Socio-demographic Differences in Toxic Release Inventory Siting and Emissions in Metro Atlanta.

Ryan Johnson,Kim Ramsey-White,Christina Fuller

doi:10.3390/ijerph13080747

Abstract

Prior research has found that low socioeconomic status (SES) populations and minorities in some areas reside in communities with disproportionate exposure to hazardous chemicals. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the relevance of socio-demographic characteristics on the presence of Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) facilities, air releases, and prevalence and resolution of air quality complaints in the 20-county Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). We found that there were 4.7% more minority residents in census tracts where TRI facilities were located. The odds ratio (OR) for the presence of a TRI facility was 0.89 (p < 0.01) for each 1% increase of females with a college degree and 2.4 (p < 0.01) for households with an income of $22,000–$55,000. The estimated reduction in the amount of chemicals emitted per release associated with population of females with a college degree was 18.53 pounds (p < 0.01). Complaints took longer to resolve in census tracts with higher Hispanic populations (OR = 1.031, 95% CI: 1.010–1.054). Overall, results indicate that SES and race/ethnicity are related to TRI facility siting, releases, and complaints in the Atlanta area. These findings have not been documented previously and suggest that lower SES and non-White communities may be disproportionately exposed.

Highlights

Exposure disparities are often founded upon inequities in zoning and planning driven by social factors such as socioeconomic status (SES) and race [1,2]
There are 676 census tracts in the Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), and the 922 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) facilities are concentrated in 135 tracts
Census tracts composed of a high percentage (>50%) of lower-middle class residents ($22,500–$55,000 household income) have more TRI facilities than more affluent tracts (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

Exposure disparities are often founded upon inequities in zoning and planning driven by social factors such as socioeconomic status (SES) and race [1,2]. Low SES populations and minorities are often exposed to a disproportionate number of hazardous chemicals, including hydrogen fluoride, benzene, and formaldehyde [1]. Constant exposure to these harmful conditions results in negative health outcomes, stressed communities, and reduction in quality of life and neighborhood sustainability [3]. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designates 187 air pollutants as harmful to the environment and public health [4] Examples of these pollutants include benzene, found in gasoline; hydrogen fluoride, emitted from coal burning power plants; and methylene chloride, used as a solvent and paint stripper by multiple industries [4]. In addition to exposure through inhalation, some toxic air pollutants such as mercury can deposit onto soils or surface waters, where they can be taken up by plants and are eventually magnified up the food chain, a process called bioaccumulation [6]

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