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Tindle AN, Braman SL, Swafford BM, Trepanier LA. Environmental radon, fracking wells, and lymphoma in dogs. J Vet Intern Med 2024; 38:1659-1665. [PMID: 38437620 PMCID: PMC11099769 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multicentric lymphoma (ML) in dogs resembles non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in humans. Human NHL is associated with multiple environmental exposures, including to radon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to determine whether ML in dogs was associated with environmental radon or proximity to horizontal oil and drilling (fracking), a source of VOC pollution. METHODS We identified dogs from the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study that developed ML (n = 52) along with matched controls (n = 104). Dog home addresses were categorized by Environmental Protection Agency radon zone and average residential radon by county, as well as by distance from fracking and associated wastewater wells. RESULTS We found no significant differences in county level radon measurements. Individual household radon measurements were not available. There was no difference in residential proximity to active fracking wells between dogs with ML and unaffected dogs. While dogs with ML lived closer to wastewater wells (123 vs 206 km; P = .01), there was no difference in the percentage of cases vs controls that lived in close proximity (20 km) to a fracking well (11.5% for cases, 6.7% for controls; OR 1.81, 95% CI 0.55 to 5.22; P = .36), or a wastewater well (6.7% for cases, 4.4% for controls; P > .99). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE These data suggest that more proximate sources of chemical exposures need to be assessed in dogs with ML, including measurements of individual household radon and household VOC concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh N. Tindle
- Department of Medical SciencesUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Samantha L. Braman
- Department of Medical SciencesUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | | | - Lauren A. Trepanier
- Department of Medical SciencesUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
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2
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Berberian AG, Rempel J, Depsky N, Bangia K, Wang S, Cushing LJ. Race, Racism, and Drinking Water Contamination Risk From Oil and Gas Wells in Los Angeles County, 2020. Am J Public Health 2023; 113:1191-1200. [PMID: 37651660 PMCID: PMC10568503 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2023.307374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Objectives. To evaluate the potential for drinking water contamination in Los Angeles (LA) County, California, based on the proximity of supply wells to oil and gas wells, and characterize risk with respect to race/ethnicity and measures of structural racism. Methods. We identified at-risk community water systems (CWSs) as those with supply wells within 1 kilometer of an oil or gas well. We characterized sociodemographics of the populations served by each CWS by using the 2013-2017 American Community Survey. We estimated the degree of redlining in each CWS service area by using 1930s Home Owners' Loan Corporation security maps, and characterized segregation by using the Index of Concentration at the Extremes. Multivariable regression models estimated associations between these variables and CWS contamination risk. Results. A quarter of LA County CWSs serving more than 7 million residents have supply wells within 1 kilometer of an oil or gas well. Higher percentages of Hispanic, Black, and Asian/Pacific Islander residents and a greater degree of redlining and residential segregation were associated with higher contamination risk. Conclusions. Redlining and segregation predict drinking water contamination risks from oil development in LA County, with people of color at greater risk. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(11):1191-1200. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307374).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alique G Berberian
- Alique G. Berberian and Lara J. Cushing are with the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Jenny Rempel and Nicholas Depsky are with the Energy and Resources Group, Rausser College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley. Komal Bangia is with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland. Sophia Wang is with the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA
| | - Jenny Rempel
- Alique G. Berberian and Lara J. Cushing are with the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Jenny Rempel and Nicholas Depsky are with the Energy and Resources Group, Rausser College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley. Komal Bangia is with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland. Sophia Wang is with the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA
| | - Nicholas Depsky
- Alique G. Berberian and Lara J. Cushing are with the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Jenny Rempel and Nicholas Depsky are with the Energy and Resources Group, Rausser College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley. Komal Bangia is with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland. Sophia Wang is with the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA
| | - Komal Bangia
- Alique G. Berberian and Lara J. Cushing are with the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Jenny Rempel and Nicholas Depsky are with the Energy and Resources Group, Rausser College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley. Komal Bangia is with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland. Sophia Wang is with the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA
| | - Sophia Wang
