Location

Parker-Reed, SSWAC

Start Date

30-4-2015 2:00 PM

End Date

30-4-2015 3:55 PM

Project Type

Poster

Description

This project analyzes potential areas of environmental injustice on a census tract level throughout Florida. Data on race and median household income were compiled into ArcGIS 10.2.2 along with Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) locations to determine if communities with low income or large minority population are disproportionately exposed to sources of heavy pollution. Statistical tests found that high minority and low income census tracts were more likely to be within two miles of a TRI site and that census tracts containing two or more TRI sites had significantly lower median household incomes than census tracts with only one or fewer TRI sites. An examination of Gadsen county revealed that several high-minority population census tracts disproportionately contain or are located near TRI sites. Additional studies examining water and air quality, as well as examining exposure to hazardous chemicals from superfund sites or underwater storage tanks would be beneficial for the assessment of environmental injustice in Florida.

Faculty Sponsor

Philip Nyhus

Sponsoring Department

Colby College. Environmental Studies Program

CLAS Field of Study

Interdisciplinary Studies

Event Website

http://www.colby.edu/clas

ID

1402

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Apr 30th, 2:00 PM Apr 30th, 3:55 PM

Examining Environmental Injustice in Florida

Parker-Reed, SSWAC

This project analyzes potential areas of environmental injustice on a census tract level throughout Florida. Data on race and median household income were compiled into ArcGIS 10.2.2 along with Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) locations to determine if communities with low income or large minority population are disproportionately exposed to sources of heavy pollution. Statistical tests found that high minority and low income census tracts were more likely to be within two miles of a TRI site and that census tracts containing two or more TRI sites had significantly lower median household incomes than census tracts with only one or fewer TRI sites. An examination of Gadsen county revealed that several high-minority population census tracts disproportionately contain or are located near TRI sites. Additional studies examining water and air quality, as well as examining exposure to hazardous chemicals from superfund sites or underwater storage tanks would be beneficial for the assessment of environmental injustice in Florida.

https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/clas/2015/program/29