Unveiling Environmental Racism: Evolution and Impacts on Scientific Research
Luiz Ferreira Coelho Júnior
*
Department of Natural Sciences, EREFEM Doctor Benjamin Caraciolo, Sanharó, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Maria Francisca Duarte Jatobá
Department of Mathematics, Senador Aderbal Jurema School, Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazil.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The objective of this study was to analyze the evolution of the concept of environmental racism and its impacts on scientific production, highlighting its consolidation as a field of research and its contributions to the promotion of socio-environmental justice.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted from March to September 2025 at the Escola de Reference em Ensino Fundamental e Médio Doctor Benjamin Caraciolo (EREFEM Doctor Benjamin Caraciolo), located in the municipality of Sanharó, in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil.
Methodology: The methodology adopted was descriptive and exploratory, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. Data collection was carried out using the Web of Science (WOS) database, with descriptors related to environmental racism and environmental justice, covering period from 2015 to July 2025. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 498 articles were analyzed. The data were organized in Microsoft Excel, while co-authorship, co-occurrence, and co-citation network analyses were conducted using VOSviewer software, and representative graphs were produced in SigmaPlot 16.
Results: The results indicated a significant growth in publications addressing environmental racism, particularly from 2018 onwards, with a strong concentration in countries of the Northern Hemisphere especially the United States, which leads in both the volume of articles and the formation of collaborative networks. Brazil stands out as the main representative of South America, although its contribution remains modest.
Conclusion: The analysis shows that environmental racism has become a consolidated and interdisciplinary field, with significant growth since 2018, especially in Northern Hemisphere countries such as the United States. Although Brazil stands out in Latin America, its international presence remains limited. The central role of environmental justice connects the topic to public health, climate change, gentrification, public policies, and structural inequalities, highlighting its multidimensional nature.
Keywords: Environmental inequality, socioenvironmental justice, social vulnerability, justice