Health Risks and Environmental Inequity: A Geographical Analysis of Accidental Releases of Hazardous Materials

Abstract

This study examines the spatial distribution and impact of nonroutine accidental releases of hazardous materials relative to the demographic composition of residents in nearby communities. First, atmospheric dispersion modeling methods are used to delineate the impact zones of worst-case accidents in two New York counties over the last ten years. Next, using accidental reports for 1997, GIS and statistical operations are used at the census tract level of the two counties to determine whether these incidents disproportionately affected disadvantaged neighborhoods. The results suggest that the areas of high-impact from accidental releases of hazardous materials are best characterized by a large proportion of families below the poverty line, Hispanics, and other minorities.

Community Risk Perception on Healthcare Wastes in Hospitals and Health Centres of Eastern Ethiopia

“…One of the limitations that typically arise in this study was the selection of the appropriate size of the risk zone within which the population is most vulnerable to the effects of healthcare wastes (Margai 2001). With no literature found, it was difficult to identify at what distance away people living from health facilities are at risk of effects from healthcare wastes.…”

Hazard Characteristics and Patterns of Environmental Injustice: Household‐Level Determinants of Environmental Risk in Miami, Florida

“…This literature has paid limited attention to assessing disproportionate exposure to sudden onset (short-term) pollution events or accidental releases of hazardous chemicals. (1)(2)(3) Second, most EJ studies focus on assessing disproportionate exposure to a single type of technological hazard in a given study site. Although recent spatial quantitative research has focused on environmental inequities surrounding natural hazards, (4,5) few published studies have attempted to analyze such inequities in simultaneous exposure to both natural and technological hazards and thus provide a more comprehensive understanding of the sociospatial consequences of environmental hazards in a particular place (see Ref.…”

“…(14,15) Fewer studies have examined sudden onset hazards and the findings are mixed. (1,2,16) Most recently, in Houston, neighborhood income and percent black were not significantly related to accidental chemical releases, but percent Hispanic was positively related. (3) We hypothesize that higher social vulnerability will be associated with exposure to chronic and slower onset hazards and that lower social vulnerability will be associated with rapid onset hazards (H 1 ), although it may also be the case that social vulnerability will not be associated significantly with exposure to rapid onset hazards given that these hazards occur without warning and therefore may not structure urban settlement patterns Frequency relates to how often the hazard occurs, while magnitude refers to the size of the hazard event.…”

A Multi-Criteria GIS-Based Route Selection Tool for Hazardous Material Transport: Consideration of Environmental Consequence, Traffic Congestions and Costs

“…In another study by Margai (2001), ALOHA (Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres) was utilized to identify the threat zone around accidents for chlorine. estimated the risk associated with hazardous material accidents by using Gaussian plume model and ArcGIS.…”

“…There are several studies focusing on risk assessment of hazardous material accidents during transport; such as a study by Saccomanno and Shortreed (1993), where they estimated the dangerous areas around the accidental releases of chorine using an air dispersion model called EPI (Emergency Prediction Information). Another study by Margai (2001), used ALOHA (Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres) to identify the threat zone around accidents for chlorine. also used ALOHA to track the hazard zones for ammonia and hydrogen fluoride to calculate health risks due to exposure.…”