xvEPA

Indicators of Environmental Health Disparities: Life
Expectancy

About the Indicators of Environmental Health Disparities

EPA's indicators of environmental health disparities aim to illustrate disparities in key environmental and
public health conditions across race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status, as well as the relationship
between these health outcomes and the work of EPA programs. This project was created in direct
response to EPA's 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. These indicators are intended solely as an informational tool
and are not intended to be the basis for agency decision making. EPA does not, consistent with
applicable laws, distribute governmental benefits or burdens based on race, color, national origin, or sex.

Background Information

Life expectancy is the average number of years at birth a person could expect to live if current mortality
trends were to continue for the rest of that person's life. It summarizes patterns in mortality across all
age groups each year, demonstrating the long-term impacts of age specific death rates. This metric is
commonly used to appraise the overall health of a given population. Life expectancy at birth is also
useful to make comparisons of health outcomes between different populations.

Historical trends show that life expectancy at birth has increased throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
Average life expectancy at birth has increased from under 50 years in 1900 to 76.4 years in 2021. These
gains have not been made equally, as life expectancy varies between sex, race, and ethnicity categories.
Women of all races and ethnicities have a longer life expectancy than men, and non-Hispanic white
populations have a longer life expectancy than non-Hispanic Black populations.1

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Figure 1. Life Expectancy by Race and Ethnicity

Years

90

COVID-19 pandemic
begins in 2020

70

60

I Non-Hispanic Asian
83.5

I Hispanic
77.8

Non-Hispanic White
76.7

| Non-Hispanic Black
71.2

I Non-Hispanic
American Indian/
Alaska Native
65.6

2006

2011

2016

2021

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Figure 2. Disparities in Life Expectancy by Race and Ethnicity fi

Years

The "overall average" line includes other racial and ethnic groups not
shown in the other charts.

What these charts show

These charts show life expectancy at birth by race in the U.S. from 2006 to 2021.

•	Overall, life expectancy at birth has been generally increasing since 1970, but in recent years has
decreased (Figure 1).

•	In 2021, life expectancy at birth decreased by 0.6 years compared to 2020, primarily due to
increases in mortality due to COVID-19 (Figure 1; Spencer et al, 2022; Xu et al., 2021).2

•	In 2021, the overall average life expectancy at birth was 76.4 years (Figure 2). Life expectancy for
non-Hispanic Asians was highest, at 83.5 years, followed by Hispanic at 77.8 years, then non-
Hispanic white (76.7 years), then non-Hispanic Black (71.2 years), and finally, the non-Hispanic
American Indian/Alaska Native life expectancy was 65.6 years (Figure 1).

This indicator is based on mortality statistics compiled by the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) and
found in vital statistics documentation published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
(CDC's) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The NVSS registers virtually all deaths and births
nationwide and is the most comprehensive source of mortality data for the U.S. population.

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What these charts do not show

These charts do not indicate why differences exist in life expectancy at birth across different racial and
ethnic groups. While analyzing life expectancy across racial and ethnic groups is useful for analyzing
overarching health inequities, these graphs do not suggest that race and ethnicity themselves confer
higher or lower life expectancy. Certain ethnic and racial groups are known to have higher incidences of
leading causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes;3 these health outcomes are in
turn shaped a wide range of health factors and environmental exposures, many of which vary
considerably across race, ethnicity, and income. For further information about environmental exposures
and health impacts, visit the EPA's Report on the Environment.

Relevant EPA Activities

Life expectancy at birth is shaped by a wide range of health factors, some of which are partially
influenced by EPA programs. EPA is committed to reducing the impacts of pollution that contribute to
decreased life expectancy for all groups, and especially those at disproportionate risk of harm,
contributing to a whole of government approach to reducing negative health outcomes that contribute
to lower life expectancy. Exposure to pollution may contribute to lowered life expectancy by contributing
to the development of a wide range of negative health outcomes, including respiratory and
cardiovascular diseases. EPA is engaged in a wide range of activities that may contribute to increased life
expectancy through reducing exposure to pollution in air, water, and soil.4 Below are some key examples:

•	Regulating criteria air pollutants and their precursors: Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA sets the
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and works with state and local air quality
management agencies to meet those standards. These standards are set for all criteria air
pollutants, including NO?. SO?. and ozone. In 2024, the EPA updated the standard for PM2.5 from
12 micrograms per cubic meter to 9 micrograms per cubic meter - a regulation that is estimated
to prevent 4,500 premature deaths. For further information about the enforcement of these
regulations, see EPA's webpage on Air Enforcement.

•	Ensuring safe drinking water: EPA is responsible for implementing Safe Drinking Water Act to
ensure clean drinking water and has established protective drinking water standards for more
than 90 contaminants to protect human health.

•	Developing water quality criteria: In accordance with Section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act, EPA
has developed ambient water quality criteria to protect human health. These criteria represent
specific levels of chemicals or conditions in a water body that are not expected to cause adverse
effects to human health. The levels are recommendations for states and authorized Tribes to
consider when adopting criteria into their water quality standards.

