Table 2. Low, Medium, and High Environmental Inequality Across All 329 Metropolitan Areas in the Continental United States, 2000a.
| White Environmental Inequality | ||||
| Low EIb | Med EI | High EI | Total | |
| Blacks | 38 (11.6) | 20 (6.1) | 10 (3.0) | 68 (20.7) |
| Native Americans | 22 (6.7) | 24 (7.3) | 11 (3.3) | 57 (17.3) |
| Asians | 47 (14.3) | 44 (13.4) | 7 (2.1) | 98 (29.8) |
| Pacific Islanders | 3 (0.9) | 12 (3.6) | 10 (3.0) | 25 (7.6) |
| Hispanics | 37 (11.2) | 20 (6.1) | 3 (0.9) | 60 (18.2) |
| Total | 147 | 120 | 41 | |
| Black Environmental Inequality | ||||
| Pollution Category | Low EI | Med EI | High EI | Total |
| Whites | 62 (18.8) | 82 (24.9) | 84 (25.5) | 228 (69.3) |
| Native Americans | 37 (11.2) | 69 (21.0) | 60 (18.2) | 166 (50.5) |
| Asian Americans | 50 (15.2) | 73 (22.2) | 75 (22.8) | 198 (60.2) |
| Pacific Islanders | 12 (3.6) | 41 (12.5) | 70 (21.3) | 123 (37.4) |
| Hispanics | 65 (19.8) | 56 (17.0) | 38 (11.6) | 159 (48.3) |
| Total | 226 | 321 | 327 | |
| Native American Environmental Inequality | ||||
| Pollution Category | Low EI | Med EI | High EI | Total |
| Whites | 38 (11.6) | 79 (24.0) | 27 (8.2) | 144 (43.8) |
| Blacks | 21 (6.4) | 27 (8.2) | 9 (2.7) | 57 (17.3) |
| Asian Americans | 44 (13.4) | 59 (17.9) | 29 (8.8) | 132 (40.1) |
| Pacific Islanders | 6 (1.8) | 18 (5.5) | 51 (15.5) | 75 (22.8) |
| Hispanics | 28 (8.5) | 29 (8.8) | 13 (4.0) | 70 (21.3) |
| Total | 137 | 212 | 129 | |
| Asian American Environmental Inequality | ||||
| Pollution Category | Low EI | Med EI | High EI | Total |
| Whites | 54 (16.4) | 85 (25.8) | 14 (4.3) | 153 (46.5) |
| Blacks | 32 (9.7) | 19 (5.8) | 17 (5.2) | 68 (20.7) |
| Native Americans | 25 (7.6) | 40 (12.2) | 25 (7.6) | 90 (27.4) |
| Pacific Islanders | 9 (2.7) | 12 (3.6) | 27 (8.2) | 48 (14.6) |
| Hispanics | 33 (10.0) | 34 (10.3) | 15 (4.6) | 82 (24.9) |
| Total | 153 | 190 | 98 | |
| Pacific Islander Environmental Inequality | ||||
| Pollution Category | Low EI | Med EI | High EI | Total |
| Whites | 7 (2.1) | 41 (12.5) | 36 (10.9) | 84 (25.5) |
| Blacks | 5 (1.5) | 15 (4.6) | 15 (4.6) | 35 (10.6) |
| Native Americans | 3 (0.9) | 36 (10.9) | 25 (7.6) | 64 (19.5) |
| Asians | 7 (2.1) | 23 (7.0) | 28 (8.5) | 58 (17.6) |
| Hispanics | 4 (1.2) | 22 (6.7) | 17 (5.2) | 43 (13.1) |
| Total | 26 | 137 | 121 | |
| Hispanic Environmental Inequality | ||||
| Pollution Category | Low EI | Med EI | High EI | Total |
| Whites | 74 (22.5) | 95 (28.9) | 54 (16.4) | 223 (67.8) |
| Blacks | 62 (18.8) | 39 (11.9) | 23 (7.0) | 124 (37.7) |
| Native Americans | 38 (11.6) | 72 (21.9) | 38 (11.6) | 148 (45.0) |
| Asian Americans | 50 (15.2) | 85 (25.8) | 51 (15.5) | 186 (56.5) |
| Pacific Islanders | 8 (2.4) | 29 (8.8) | 60 (18.2) | 97 (29.5) |
| Total | 232 | 320 | 226 | |
Note: The data in this table only refer to instances in which the average pollution burdens experienced by each racial/ethnic group pair are statistically different from one another.
The numbers in parentheses present the percentage of metropolitan areas in the continental United States that the whole numbers to the left of the parentheses represent. These are not column percentages. Percentages are not given for the totals along the bottom of each minitable because these totals double-count metropolitan areas.
EI = environmental inequality. Low EI exists when the pollution burden of the group in bold is 1 to 1.25 times greater than that of the comparison group. Medium EI (Med EI) exists when the pollution burden is 1.25 to 1.75 times greater. High EI exists when the pollution burden is at least 1.75 times greater.