- Alique G. Berberian and Lara J. Cushing are with the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Jenny Rempel and Nicholas Depsky are with the Energy and Resources Group, Rausser College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley. Komal Bangia is with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland. Sophia Wang is with the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA
| | - Lara J Cushing
- Alique G. Berberian and Lara J. Cushing are with the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Jenny Rempel and Nicholas Depsky are with the Energy and Resources Group, Rausser College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley. Komal Bangia is with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland. Sophia Wang is with the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA
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Chan M, Shamasunder B, Johnston JE. Social and Environmental Stressors of Urban Oil and Gas Facilities in Los Angeles County, California, 2020. Am J Public Health 2023; 113:1182-1190. [PMID: 37499202 PMCID: PMC10568508 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2023.307360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Objectives. To examine patterns of cumulative environmental injustice with respect to operations of urban oil and gas development in Los Angeles County, California. Methods. Using CalEnviroScreen (CES) 4.0, oil and gas data permit records, and US census data, we examined the association between CES score (grouped into equal quintiles, with the lowest representing low cumulative burden) and oil and gas development (presence or absence of an oil and gas production well) within 1 kilometer of a census block centroid. Results. Among census blocks in the highest quintile of CES score, we observed 94% increased odds of being within 1 kilometer of a well compared with census blocks in the lowest quintile of CES score (odds ratio = 1.94; 95% confidence interval = 1.83, 2.10). In our multivariable model, the proportion of Black residents and higher quintiles of CES score were also associated with increased odds of a nearby oil and gas well. Conclusions. These findings suggest that oil and gas facilities are operating in neighborhoods already cumulatively burdened and with higher proportions of Black residents. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(11):1182-1190. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307360).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa Chan
- Marissa Chan is with the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Bhavna Shamasunder is with Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA. Jill E. Johnston is with the University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Bhavna Shamasunder
- Marissa Chan is with the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Bhavna Shamasunder is with Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA. Jill E. Johnston is with the University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Jill E Johnston
- Marissa Chan is with the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Bhavna Shamasunder is with Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA. Jill E. Johnston is with the University of Southern California, Los Angeles
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4
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Deziel NC. Environmental Injustice and Cumulative Environmental Burdens in Neighborhoods Near Oil and Gas Development: Los Angeles County, California, and Beyond. Am J Public Health 2023; 113:1173-1175. [PMID: 37677114 PMCID: PMC10568509 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2023.307422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole C Deziel
- Nicole C. Deziel is with the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
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5
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Casey JA, Daouda M, Babadi RS, Do V, Flores NM, Berzansky I, González DJ, Van Horne YO, James-Todd T. Methods in Public Health Environmental Justice Research: a Scoping Review from 2018 to 2021. Curr Environ Health Rep 2023; 10:312-336. [PMID: 37581863 PMCID: PMC10504232 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-023-00406-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The volume of public health environmental justice (EJ) research produced by academic institutions increased through 2022. However, the methods used for evaluating EJ in exposure science and epidemiologic studies have not been catalogued. Here, we completed a scoping review of EJ studies published in 19 environmental science and epidemiologic journals from 2018 to 2021 to summarize research types, frameworks, and methods. RECENT FINDINGS We identified 402 articles that included populations with health disparities as a part of EJ research question and met other inclusion criteria. Most studies (60%) evaluated EJ questions related to socioeconomic status (SES) or race/ethnicity. EJ studies took place in 69 countries, led by the US (n = 246 [61%]). Only 50% of studies explicitly described a theoretical EJ framework in the background, methods, or discussion and just 10% explicitly stated a framework in all three sections. Among exposure studies, the most common area-level exposure was air pollution (40%), whereas chemicals predominated personal exposure studies (35%). Overall, the most common method used for exposure-only EJ analyses was main effect regression modeling (50%); for epidemiologic studies the most common method was effect modification (58%), where an analysis evaluated a health disparity variable as an effect modifier. Based on the results of this scoping review, current methods in public health EJ studies could be bolstered by integrating expertise from other fields (e.g., sociology), conducting community-based participatory research and intervention studies, and using more rigorous, theory-based, and solution-oriented statistical research methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan A. Casey
