The National Bureau of Economic Research has released an article investigating the “importance of residential segregation and neighborhoods in explaining persistent racial health disparities” by examining asthma rates among African American and other children. The study utilized ZIP codes to see “which children were born in predominately black neighborhoods.” After controlling for low birth weight, a known risk factor for developing asthma, researchers found “black children are still more likely to develop asthma.” The researchers “couldn’t say definitely what about the neighborhoods in ‘black’ ZIP codes is triggering asthma,” but “they speculated that [higher levels of] air pollution – both indoor and outdoor – is to blame.”

To read an article on the study, click here.

For more information on the paper, click here.