269698 Spatial Distribution of Leaking Underground Storage Tanks in Charleston, South Carolina: An Environmental Justice Analysis

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Sacoby Wilson, MS, PhD , Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Dayna Campbell, MS, PhD(c) , Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC
Herb Fraser-Rahim , Community Investigator, Low Country Alliance for Model Communities, North Charleston, SC
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
Kasim Ortiz, PhD (c), MS, BA , Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
LaShanta Rice, MPH, PhD(c) , Health Promotion, Education and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Winston Abara, MPH , Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Purpose: To evaluate spatial distributions of leaking underground storage tanks (LUSTs) in the Charleston Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). We aimed to use various Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques that could provide local policymakers and community groups with knowledge to make better decisions for revitalization, planning and community development efforts.

Methods: GIS was used to ascertain the demographic profile of populations burdened by LUSTs in the Charleston MSA: 1) mean distance analysis, 2) spatial coincidence, and 3) proximity analysis. Linear regression models were applied to examine the association between distances to the nearest LUST facility and proportions of whites in census tracts. Chi-square tests were conducted to compare differences of race/ethnicity and SES between census tracts that host LUSTs and those void of LUSTs.

Results: Census tracts that host LUSTs are predominantly non-white populations and have lower SES status while those that do not host LUSTs are mostly white populations and have higher SES status. Results from the buffer analysis indicated that over 99% of the black population in the Charleston MSA was captured by a LUST buffer. Furthermore, as percent non-white increased, the number of LUSTs increased respectively. Census blocks in Metro Charleston with a higher proportion of white residents (> 50%) were approximately 1.11 miles away from the nearest LUST while primarily non-white census tracts were 0.86 miles.

Conclusion: There are significant burden disparities in the distribution of LUSTs in Charleston MSA at the block and census tract levels across varying levels of demographic composition for race/ethnicity and SES. This may lead to exposure risks for underserved populations and increase risks of cancer and other negative health outcomes for differentially burdened populations.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Environmental health sciences
Public health or related education
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1) Discuss the burden disparities in the distribution of LUST 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 research coordinator for the NIEHS funded community-university environmental health and justice partnership described in the submitted abstract.
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.