- University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA USA
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY USA
| | - Misbath Daouda
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY USA
| | - Ryan S. Babadi
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Vivian Do
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY USA
| | - Nina M. Flores
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY USA
| | - Isa Berzansky
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - David J.X. González
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management and School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | | | - Tamarra James-Todd
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
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Soriano MA, Warren JL, Clark CJ, Johnson NP, Siegel HG, Deziel NC, Saiers JE. Social Vulnerability and Groundwater Vulnerability to Contamination From Unconventional Hydrocarbon Extraction in the Appalachian Basin. GEOHEALTH 2023; 7:e2022GH000758. [PMID: 37064218 PMCID: PMC10100439 DOI: 10.1029/2022gh000758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development, made possible by horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing, has been fraught with controversy since the industry's rapid expansion in the early 2000's. Concerns about environmental contamination and public health risks persist in many rural communities that depend on groundwater resources for drinking and other daily needs. Spatial disparities in UOG risks can pose distributive environmental injustice if such risks are disproportionately borne by marginalized communities. In this paper, we analyzed groundwater vulnerability to contamination from UOG as a physically based measure of risk in conjunction with census tract level sociodemographic characteristics describing social vulnerability in the northern Appalachian Basin. We found significant associations between elevated groundwater vulnerability and lower population density, consistent with UOG development occurring in less densely populated rural areas. We also found associations between elevated groundwater vulnerability and lower income, higher proportions of elderly populations, and higher proportion of mobile homes, suggesting a disproportionate risk burden on these socially vulnerable groups. We did not find a statistically significant association between elevated groundwater vulnerability and populations of racial/ethnic minorities in our study region. Household surveys provided empirical support for a relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and capacity to assess and mitigate exposures to potentially contaminated water. Further research is needed to probe if the observed disparities translate to differences in chemical exposure and adverse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario A. Soriano
- School of the EnvironmentYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
- Integrated GroundWater Modeling CenterHigh Meadows Environmental InstitutePrinceton UniversityPrincetonNJUSA
| | - Joshua L. Warren
- Department of BiostatisticsSchool of Public HealthYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
| | - Cassandra J. Clark
- Department of Environmental Health SciencesSchool of Public HealthYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
| | - Nicholaus P. Johnson
- Department of Environmental Health SciencesSchool of Public HealthYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
| | | | - Nicole C. Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health SciencesSchool of Public HealthYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
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Underhill V, Fiuza A, Allison G, Poudrier G, Lerman-Sinkoff S, Vera L, Wylie S. Outcomes of the Halliburton Loophole: Chemicals regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act in US fracking disclosures, 2014-2021. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 322:120552. [PMID: 36368552 PMCID: PMC10187986 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has enabled the United States to lead the world in gas and oil production over the past decade; 17.6 million Americans now live within a mile of an oil or gas well (Czolowski et al., 2017). This major expansion in fossil fuel production is possible in part due to the 2005 Energy Policy Act and its "Halliburton Loophole," which exempts fracking activity from regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). To begin quantifying the environmental and economic impacts of this loophole, this study undertakes an aggregate analysis of chemicals that would otherwise be regulated by SDWA within FracFocus, an industry-sponsored fracking disclosure database. This paper quantifies the total disclosures and total mass of these chemicals used between 2014 and 2021, examines trends in their use, and investigates which companies most use and supply them. We find that 28 SDWA-regulated chemicals are reported in FracFocus, and 62-73% of all disclosures (depending on year) report at least one SDWA-regulated chemical. Of these, 19,700 disclosures report using SDWA-regulated chemicals in masses that exceed their reportable quantities as defined under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Finally, while the most common direct-supplier category is "company name not reported," Halliburton is the second-most named direct supplier of SWDA regulated chemicals. Halliburton is also the supplier most frequently associated with fracks that use SDWA regulated chemicals. These results show the necessity of a more robust and federally mandated disclosure system and suggest the importance of revisiting exemptions such as the Halliburton Loophole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Underhill
- Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute, Northeastern University, USA.
