Environmental Injustices in Central and Eastern Europe: The Minority Pitfall

The author calls the attention to the need of historical approach in human environmental studies – especially on inequities and environmental injustices – in Central and Eastern Europe. Different confounders should be considered reflecting the specific historical background of the present environmental and public health situation of the region. No deep analysis can be performed without studying the situation of ethnic and national minorities. These minorities are often subjects of environmental injusticies as well. The author demonstrates examples from the scientific literature to improper conclusions as consequences of neglecting geographic and historical facts. References to articles written in small languages may be another confounder due to the risk of mistranslations. From the disproportional environmental exposures (caused by historical or political hostilities) via the lack of availability of health care in mother tongue to the possible genetic differences of minorities can have significant impact at all levels of environment–health interactions that should be considered in the European public health studies.