The topic of environmental racism was first introduced to me during an ethnic lecture series at UW-Parkside in 2013. Environmental racism is the placing of low income or minority who are affected by hazardous chemicals. Additionally, people of color are more likely to reside in areas with greater exposure to air, water, and soil pollution, hazardous waste treatment facilities, exposure to pesticides and chemicals, and geographic or residential isolation. I found it very concerning how often this happens in the United States. Social justice must be available to people living in areas where environmental racism affects their community. The United States must make changes to protect communities that are negatively affected by environmental racism. Environmental racism can be significantly reduced by eliminating residential segregation, structural racism, and introducing regulations. There is a direct correlation with hazardous waste and ethnic communities. Environmental racism has multiple causes responsible for its creation. It all began through direct racism, which was the foundation of racist policies. Ultimately, this is what created all white communities, because there was a push to keep minority groups out of sight and out of mind. This is what is described as residential segregation. Minority groups were forced to move to unfavorable areas where no one else wanted to reside. And this continues today. It all started with our government's laws that made the battle against environmental racism even more difficult. As the United States admitted in its 2000 Periodic Report, “For many years, the federal government itself has been responsible for pro...... middle of paper ....../>." Initial Report of the States United Nations at the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. .Mayer, Seth “Environmental Racism: A Case Study in Chicago.” University of Wisconsin Parkside, November 2013. Speech.Northridge, Mary E. and Peggy M. Shepard public health." American Journal of Public Health May 1997: 730+. Premier Corporate Source. Network. March 13, 2014. Waldron-Moore, Pamela, et al. "A Question of Social Justice: The Case of Louisiana Communities and Their fight for environmental sustainability". Race, Gender and Class 14.3/4 (2007): 154-175. SocINDEX with full text. Network. March 13. 2014.