| | - Angelica Fiuza
- Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, USA
| | | | - Grace Poudrier
- Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Northeastern University, USA
| | | | - Lourdes Vera
- Department of Sociology and Department of Environment and Sustainability, University at Buffalo, USA
| | - Sara Wylie
- Department of Sociology & Anthropology and Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, USA
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8
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Willis MD, Cushing LJ, Buonocore JJ, Deziel NC, Casey JA. It's electric! An environmental equity perspective on the lifecycle of our energy sources. Environ Epidemiol 2023; 7:e246. [PMID: 37064423 PMCID: PMC10097546 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Energy policy decisions are driven primarily by economic and reliability considerations, with limited consideration given to public health, environmental justice, and climate change. Moreover, epidemiologic studies relevant for public policy typically focus on immediate public health implications of activities related to energy procurement and generation, considering less so health equity or the longer-term health consequences of climate change attributable to an energy source. A more integrated, collective consideration of these three domains can provide more robust guidance to policymakers, communities, and individuals. Here, we illustrate how these domains can be evaluated with respect to natural gas as an energy source. Our process began with a detailed overview of all relevant steps in the process of extracting, producing, and consuming natural gas. We synthesized existing epidemiologic and complementary evidence of how these processes impact public health, environmental justice, and climate change. We conclude that, in certain domains, natural gas looks beneficial (e.g., economically for some), but when considered more expansively, through the life cycle of natural gas and joint lenses of public health, environmental justice, and climate change, natural gas is rendered an undesirable energy source in the United States. A holistic climate health equity framework can inform how we value and deploy different energy sources in the service of public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary D. Willis
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
| | - Lara J. Cushing
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jonathan J. Buonocore
- Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nicole C. Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Joan A. Casey
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington
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9
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Deziel NC, Warren JL, Bravo MA, Macalintal F, Kimbro RT, Bell ML. Assessing community-level exposure to social vulnerability and isolation: spatial patterning and urban-rural differences. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2023; 33:198-206. [PMID: 35388169 PMCID: PMC9535035 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-022-00435-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental health disparity research involves the use of metrics to assess exposure to community-level vulnerabilities or inequities. While numerous vulnerability indices have been developed, there is no agreement on standardization or appropriate use, they have largely been applied in urban areas, and their interpretation and utility likely vary across different geographies. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the spatial distribution, variability, and relationships among different metrics of social vulnerability and isolation across urban and rural settings to inform interpretation and selection of metrics for environmental disparity research. METHODS For all census tracts in North Carolina, we conducted a principal components analysis using 23 socioeconomic/demographic variables from the 2010 United States Census and American Community Survey. We calculated or obtained the neighborhood deprivation index (NDI), residential racial isolation index (RI), educational isolation index (EI), Gini coefficient, and social vulnerability index (SVI). Statistical analyses included Moran's I for spatial clustering, t-tests for urban-rural differences, Pearson correlation coefficients, and changes in ranking of tracts across metrics. RESULTS Social vulnerability metrics exhibited clear spatial patterning (Moran's I ≥ 0.30, p < 0.01). Greater educational isolation and more intense neighborhood deprivation was observed in rural areas and greater racial isolation in urban areas. Single-domain metrics were not highly correlated with each other (rho ≤ 0.36), while composite metrics (i.e., NDI, SVI, principal components analysis) were highly correlated (rho > 0.80). Composite metrics were more highly correlated with the racial isolation metric in urban (rho: 0.54-0.64) versus rural tracts (rho: 0.36-0.48). Census tract rankings changed considerably based on which metric was being applied. SIGNIFICANCE High correlations between composite metrics within urban and rural tracts suggests they could be used interchangeably; single domain metrics cannot. Composite metrics capture different facets of vulnerabilities in urban and rural settings, and these complexities should be examined by researchers applying metrics to areas of diverse urban and rural forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole C Deziel
