Higher pollution leads to a higher crime rate, research indicates
The Chicago Police department supplied the researchers with details for over 2 million major crimes committed in the city between 2001 and 2012
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.While it is agreed that pollution is unpleasant, the most well-known effects associated with it have been to do with our health and that of the environment.
However, scientists have carried out research which they believe indicates that areas of higher pollution also suffer from higher rates of violent crime.
Evan Herrnstadt, of Harvard University’s Centre for the Environment, and Erich Muehlegger, from the University of California, used Chicago as the case study for their research.
Using a complex methodology, they found that violent crime increases by 2.2% downwind from areas of large pollution.
The Chicago Police department supplied the researchers with details for over 2 million major crimes committed in the city between 2001 and 2012. This information also included when the crime happened and where it was.
The researchers then looked at the main roads which cut across the city which are major local contributors of air pollution.
The also accessed meteorological records to find out which way the wind blew on dates crimes were committed.
The crime rates in the affected neighbourhoods were also examined on the days they weren’t affected by pollution. This enabled the scientists to focus on pollution as a sole contributor to crime levels in the area rather than becoming entangled with other, more traditional factors relating to crime, such as poverty.
However, a further nuance emerged from their work. “The effects we find are unique to violent crimes – we find no effect of pollution on the commission of property crime,” the pair write in their report.
They also suggest that violent crime is driven by nitrogen oxides rather than carbon monoxide, and that their effect is greatest in the warmer seasons of spring and summer.
While the researchers are unable to say precisely why this is, Herrnstadt told the Washington Post: “We think the mechanism here is that you’re exposed to more pollution, either it’s an irritant, or it affects your impulse control in some other way, and basically results in you crossing lines that you wouldn’t otherwise cross.”
High air pollution levels have also been linked to difficulties in educational attainment, bronchial problems and brain damage.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments