Impact of toxic waste facilities on birth outcomes in South Carolina

Objective: This study investigated county-level exposure to Toxics Releases Inventory (TRI) emissions and influences on preterm delivery and low birth weight (LBW) in South Carolina.

Methods: Aggregate level birth data on infants was obtained from 1995-2005 on all 46 counties in South Carolina. Data on TRI emissions, demographics and socioeconomic variables were also collected for the same time period.

Results: From 1995-2005, preterm births increased from 9.6% to 12.7% and LBW infants also increased from 9.1% to 10.1%. Simultaneously, TRI emission levels and the number of facilities also increased. Counties with high levels of TRI emissions also showed high percentages of African Americans, high poverty, and low income.

Conclusions: Health disparities in birth outcomes currently exist in South Carolina. Although African-Americans make up only a third of the newborn population, they account for 43% of preterm infants and 50% of infants with low birth weight. These health disparities are possibly influenced by levels of environmental pollution throughout the state. Other socioeconomic factors, including poverty and income, may also contribute to the complexity of these disparities. Additional research is needed to understand the strength of the association between environmental exposures and birth outcomes at the individual level.