Maquiladoras, Air Pollution, and Human Health in Ciudad Juarez and El Paso
Author: Blackman, Allen
Date Published: 2003
This research document uses two types of evidence to examine the link between maquiladoras and air pollution in Ciudad Juarez, and El Paso. First a publicly available sector-level emissions inventory for Ciudad Juarez was used to determine the importance of all industrial facilities as a source of air pollution. Second, original plant-level data from two sample maquiladoras was used to better understand the impacts of maquiladora on air pollution and human health. Results show that air pollution from maquiladoras has serious consequences for human health, including respiratory disease and premature mortality. However, maquiladoras are not the leading cause of air pollution in Ciudad Juarez and El Paso. Most maquiladoras are probably less important sources of dangerous air pollution than at least one notoriously polluting Mexican-owned industry. Finally, no evidence suggests that maquiladora air pollution affects the poor disproportionately.
Date Published: 2003
This research document uses two types of evidence to examine the link between maquiladoras and air pollution in Ciudad Juarez, and El Paso. First a publicly available sector-level emissions inventory for Ciudad Juarez was used to determine the importance of all industrial facilities as a source of air pollution. Second, original plant-level data from two sample maquiladoras was used to better understand the impacts of maquiladora on air pollution and human health. Results show that air pollution from maquiladoras has serious consequences for human health, including respiratory disease and premature mortality. However, maquiladoras are not the leading cause of air pollution in Ciudad Juarez and El Paso. Most maquiladoras are probably less important sources of dangerous air pollution than at least one notoriously polluting Mexican-owned industry. Finally, no evidence suggests that maquiladora air pollution affects the poor disproportionately.
