Environmental justice – Environment, health and social conditions
Health burdens as a consequence of environmental problems are unevenly distributed in Germany. Social and environmental epidemiological studies conducted in Germany in recent years suggest that social status is a determining factor for whether and to what extent children, adolescents and adults are exposed to environmental pollutants. Socio-economic factors like education and income as well as factors such as migration background and social environment affect living conditions, lifestyles, available resources and the associated risks to human health. Most studies find that people with low social status tend to be more exposed to environmental pressures. In particular, they are more likely to be affected by traffic-related health stressors like noise and air pollution, and they have less access to urban green areas, i.e. they have less opportunity for physical activity and recreation. There are some pollutants, however, to which socially advantaged people are more exposed, as shown by data from the Federal Environment Agency’s German Environmental Survey, for example.