269675 Assessment of the Distribution of Toxic Release Inventory Facilities in Metropolitan Charleston: An Environmental Justice Review

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Sacoby Wilson, MS, PhD , Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Herb Fraser-Rahim , Community Investigator, Low Country Alliance for Model Communities, North Charleston, SC
Kristen Burwell, MPH , Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland - College Park, College Park, MD
Hongmei Zhang, PhD , Arnold School of Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Edith M. Williams, PhD, MS , Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Dayna Campbell, MS, PhD(c) , Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC
Kasim Ortiz, PhD (c), MS, BA , Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Purpose: To assess the spatial disparities in the distribution of Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) facilities in the Charleston Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

Methods: The 2000 census tract and block level data were used to enumerate population characteristics. GIS were used to map TRI facilities and develop choropleth maps based on race/ethnicity and SES. Spatial methods including buffer analysis, spatial approximation, and spatial regression were employed to assess burden disparities in the study area at the block and census tract levels. Regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the distribution and number of TRI facilities and race/ethnicity and SES at the census tract level.

Results: There was an inverse relationship between distance to TRI facilities and race/ethnicity and SES at the block and census tract levels. For each 1% increase in percent college graduates and percent white, the log-odds of being a TRI host census tract decreased by 0.47 (OR = 0.66, p-value < 0.001) and 0.29 (OR = 0.75, p-value < 0.001) respectively. Census blocks in the Charleston MSA with a higher proportion of white residents (> 50%) were approximately 3.3 miles away from the nearest TRI facility while predominately non-white census tracts were 2.9 miles. Furthermore, nearly 88% of the total black population in the Charleston MSA was captured by a TRI buffer.

Conclusion: There are significant burden disparities in the distribution of TRI facilities in the Charleston MSA at the block and census tract levels across varying levels of demographic composition for race/ethnicity and SES.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Environmental health sciences

Learning Objectives:
1)Discuss the burden disparities in the distribution of TRI facilities in the Charleston MSA at the block and census tract levels across varying levels of demographic composition for race/ethnicity and SES. 2)Describe techniques that could provide local policymakers and community groups with knowledge to make better decisions for revitalization, planning and community development efforts

Keywords: Environmental Justice, Environmental Health Hazards

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a doctoral student studying environmental health. I have worked on an environmental justice and health disparities project in North Charleston, SC for the past two years.
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.

Back to: 5004.0: *Poster Session*: Environmental justice: The additive risk of a poor environment on health disparities