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Abstract U.S. border colonias are peri-urban settlements along the U.S.–Mexico border. Residents often face substandard housing, inadequate septic and sewer systems, and unsafe or inadequate household water. As of 2015, an estimated 30% of over 5 million U.S. colonia residents lacked access to clean drinking water, suggesting health complications. This scoping review identifies a very limited existing set of research on water and sanitation insecurity in U.S.–Mexico border colonias, and suggests value in additional focused research in this specific context to address health challenges. Preliminary health data indicates that due to water insecurity, colonia residents are more likely to contract gastrointestinal diseases, be exposed to carcinogenic compounds from contaminated water, and experience psychosocial distress. These widespread health issues in colonias are exacerbated by historical and ongoing socioenvironmental injustices in the U.S.–Mexico border region and their relation to the poor health outcomes.
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Linking energy policy, energy insecurity, and health outcomes
Energy insecurity poses a global challenge with far-reaching social equity and health implications. This paper provides a comprehensive perspective on the relationship between energy insecurity and health outcomes in developed countries. Existing research has identified associations between energy insecurity and various physical and mental health outcomes. Moreover, climate change can exacerbate the adverse health consequences of energy insecurity, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. Based on a review of existing literature, this paper identifies several knowledge gaps, proposes future research directions, and discusses data challenges faced by researchers in measuring energy insecurity and assessing the health impacts of existing programs that tackle energy insecurity. Furthermore, the paper highlights the importance of fostering collaboration among different governmental agencies and other sectors to enhance energy insecurity program management and data collection for program evaluation.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1940319
- PAR ID:
- 10494400
- Publisher / Repository:
- Frontiers
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy
- Volume:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 2813-4982
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fsuep.2023.1231821
