. There are various actions that can be taken on an individual level and a larger scale. Factories and other industrial facilities that produce thousands of items daily can make plans of switching to renewable energy, using fuels and materials that are more environmentally friendly, and managing chemical release to ensure pollution is not occuring. These bigger corporations have more power and can choose to help lessen communal exposure to toxins in the atmosphere. Even higher powers, like the House and the Senate, can exercise their status and wide access to resources to issue bills and laws that monitor hazardous chemical production.
For example, the Clean Air Act that Congress passed in 1963 regulates all sources of air emissions. Power can bring about immense change and that change is needed for BIPOC communities who are consistently met with issues related to environmental racism. If the government is for the people, then enforcing rules to protect civilians from the dangers of air pollution should be one of their top priorities. On a smaller scale, BIPOC folk who are victims of air pollution can take their own steps to improve their lifestyles. Simple acts like planting trees, walking as a mode of transportation, and refraining from burning trash can help improve air quality. Air pollution is a man-made catastrophe and so, it is the duty of the initiators to make a collective call for clean air.
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