The Kids Ask 'Are We Safe

Oil Refining's Unjust Environmental Health Impacts on Children

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2292254
AutoresA Malin (0000-0002-2794-2036, Colorado State University), Stephanie A Malin (Colorado State University), Ramona Beltran (0000-0003-0472-6653, University of Denver), India Luxton (0000-0003-2165-7514, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University), Kristina Hulama (0000-0002-6532-1177, University of Denver), Mila Nuñez‐soli, Mila Nuñez‐Solis (Colorado State University), Emilia Ravetta (Colorado State University)
Año2025
Volumen96
Número1
Páginas109-130
Fecha de publicación2025-03-13
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSociological Inquiry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0038-0245 • E-ISSN: 1475-682X
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/soin.70008
OpenAlexW4408463860
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas51

Despite knowing about climate risks for decades, oil and gas companies continually increase production. Infants, children, and adolescents are most vulnerable to intensifying air pollution and other upheavals of climate emergency. Here, we illustrate localized impacts of global processes by focusing on the Suncor Oil Refinery in Commerce City, Colorado, the state's only oil refinery and a major polluter. The Suncor facility illustrates broader structural and environmental health vulnerabilities of living and/or attending school near fossil fuel infrastructure. Drawing on community-based, in-depth interview data from 53 participants, we show how children have been affected by the facility's pollution. In 93% of interviews, worries over children's health problems-including respiratory problems, chronic illnesses such as asthma and cancer, developmental disorders, nosebleeds, and dizziness-emerged as primary concerns and consistent and harmful sources of stress and ongoing trauma. Rather than being adequately protected by regulations, children instead face excessive asthma rates, other health issues, and contested illness responses from medical providers. Their parents, teachers, and other caretakers face exceptional structural limitations to protecting them. We establish key localized harms of oil refining and answer the call for more rigorous examinations of how fossil fuel-based systems impact children's quality of life

Ask price · Economics · Economy · Refining (metallurgy · Sociology · Air Quality and Health Impacts · Chemistry · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Environmental Justice and Health Disparities