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Joshua L Warren
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Mercedes A Bravo
- Duke University, Global Health Institute, School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Franchesca Macalintal
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, New Haven, CT, USA
- Fordham University, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, New York, NY, USA
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González DJX, Morton CM, Hill LAL, Michanowicz DR, Rossi RJ, Shonkoff SBC, Casey JA, Morello‐Frosch R. Temporal Trends of Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Population Exposures to Upstream Oil and Gas Development in California. GEOHEALTH 2023; 7:e2022GH000690. [PMID: 36968155 PMCID: PMC10035325 DOI: 10.1029/2022gh000690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
People living near oil and gas development are exposed to multiple environmental stressors that pose health risks. Some studies suggest these risks are higher for racially and socioeconomically marginalized people, which may be partly attributable to disparities in exposures. We examined whether racially and socioeconomically marginalized people in California are disproportionately exposed to oil and gas wells and associated hazards. We longitudinally assessed exposure to wells during three time periods (2005-2009, 2010-2014, and 2015-2019) using sociodemographic data at the census block group-level. For each block group and time period, we assessed exposure to new, active, retired, and plugged wells, and cumulative production volume. We calculated risk ratios to determine whether marginalized people disproportionately resided near wells (within 1 km). Averaged across the three time periods, we estimated that 1.1 million Californians (3.0%) lived within 1 km of active wells. Nearly 9 million Californians (22.9%) lived within 1 km of plugged wells. The proportion of Black residents near active wells was 42%-49% higher than the proportion of Black residents across California, and the proportion of Hispanic residents near active wells was 4%-13% higher than their statewide proportion. Disparities were greatest in areas with the highest oil and gas production, where the proportion of Black residents was 105%-139% higher than statewide. Socioeconomically marginalized residents also had disproportionately high exposure to wells. Though oil and gas production has declined in California, marginalized communities persistently had disproportionately high exposure to wells, potentially contributing to health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. X. González
- Division of Environmental Health SciencesSchool of Public HealthUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and ManagementUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Claire M. Morton
- Mathematical and Computational Science ProgramStanford UniversityStanfordCAUSA
| | | | | | | | - Seth B. C. Shonkoff
- Division of Environmental Health SciencesSchool of Public HealthUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
- PSE Healthy EnergyOaklandCAUSA
- Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryEnergy Technologies AreaBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Joan A. Casey
- Department of Environmental Health SciencesColumbia UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health SciencesUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWAUSA
| | - Rachel Morello‐Frosch
- Division of Environmental Health SciencesSchool of Public HealthUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and ManagementUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
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11
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Gonzalez DJX, Nardone A, Nguyen AV, Morello-Frosch R, Casey JA. Historic redlining and the siting of oil and gas wells in the United States. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2023; 33:76-83. [PMID: 35418707 PMCID: PMC9556657 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-022-00434-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The presence of active or inactive (i.e., postproduction) oil and gas wells in neighborhoods may contribute to ongoing pollution. Racially discriminatory neighborhood security maps developed by the Home-Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) in the 1930s may contribute to environmental exposure disparities. OBJECTIVE To determine whether receiving worse HOLC grades was associated with exposure to more oil and gas wells. METHODS We assessed exposure to oil and gas wells among HOLC-graded neighborhoods in 33 cities from 13 states where urban oil and gas wells were drilled and operated. Among the 17 cities for which 1940 census data were available, we used propensity score restriction and matching to compare well exposure neighborhoods that were similar on observed 1940 sociodemographic characteristics but that received different grades. RESULTS Across all included cities, redlined D-graded neighborhoods had 12.2 ± 27.2 wells km-2, nearly twice the density in neighborhoods graded A (6.8 ± 8.9 wells km-2). In propensity score restricted and matched analyses, redlined neighborhoods had 2.0 (1.3, 2.7) more wells than comparable neighborhoods with a better grade. SIGNIFICANCE Our study adds to the evidence that structural racism in federal policy is associated with the disproportionate siting of oil and gas wells in marginalized neighborhoods.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J X Gonzalez
