Linking ‘toxic outliers’ to environmental justice communities

Collins, Mary B.; Munoz, Ian; JáJá, Joseph F.

doi:10.1088/1748-9326/11/1/015004

Cited by 111 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The relationships between component and site-based emissions characteristics in Fig. 2 are further examined in the Supplementary Information using a metric of disproportionality31, affirming the insufficient contribution from high-emitting sites in the component-based aggregation (Supplementary Note 1 and Supplementary Fig. 1).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Super-emitters in natural gas infrastructure are caused by abnormal process conditions

et al. 2017

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Effectively mitigating methane emissions from the natural gas supply chain requires addressing the disproportionate influence of high-emitting sources. Here we use a Monte Carlo simulation to aggregate methane emissions from all components on natural gas production sites in the Barnett Shale production region (Texas). Our total emission estimates are two-thirds of those derived from independent site-based measurements. Although some high-emitting operations occur by design (condensate flashing and liquid unloadings), they occur more than an order of magnitude less frequently than required to explain the reported frequency at which high site-based emissions are observed. We conclude that the occurrence of abnormal process conditions (for example, malfunctions upstream of the point of emissions; equipment issues) cause additional emissions that explain the gap between component-based and site-based emissions. Such abnormal conditions can cause a substantial proportion of a site's gas production to be emitted to the atmosphere and are the defining attribute of super-emitting sites.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Super-emitters in natural gas infrastructure are caused by abnormal process conditions

et al. 2017

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“…For each production region, we plot each parameter on a parallel y-axis, with the range of values shown in the plot. The Gini coefficient represents a measure of disproportionality: the closer to one, the greater the influence from a small number of high-emitting sites (Collins et al, 2016;Zavala-Araiza et al, 2017). Proportional loss rate values represent the median loss rate from the emission distribution for each production region.…”

Section: Supplemental Filesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methane emissions from oil and gas production sites in Alberta, Canada

Zavala-Araiza

Herndon

Roscioli

et al. 2018

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

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We performed ground-based measurements (downwind, site-wide characterization) of methane emissions from older light oil and natural gas production sites in Alberta, Canada (Red Deer region, 60 measured sites). We developed a distribution of site-based methane emissions and as previously found in production regions in the United States, a small fraction of the sites account for the majority of methane emissions: 20% of the sites emit three quarters of the methane from oil and gas production. Using empirically derived emission factors, we compared an estimate of regional methane emissions, to a top-down airborne-based measurement of the same region. The airborne measurement was 35% lower, though not statistically different (4,800 ± 3,200 vs. 3,100 ± 2,200 kg CH 4 h -1). In Alberta, the majority of these oil and gas emissions go unreported under current reporting requirements. Effective mitigation will most likely require frequent monitoring to identify high-emitting sites as well as leaky components that we hypothesize are also a major contributor to emissions.

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“…Throughout the United States, lower income populations are more likely to live near industrial facilities such as coal-fired power plants (Collins et al, 2016;Mohai et al, 2009;Mohai & Saha, 2015;Schulz et al, 2016). Exposure to environmental pollutants generated by these industrial sources, including ambient air pollution, is inequitably distributed by class and race (Ash et al, 2013;Brown, 1995;Pastor et al, 2005;Zwickl et al, 2014) and may contribute to differences in health outcomes (Adler & Newman, 2002;Apelberg et al, 2005;Collins et al, 2011;Morello-Frosch & Jesdale, 2006;Rice et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health and Environmental Justice Implications of Retiring Two Coal‐Fired Power Plants in the Southern Front Range Region of Colorado

et al. 2019

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Despite improvements in air quality over the past 50 years, ambient air pollution remains an important public health issue in the United States. In particular, emissions from coal‐fired power plants still have a substantial impact on both nearby and regional populations. Of particular concern is the potential for this impact to fall disproportionately on low‐income communities and communities of color. We conducted a quantitative health impact assessment to estimate the health benefits of the proposed decommissioning of two coal‐fired electricity generating stations in the Southern Front Range region of Colorado. We estimated changes in exposures to fine particulate matter and ozone using the Community Multiscale Air Quality model and predicted avoided health impacts and related economic values. We also quantitatively assessed the distribution of these benefits by population‐level socioeconomic status. Across the study area, decommissioning the power plants would result in 2 (95% CI: 1–3) avoided premature deaths each year due to reduced PM2.5 exposures and greater reductions in hospitalizations and other morbidities. Health benefits resulting from the modeled shutdowns were greatest in areas with lower educational attainment and other economic indicators. Our results suggest that decommissioning these power plants and replacing them with zero‐emissions sources could have broad public health benefits for residents of Colorado, with larger benefits for those that are socially disadvantaged. Our results also suggested that researchers and decision makers need to consider the unique demographics of their study areas to ensure that important opportunities to reduce health disparities associated with point‐source pollution.

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Linking ‘toxic outliers’ to environmental justice communities

Cited by 111 publications

References 30 publications

Super-emitters in natural gas infrastructure are caused by abnormal process conditions

Super-emitters in natural gas infrastructure are caused by abnormal process conditions

Methane emissions from oil and gas production sites in Alberta, Canada

Health and Environmental Justice Implications of Retiring Two Coal‐Fired Power Plants in the Southern Front Range Region of Colorado

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