Final answer:
The Flint water crisis represents a significant example of environmental racism where a cost-saving decision led to lead contamination of the water supply, disproportionately affecting a predominantly African-American community and causing serious health issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
An environmental issue that has profoundly impacted a specific community is the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. This crisis is a stark instance of environmental racism, where a predominantly African-American community was exposed to lead contamination due to a cost-saving decision. In 2014, emergency managers appointed by the state government decided to switch the water supply from the Detroit system to the Flint River resulting in water that was corrosive and caused lead from aging pipes to leach into the water supply. As a result, residents suffered from various health issues, including rashes, hair loss, and elevated blood levels of lead, highlighting how environmental issues disproportionately affect historically marginalized communities. Environmental racism is a concept that understands the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on communities of color and those with lower socioeconomic statuses. In the case of Flint, the environmental issue led not only to individual health challenges but to widespread repercussions within the community, affecting thousands. The Flint water crisis serves as a real-world example that underscores the intersectionality of environmentalism, public health, and social justice.