The presence of factories surrounding urban centres in developed societies leads to the degradation of the environment, which has direct links to human health. These environmental hazards are not distributed evenly between various groups of people in these neighbourhoods. Certain demographics are significantly more likely to experience environmental illnesses due to factors such as poverty, age, and racial or ethnic identity - referred to as environmental racism. This is the idea that historically disadvantaged communities live in areas that are disproportionately impacted by contamination and pollution as a result of inequitable laws stemming from racism and colonization (Konsmo & Kahealani, 2015). These groups are subjected to toxic conditions at rates far exceeding those experienced by the general public. As a result, it is arguable that the greatest threat to human health in developed societies is the presence of industrial factories in low-income neighbourhoods. Air pollution, water pollution, and structural inequalities are all factors that result from these factories and contribute to the health status of individuals in these communities. 
Pollution is considered to be a major source of undesirable compounds that enter the environment. These contaminants are dangerous solids, liquids, or gases that are produced in high concentrations and deteriorate the quality of our environment. Anthropogenic activities damage the environment by contaminating drinking water, air, and soil. Specifically, anthropogenic air pollution, such as fossil fuel burning, is one of the most severe public health threats presently, accounting for approximately 9 million deaths each year (World Health Organization, 2019). Fine particulate matter (PM) from these activities can travel through the air and enter the body, easily accessing the bloodstream and causing many severe diseases (Kelishadi and Poursafa, 2010). According to a study by Ohio State University (2019) in the US, PM from environmental air pollution is more toxic in non-white and low-income neighbourhoods than in affluent white areas. Commonly, low-income, minority communities are aggregated near air pollution zones such as industrial facilities and highways. For example, it has been found that in the United States, 38.1% of African-Americans live within a mile of industrial plants, compared to 28.4% of White Americans (Mohai et al., 2009). The effects of long-term exposure to PM from these hotspots can have serious impacts on respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems, with children being of particular vulnerability due to physiological differences that leave them more susceptible to PM (Kurt et al, 2017; Genc et al, 2012; Moore, 2009). For instance, sulphate particles have been shown to induce asthma and excessive exposure to carbon can be linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death (Bourdrel, 2017; Bell and HEI, 2012). 
Relative to air pollution, factories have a significant impact on potable water in low-income neighbourhoods. It is commonplace for factory workers to dispose of waste in and around community water sources (Field, 2018). Polluted water is then used for various daily activities, allowing for the entry of contaminants into human systems, which can cause a plethora of health issues such as diarrhea, infections, and cancer. Low-income communities are much more likely than their affluent counterparts to have poor water quality. A report using data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data found that socioeconomic measures such as ethnicity, race, access to transportation, and language had the greatest link to ineffective enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water Act (Fedinick et al., 2019). A demonstration of this issue in action is the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan. In this case, the city decided to switch their water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River, which was contaminated with lead. This was primarily motivated by cost-cutting tactics to save money in this predominantly low-income, African-American community (Eligon, 2016). A case of institutionally-driven environmental injustice arises, as even after multiple complaints were filed by the Governor’s appointed Environmental Manager, the state health department deemed the water ‘safe’ (Campbell et al., 2016). As a result, many residents faced long-term health impacts such as the increased risk of cardiovascular disease, infertility, and kidney disease (Ruckart et al., 2019). Another example of water contamination in low-income communities is mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows First Nations, which occurred due to waste from a pulp mill upstream. Even after the mill worker’s admission to burying mercury in the community, it took decades of public pressure for the Ontario government to take action (Seymour, 2015). These cases highlight how the impact of industrial factories on potable water in low-income neighbourhoods is a pressing issue that has led to serious health consequences, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.