Exploring Environmental Inequity in South Korea: An Analysis of the Distribution of Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Facilities and Toxic Releases

D Yoon,Jung Kang,Juhyeon Park

doi:10.3390/su9101886

Abstract

Recently, location data regarding the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) in South Korea was released to the public. This study investigated the spatial patterns of TRIs and releases of toxic substances in all 230 local governments in South Korea to determine whether spatial clusters relevant to the siting of noxious facilities occur. In addition, we employed spatial regression modeling to determine whether the number of TRI facilities and the volume of toxic releases in a given community were correlated with the community’s socioeconomic, racial, political, and land use characteristics. We found that the TRI facilities and their toxic releases were disproportionately distributed with clustered spatial patterning. Spatial regression modeling indicated that jurisdictions with smaller percentages of minorities, stronger political activity, less industrial land use, and more commercial land use had smaller numbers of toxic releases, as well as smaller numbers of TRI facilities. However, the economic status of the community did not affect the siting of hazardous facilities. These results indicate that the siting of TRI facilities in Korea is more affected by sociopolitical factors than by economic status. Racial issues are thus crucial for consideration in environmental justice as the population of Korea becomes more racially and ethnically diverse.

Highlights

And economically marginalized people tend to bear a disproportionate burden of environmental hazards, including pollution and toxic waste, based on empirical studies focusing on the US [1,2,3]
The second part of the analyses investigated the association between the presence/release of Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) facilities and the racial, socioeconomic, political, and land use characteristics
Isntrpialrtcicoumlapr,lemxaensyaTnRdI ffacilliittiieessw, seirme ubultialtnreaopuidslywbiethtwteheene2c0o0n3oamndic20re04cobveecaruysaefotef r the IMF setcroianl ocmomicpclreixseis [a3n8d]. fTahcielivtioeslu, msime uolftahnaezoaurds owuisthsutbhsetaencocensomreilceased fromrtehceovTeRryIsafetexrcteheedIeMdF4(7In,0te0r0nattoionnsailnM2o0n0e1taaryndFusntde)aedciolynoimncicrecarisseisd[3to8].rTeahcehvomluomree othf ahnaz5a0rd,0o0u0s tons in 201s2u.bstances released from the TRIs exceeded 47,000 tons in 2001 and steadily increased to reach more than 50,000 tons in 2012

Summary

Introduction

And economically marginalized people tend to bear a disproportionate burden of environmental hazards, including pollution and toxic waste, based on empirical studies focusing on the US [1,2,3]. In this regard, the environmental justice movement initiated in the US has considered racial inequalities in particular in the establishment of environmental equality. Environmental justice is defined as “the provision of adequate protection from environmental toxicants for all people, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, health status, social class, or race” [4]. Few studies have included both the number of Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) facilities and the volume of emissions in examining the relationship between socioeconomic disparities and the environmental burden of hazardous materials [6,7,8]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion