1. Describe environmental concerns (e.g., water quality, air quality, sanitation, superfund sites, hazardous waste, environmental toxins, natural disasters, vulnerability to heat/cold) relevant to the subpopulation. 2. Discuss how the demographics (i.e., race, gender, ethnicity, age) of the identified subpopulation compare with the larger community population, and discuss how data supports the health concern for this subpopulation.

A1. Description of Environmental Concerns
According to the U.S. Department of housing and Urban development 63.23% of
Birmingham’s housing is pre-1980s. Most of these homes are low-income housing where young
children are likely to live. Lead is a highly toxic metal and can cause a range of health problems,
especially in young children (Lead-based Paint Resources for Public Housing Authorities, n.d.).
Lead is known to cause issues such as behavioral problems, learning disabilities, seizures, and
death. Some of the symptoms include headache, stomachache, nausea, tiredness, and irritability
(Lead-based Paint Resources for Public Housing Authorities, n.d.). Although, some children may
not show any symptoms at all.
According to a press release from the City of Birmingham, 4.1 million has been awarded
to the city to protect children and families from lead-based paint and home health hazards (The
Official Website for the City of Birmingham, Alabama, 2022). $3.5 million will go towards
reducing lead in low-income housing and $600,000 will go to assist the Healthy Homes
Initiative.
In 2017 the U.S Department of Health and Human Services published the findings from
soil and garden produce taken from a North Birmingham housing project area. This area is one of
the poorest areas in Birmingham. Where 98% of the residents are African American and median
household income is $16,864 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2021). 70.5% live below the poverty line,
which is more than double the rate of Birmingham as a whole. The neighborhood is surrounded
by mills and steel industry furnaces. The smokestacks once produced soot that blew a black film
over the neighborhood.
The report shows that there are soil arsenic and lead levels that are of public health
concerns. Also found in the soil were 7 PHAs (cancer causing agents). The sampling area was
expanded to include more residential areas, churches, schools, parks, and recreational facilities.
Numerous creeks, drainage channels, and storm water drainpipe systems were also assessed. The
EPA has deemed the area a Superfund site. This classification means the area has been polluted
with hazardous materials and will require long-term response cleanup. As a result of the
pollution and cleanup process, a high school has been closed, churches have moved, plastic
fencing has been set up around contaminated yards, and layers of soil has been removed from
areas. Many residents cannot afford to move. The cleanup effort has cost an estimated $25
million so far and will take two to three years to complete.
A2. Comparison Discussion (Subpopulation vs. Larger Community Population)
As previously stated, Birmingham is 68.7% African American and 29.6% are living
below the poverty level. This is 15.5% greater than the poverty level for the state as a while.
Unmarried females account for 77.4% of poor families. 36.7% of children in Birmingham
live below the poverty level as compared to 21% for the state. Not counting residents that
live with families, 24.7% of high school graduates and 48.2% of non-high school graduates
live in poverty. The poverty rate among disabled males is 24.8% and 30.3% for females. The
renting rate for poor residents was 70.6%. For comparison, it was 39.1% for residents that