The Spatial Distribution of Leaking Underground Storage Tanks in Charleston, South Carolina: An Environmental Justice Analysis
The Spatial Distribution of Leaking Underground Storage Tanks in Charleston, South Carolina: An Environmental Justice Analysis
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DOI：
10.1089/env.2012.0011
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发表时间：
2012-08-01
影响因子：
2
通讯作者：
Sakati, Wayne
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Wilson, Sacoby M.;Fraser-Rahim, Herbert;Sakati, Wayne
环境正义文献中当前的研究轨迹是探索各种接近环境危害的措施，这些措施可能会导致弱势群体面临暴露和健康风险。研究表明，许多低收入住宅区通常主要由有色人种组成，靠近危险废物场。公共卫生研究人员已经证明，居住模式中的这些不平等可能与负面健康影响有关，从而导致健康差异。本文的目的是评估查尔斯顿都会统计区 (MSA) 地下储罐 (LUST) 泄漏的空间分布。此外，我们的目标是使用各种地理信息系统（GIS）技术，为当地决策者和社区团体提供知识，以便为振兴、规划和社区发展工作做出更好的决策。本研究使用了三种 GIS 技术：1) 平均距离分析，2) 空间重合，3) 邻近分析。为了检查距最近的性欲的距离与人口普查区中非白人比例之间的关联，应用了线性回归模型。进行卡方检验是为了比较有 LUST 的人口普查区域和没有 LUST 的人口普查区域之间种族/族裔和社会经济地位的差异。结果表明，存在 LUST 的人口普查区和不存在 LUST 的人口普查区之间存在基于种族/民族和社会经济地位的差异。这些数据提供了额外的证据，表明在有色人种和贫困人口较多的人口普查区，查尔斯顿 MSA 有毒物质排放清单 (TRI) 设施之外的环境危害分布存在空间差异。低地国家模范社区联盟 (LAMC) 等社区团体可以利用这些信息来振兴 LAMC 社区，实现环境正义并消除该地区服务不足社区的健康差距。
A current research trajectory within environmental justice literature has been to explore various measures of proximity to environmental hazards which may contribute to exposure and health risks for vulnerable populations. Research has shown that many low-income residential areas, which often are predominantly comprised of people of color, are located in close proximity to hazardous waste sites. Public health researchers have documented that these inequities in residential patterns can be linked to negative health impacts, resulting in health disparities. The purpose of this article is to evaluate spatial distributions of leaking underground storage tanks (LUSTs) in the Charleston Metropolitan Statistical area (MSA). Furthermore, we aim to use various geographic information system (GIS) techniques that could provide local policymakers and community groups with knowledge to make better decisions for revitalization, planning, and community development efforts. Three GIS techniques were used in this study: 1) mean distance analysis, 2) spatial coincidence, and 3) proximity analysis. To examine the association between distance to the nearest LUST and proportions of non-whites in census tracts, linear regression models were applied. Chi-square tests were conducted to compare differences of race/ethnicity and SES between census tracts that host LUSTs and those that do not host LUSTs. Results indicate that a disparity exist between census tracts that host LUSTs and census tracts that do not host LUSTs based on race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. These data provide additional evidence that spatial disparities exist in the distribution of environmental hazards beyond Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) facilities in the Charleston MSA in census tracts with higher numbers of people of color and poor populations. Community groups such as the Low Country Alliance for Model Communities (LAMC) can use this information in its efforts to revitalize LAMC neighborhoods and achieve environmental justice and eliminate health disparities in underserved communities in the region.