Using the Index of Concentration at the Extremes to Examine the Impact of Air Pollution Exposure on Infant Mortality in the United States

Abstract

Background: The concentration of privilege in a geographic area can determine how vital resources are distributed among certain groups in that area, thus influencing a community’s health. High air pollutant exposure is often concentrated in deprived neighborhoods with lack of vital resources.

Objective: Determine whether states with a high concentration of air pollution exposure have higher infant mortality rates (IMR) than states with lower concentrations of air pollution exposure.

Methods: The Index of Concentration of the Extreme was utilized to measure the concentration of air pollution exposure for each state. Incidence Rate Ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals for state infant mortality rate were computed using Poisson regression in Statistical Analysis Software.

Results: States with high concentrations of air pollution exposure had 19% lower IMR than states with low air pollution exposure (95%CI:0.70 – 0.94).

Conclusions: These findings can enable researchers to conduct census-tract research on adverse health outcomes and societal distributions.