Online Program

285144
Screening for cumulative impacts in environmental justice (EJ) communities


Monday, November 4, 2013

Tyler Watson, MPH, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Peter Wood, MPH, Office of Criminal Investigations, Department of Toxic Substances Control, Sacramento, CA
Cumulative impact screening methods have evolved within the contexts of an emerging cumulative risk assessment field and a prioritization of environmental justice (EJ) communities in order to provide initial, relative estimations of which geographic areas are more highly impacted by various environmental stressors. In general, screening methods are limited in what they can and cannot accomplish and are not intended to be comparable to full risk assessments. Three main screening methods exist in California: EJSM, CEVA, and CalEnviroScreen. All three methods are highly developed and sophisticated with some distinct differences, and the EJSM is the most refined, tested, and well-known method. Despite strong urging from EJ leaders, the results of the screens have rarely been applied or translated into action. Here, I clarify the potential applications of the screening methods including: prioritization of resources and community development, prioritization of research and data improvement, informing and becoming incorporated into policy, and prioritization of enforcement efforts.

Learning Areas:

Environmental health sciences
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Identify indicators used in cumulative impact screening methodologies Differentiate the main screening methodologies that have been developed Describe how screening methodologies can be applied in environmental justice efforts

Keyword(s): Environmental Justice, Risk Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am currently pursuing my MPH in Environmental Health Sciences at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health with a projected graduation of June 2013. I conducted my 2012 summer internship at the Cal/EPA Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) reviewing literature, interviewing stakeholders, and participating in workshops on the development of cumulative impact screening methodologies for environmental justice communities. I have written a summary report on my work that has been distributed to various stakeholders.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.