•	Control of air pollution from new motor vehicles: In December of 2022, the EPA adopted a final
rule that sets stronger emissions standards to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution emitted by
heavy-duty vehicles and engines starting in the model year 2027. In 2045, this final rule will
reduce NOx emissions from the in-use fleet of heavy-duty trucks by almost 50% and would result
in widespread air quality improvements across the U.S., especially in areas already
overburdened by air pollution and diesel emissions. The EPA estimates that the final rule will
result in health-related benefits of $200 billion between the years 2027 and 2045 and will
prevent between 860 and 2,900 premature deaths.5

•	Reducing lead exposure: Offices across EPA are engaged in activities to reduce lead exposure. In
October 2024, EPA announced the finalized improvements to the Lead and Copper Rule to better
protect communities from lead in drinking water. The proposed rule would require the vast
majority of water systems to replace lead service lines in the U.S. within 10 years. EPA is also

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investing $15 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to identify and replace lead
service lines around the nation. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also dedicates $11.7 billion to
projects that improve drinking water quality, including reducing lead in drinking water. To
address lead in air pollution, EPA is now working on proposing and promoting regulatory
standards to address lead emissions from aircraft engines under the Clean Air Act. The EPA also
released the Environmental Justice Toolkit for Lead Paint Enforcement Programs to help address
toxic lead exposure in communities, especially those with high levels of lead pollution.

•	Reducing exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO): Ethylene oxide is used in the manufacturing of a
variety of products. Exposure to EtO can lead to adverse health effects in the nervous system,
lungs, skin and more. There is also evidence that chronic exposure may lead to the development
of reproductive effects or certain types of cancers.6 In April of 2024 the EPA announced the
finalized rule for Hazardous Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutions (NESHAP) to
significantly reduce emissions of EtO from manufacturing plants. On March 14, 2024, EPA
announced finalized requirements for nearly 90 commercial sterilizers across the country. These
requirements will reduce the amount of EtO that comes out of commercial sterilizers by 90% and
will significantly reduce risk in nearby communities. In 2020, EPA finalized requirements to
reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants from the source category by 107 tons per year,
which included reductions in ethylene oxide emission of approximately 0.76 tons per year.7

•	Superfund and brownfield site cleanup: The major health effects from exposure to
contaminants found at Superfund and Brownfield sites include acute accidents and injuries,
cancer, birth defects, and other chronic non-carcinogenic effects (e.g., kidney, liver,
cardiovascular, nervous, and endocrine conditions). Communities located near Superfund sites
often have lower life expectancies.8 Cleanup efforts managed by these programs reduce or
prevent exposure to these hazardous substances and may improve the overall health of nearby
communities. (U.S. EPA, 2011).9

•	Understanding and addressing climate change: Climate change poses many threats to the
health and well-being of all Americans; as such, understanding and addressing climate change is
critical to EPA's mission of protecting human health and the environment. EPA tracks and reports
greenhouse gas emissions, produces and leverages sound science, manages grant programs
aimed at tackling climate pollution and advancing environmental justice, and produces reports
on climate impacts, vulnerability, and health. For more general information about climate
change, visit EPA's climate change webpage, and for more information on climate change and
human health impacts, visit EPA's Climate change and human health webpage.

For further information on indicators related to environmental and human health, explore EPA's Report

on the Environment.

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NCHS (National Center for Health Statistics). (2019). Health, United States, 2018. Hyattsville, MD.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/husl8.pdf (PDF)

Spencer MR, Minino AM, Warner M. Drug overdose deaths in the United States, 2001-2021.
NCHS Data Brief, no 457. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2022. DOI:
https://dx.doi.Org/10.15620/cdc:122556.

Kochanek KD, Arias E, Anderson RN. Leading causes of death contributing to decrease in life
expectancy gap between black and white populations: United States, 1999-2013. NCHS data
brief, no 218. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2015.

EO 14096 directs agencies to identify, analyze and address disproportionate and adverse human
health and environmental effects, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law. Thus, as
appropriate, EPA may consider disparities in its activities.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). (2022). Heavy-Duty 2027 and Beyond: Clean
Trucks Final Rulemaking. Heavy-Duty 2027 and Beyond: Clean Trucks Final Rulemaking (EPA-420-
F-22-031. December 2022)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). (2024a). Regulatory Impact Analysis for the
Final New Source Performance Standards for the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing
Industry and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the Synthetic Organic
Chemical Manufacturing Industry and Group I & II Polymers and Resins Industry. Regulatory
Impact Analysis for the Final New Source Performance Standards for the Synthetic Organic
Chemical Manufacturing Industry and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
for the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry and Group I & II Polymers and Resins
Industry (epa.gov)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). (2024b) What EPA Is Doing to Address Ethylene
Oxide (EtO) and to Learn More About the Chemical I US EPA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), (n.d). Superfund Environmental Justice Best
Practices. https://semspub.epa.gov/work/HQ/100003346.pdf.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). (2011) REPORT: BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF THE
SUPERFUND PROGRAM - OSWER PUBLICATION 9200.1-104 (epa.gov)

United States Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460

EPA 231R24005
December 2024
www.epa.gov


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