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Anthony Nardone
- University of California (UC) Berkeley-UC San Francisco (UCSF) Joint Medical Program, UC Berkeley School of Public Health and UCSF School of Medicine, Berkeley and San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Andrew V Nguyen
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Joan A Casey
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
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Caron-Beaudoin É, Whyte KP, Bouchard MF, Chevrier J, Haddad S, Copes R, Frohlich KL, Dokkie D, Juul S, Bouchard M, Verner MA. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air and tap water samples in residences of pregnant women living in an area of unconventional natural gas operations: Findings from the EXPERIVA study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 805:150242. [PMID: 34818775 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Northeastern British Columbia (Canada) is an area of unconventional natural gas (UNG) exploitation by hydraulic fracturing, which can release several contaminants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). To evaluate gestational exposure to contaminants in this region, we undertook the Exposures in the Peace River Valley (EXPERIVA) study. OBJECTIVES We aimed to: 1) measure VOCs in residential indoor air and tap water from EXPERIVA participants; 2) compare concentrations with those in the general population and explore differences related to sociodemographic and housing characteristics; and 3) determine associations between VOC concentrations and density/proximity to UNG wells. METHODS Eighty-five pregnant women participated. Passive air samplers were analyzed for 47 VOCs, and tap water samples were analyzed for 44 VOCs. VOC concentrations were compared with those from the Canadian Health Measure Survey (CHMS). We assessed the association between different metrics of well density/proximity and indoor air and tap water VOC concentrations using multiple linear regression. RESULTS 40 VOCs were detected in >50% of air samples, whereas only 4 VOCs were detected in >50% of water samples. We observed indoor air concentrations >95th percentile of CHMS in 10-60% of samples for several compounds (acetone, 2-methyl-2-propanol, chloroform, 1,4-dioxane, hexanal, m/p-xylene, o-xylene, styrene, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, dodecane and decanal). Indoor air levels of chloroform and tap water levels of total trihalomethanes were higher in Indigenous participants compared to non-Indigenous participants. Indoor air levels of chloroform and acetone, and tap water levels of total trihalomethanes were positively associated with UNG wells density/proximity metrics. Indoor air BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) levels were positively correlated with some well density/proximity metrics. CONCLUSION Our results suggest higher exposure to certain VOCs in pregnant women living in an area of intense unconventional natural gas exploitation compared with the general Canadian population, and that well density/proximity is associated with increased exposure to certain VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Health and Society, Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Kyle Powys Whyte
- School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, MI, USA
| | - Maryse F Bouchard
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jonathan Chevrier
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University Faculty of Medicine, Québec, Canada
| | - Sami Haddad
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal and CIUSSS Du Centre-Sud-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ray Copes
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katherine L Frohlich
- Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Dean Dokkie
- West Moberly First Nations, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sonje Juul
- Cumming School of Medicine, Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michèle Bouchard
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal and CIUSSS Du Centre-Sud-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Marc-André Verner
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal and CIUSSS Du Centre-Sud-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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Warren JL, Cai J, Johnson NP, Deziel NC. A discrete kernel stick‐breaking model for detecting spatial boundaries in hydraulic fracturing wastewater disposal well placement across Ohio. J R Stat Soc Ser C Appl Stat 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rssc.12527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua L. Warren
- Department of Biostatistics Yale University New Haven Connecticut USA
| | - Jiachen Cai
- Department of Biostatistics Yale University New Haven Connecticut USA
| | - Nicholaus P. Johnson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences Yale University New Haven Connecticut USA
| | - Nicole C. Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences Yale University New Haven Connecticut USA
