Air pollution and inadequate housing are major and serious physical and environmental problems for urban Americans. Most communities of color live near power plants, major industries such as oil refineries and leather tanning, or near waste management facilities. For example, 71 percent of African Americans live in cities and counties that break federal air pollution standards, 68 percent live near coal-fired power plants, and the majority live in non-green or less green spaces. Many researchers also say that more than 80% of homes built before 1978 are lead-based paint, so the likelihood of being poisoned by lead is high among minority groups of the population. Research also highlights the higher rate among African Americans ( Whyte,