Education, Employment, Income, and Urban–Rural Differences as Drivers of Social Inequalities in Environmental Exposures: Evidence from the UK Biobank

TL;DR

This study shows that people with lower income or education in the UK face worse environmental conditions like more pollution and less green space.

Contribution

The study reveals how socioeconomic factors shape environmental exposure patterns in urban and rural areas across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Findings

Lower income and education are linked to higher pollution exposure in urban areas.

Lower-income individuals have less access to green spaces in both urban and rural areas.

Retired people experience less pollution and more green spaces compared to employed individuals.

Abstract

This study investigates
the social patterning of environmental
exposures, examining how three socioeconomic position dimensions influence
exposure to air pollution, road traffic noise, and availability of
green spaces, in both urban and rural areas in England, Scotland,
and Wales. Using data from the UK Biobank cohort study, we assessed
associations between three individual markers of socioeconomic position:
educational attainment, household income, and employment status, and
three environmental exposure domains: residential airborne pollutants,
residential road traffic noise, and residential green and blue space.
In urban areas, participants with lower educational attainment, lower
household income, or those who were unemployed exhibit a higher exposure
to airborne pollutants. Household income also influences the vicinity
to green spaces and natural environments, with lower incomes experiencing
less green and natural environments in both the rural and urban contexts.
Retired individuals experienced lower exposure to airborne pollutants
and lived in areas with more green spaces or natural environments
compared with employed individuals. These patterns were consistent
across England, Scotland, and Wales, although some geographical and
national differences were observed. The study highlights the complex
interplay among socioeconomic factors, geographical location, and
environmental exposures. Our findings suggest that socioeconomic position
is a key determinant of specific external exposomes, with socioeconomically
disadvantaged groups experiencing more adverse environmental conditions.

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