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Willis MD, Hill EL, Boslett A, Kile ML, Carozza SE, Hystad P. Associations between Residential Proximity to Oil and Gas Drilling and Term Birth Weight and Small-for-Gestational-Age Infants in Texas: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:77002. [PMID: 34287013 PMCID: PMC8293911 DOI: 10.1289/ehp7678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oil and natural gas extraction may produce environmental pollution at levels that affect reproductive health of nearby populations. Available studies have primarily focused on unconventional gas drilling and have not accounted for local population changes that can coincide with drilling activity. OBJECTIVE Our study sought to examine associations between residential proximity to oil and gas drilling and adverse term birth outcomes using a difference-in-differences study design. METHODS We created a retrospective population-based term birth cohort in Texas between 1996 and 2009 composed of mother-infant dyads (n=2,598,025) living <10km from an oil or gas site. We implemented a difference-in-differences approach to estimate associations between drilling activities and infant health: term birth weight and term small for gestational age (SGA). Using linear and logistic regression, we modeled interactions between births before (unexposed) or during (exposed) drilling activity and residential proximity near (0-1, 1-2, or 2-3km) or far (3-10km) from an active or future drilling site, adjusting for individual- and neighborhood-level characteristics. RESULTS The adjusted mean difference in term birth weight for mothers living 0-1 vs. 3-10km from a current or future drilling site was -7.3g [95% confidence interval (CI): -11.6, -3.0] for births during active vs. future drilling. The corresponding adjusted odds ratio for SGA was 1.02 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.06). Negative associations with term birth weight were observed for the 1-2 and 2-3km near groups, and no consistent differences were identified by type of drilling activity. Larger, though imprecise, adverse associations were found for infants born to Hispanic women, women with the lowest educational attainment, and women living in cities. CONCLUSIONS Residing near oil and gas drilling sites during pregnancy was associated with a small reduction in term birth weight but not SGA, with some evidence of environmental injustices. Additional work is needed to investigate specific drilling-related exposures that might explain these associations. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7678.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary D Willis
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elaine L Hill
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Andrew Boslett
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
- Rochester Data Science Consortium, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Molly L Kile
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Susan E Carozza
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Perry Hystad
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
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Clark CJ, Warren JL, Kadan-Lottick N, Ma X, Bell ML, Saiers JE, Deziel NC. Community concern and government response: Identifying socio-economic and demographic predictors of oil and gas complaints and drinking water impairments in Pennsylvania. ENERGY RESEARCH & SOCIAL SCIENCE 2021; 76:102070. [PMID: 34123731 PMCID: PMC8192069 DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Oil and gas development has led to environmental hazards and community concerns, particularly in relation to water supply issues. Filing complaints with state agencies enables citizens to register concerns and seek investigations. We evaluated associations between county-level socio-economic and demographic factors, oil and gas drilling, and three outcomes in Pennsylvania between 2004-2016: number of oil and gas complaints filed, and both the number and proportion of state investigations of water supply complaints yielding a confirmed water supply impairment (i.e., "positive determination"). We used hierarchical Bayesian Poisson and binomial regression analyses. From 2004-2016, 9,404 oil and gas-related complaints were filed, of which 4,099 were water supply complaints. Of those, 3,906 received investigations, and 215 yielded positive determinations. We observed a 47% increase in complaints filed per $10,000 increase in annual median household income (MHI) (Rate Ratio [RR]: 1.47, 95% credible interval [CI]: 1.09-1.96) and an 18% increase per 1% increase in educational attainment (RR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.11-1.26). While the number of complaints filed did not vary by race/ethnicity, the odds of a complaint yielding a positive determination were 0.81 times lower in counties with a higher proportion of marginalized populations (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.81 per 1% increase in percent Black, Asian, and Native American populations combined, 95% CI: 0.64-0.99). The odds of positive determinations were also lower in areas with higher income (OR per $10,000 increase in MHI: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.09-0.96). Our results suggest these relationships are complex and may indicate potential environmental and procedural inequities, warranting further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra J. Clark
