East Texas A&M Researchers Link Pollution Exposure to Mental Health Risks

A new peer-reviewed study led by Dr. Kendric D. Stewart, an environmental scientist and senior administrator at Dillard University, is drawing urgent attention to the mental health consequences of environmental pollution in rural, underserved communities across the South.

The research, conducted in partnership with faculty from East Texas A&M University—including Dr. Delarious O. Stewart, Dr. LaVelle Hendricks and Dr. Dimitra Smith—found that Black and low-income residents are significantly more likely to live near industrial polluters, and that proximity correlates with increased rates of chronic stress, anxiety, and depression.

Published in the Journal of Wisdom Within Quarterly, the study used EPA Toxic Release Inventory data and Geographic Information Systems mapping to analyze environmental exposure across Washington Parish, Louisiana. The findings have broad implications for rural communities throughout East Texas and other parts of the Deep South.

“Environmental racism is real, and it's measurable,” said Dr. Kendric Stewart, the study's lead author. “This study gives us the data to back up what communities have known for decades—that where you live affects how well you live, and in some cases, how long you live.”

Key Findings:

• In predominantly Black neighborhoods, 68% of residents live within 1.2 miles of a polluting facility.
• In predominantly White areas, only 24% live that close, with an average distance nearly three times greater.
• Low-income households were more than twice as likely to live near industrial sites than higher-income households.
• Statistically significant correlations: Race (r = 0.72) and Poverty (r = 0.63).

The researchers describe the result as a form of “toxic stress”—a persistent psychological burden caused by the combination of environmental exposure, economic dependence and limited access to care.

“When families feel trapped—economically tied to industries they believe are harming them—it takes a real toll on their mental health,” said Stewart, a licensed mental health professional and faculty member at East Texas A&M.

Relevance to Texas

Although the study centers on Louisiana, its implications resonate strongly with rural Texas communities. Areas along the Gulf Coast, the East Texas timberlands and within various industrial corridors exhibit similar patterns of environmental burden and health disparities.

“Environmental injustice in Texas looks a lot like what we mapped in Washington Parish,” said Hendricks, a professor of counseling at East Texas A&M. “Communities of color and working-class families are more likely to live near hazardous sites and less likely to have access to mental health care or the political power to push back.”

“This is about more than pollution—it's about voice, agency and equity,” added Smith, a professor of higher education and learning technologies at East Texas A&M. “No one should have to sacrifice their health or their peace of mind to make ends meet. Communities deserve to be safe and supported.”

Policy Recommendations:

• Expand access to trauma-informed mental health care in high-exposure communities
• Reform zoning and land-use regulations to prevent further concentration of hazardous industries
• Prioritize environmental remediation in historically burdened rural regions
• Invest in sustainable economic alternatives that reduce dependence on polluting industries

About the Authors

Dr. Kendric D. Stewart is an environmental scientist and senior administrator at Dillard University. His research focuses on environmental justice, sustainability, and equity in vulnerable communities. Co-authors Dr. Delarious O. Stewart, Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, and Dr. Dimitra Smith are faculty at East Texas A&M University, whose collective expertise spans mental health, counselor education, community engagement, and rural public policy.