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven CT, 06510, United States
| | - Joshua L. Warren
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven CT, 06510, United States
| | - Nina Kadan-Lottick
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven CT 06510, United States
| | - Xiaomei Ma
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven CT, 06510, United States
| | - Michelle L. Bell
- Yale School of the Environment, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven CT, 06511, United States
| | - James E. Saiers
- Yale School of the Environment, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven CT, 06511, United States
| | - Nicole C. Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven CT, 06510, United States
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Johnston JE, Chau K, Franklin M, Cushing L. Environmental Justice Dimensions of Oil and Gas Flaring in South Texas: Disproportionate Exposure among Hispanic communities. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:6289-6298. [PMID: 32338877 PMCID: PMC8915929 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Unconventional extraction techniques including hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" have led to a boom in oil and gas production in the Eagle Ford shale play, Texas, one of the most productive regions in the United States. Nearly 400000 people live within 5 km of an unconventional oil or gas well in this largely rural area. Flaring is associated primarily with unconventional oil wells and is an increasingly common practice in the Eagle Ford to dispose of excess gas through combustion. Flares can operate continuously for months and release hazardous air pollutants such as particulate matter and volatile organic compounds in addition to causing light and noise pollution and noxious odors. We estimated ethnic disparities in exposure to flaring using satellite observations from the Visible Infrared Imaging Spectroradiometer between March 2012-December 2016. Census blocks with majority Hispanic (>60%) populations were exposed to twice as many nightly flare events within 5 km as those with <20% Hispanics. We found that Hispanics were exposed to more flares despite being less likely than non-Hispanic White residents to live near unconventional oil and gas wells. Our findings suggest Hispanics are disproportionately exposed to flares in the Eagle Ford shale, a pattern known as environmental injustice, which could contribute to disparities in air pollution and other nuisance exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill E. Johnston
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles California 90032, United States
| | - Khang Chau
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles California 90032, United States
| | - Meredith Franklin
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles California 90032, United States
| | - Lara Cushing
- Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University, San Francisco California, 94132, United States
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Hicks DJ. Census Demographics and Chlorpyrifos Use in California's Central Valley, 2011-15: A Distributional Environmental Justice Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17072593. [PMID: 32290125 PMCID: PMC7177971 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17072593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Chlorpyrifos, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (ACI), is one of the most widely used insecticides in the world, and is generally recognized to be a moderate human neurotoxin. This paper reports a distributional environmental justice (dEJ) analysis of chlorpyrifos use in California’s Central Valley, examining the way distributions of environmental risks are associated with race, ethnicity, class, gender, and other systems of structural oppression. Spatial data on chlorpyrifos use were retrieved from California’s Department of Pesticide Registration public pesticide use records for 2011–2015. These data were combined with demographic data for the Central Valley from the American Community Survey (ACS). Spatial regression models were used to estimate effects of demographic covariates on local chlorpyrifos use. A novel bootstrap method was used to account for measurement error in the ACS estimates. This study finds consistent evidence that Hispanic population proportion is associated with increased local chlorpyrifos use. A 10-point increase in Hispanic proportion is associated with an estimated 1.05–1.4-fold increase in local chlorpyrifos use across Census tract models. By contrast, effects of agricultural employment and poverty on local chlorpyrifos use are ambiguous and inconsistent between Census tracts and Census-designated places.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Hicks
- Data Science Initiative, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Konkel L. Where Does Fracking Wastewater Go? Socioeconomic Predictors of Class II Well Placement in Ohio. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2019; 127:34003. [PMID: 30912995 PMCID: PMC6768321 DOI: 10.1289/ehp4797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
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