Assessing the 2023 Canadian wildfire smoke impact in Northeastern US: Air quality, exposure and environmental justice

The Canadian wildfires in June 2023 significantly impacted the northeastern United States, particularly in terms of worsened air pollution and environmental justice concerns. While advancements have been made in low-cost sensor deployments and satellite observations of atmospheric composition, integrating dynamic human mobility with wildfire PM2.5 exposure to fully understand the environmental justice implications remains underinvestigated. This study aims to enhance the accuracy of estimating ground-level fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations by fusing chemical transport model outputs with empirical observations, estimating exposures using human mobility data, and evaluating the impact of environmental justice. Employing a novel data fusion technique, the study combines the Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) outputs and surface PM2.5 measurements, providing a more accurate estimation of PM2.5 distribution. The study addresses the gap in traditional exposure assessments by incorporating human mobility data and further investigates the spatial correlation of PM2.5 levels with various environmental and demographic factors from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool (EJScreen). Results reveal that despite reduced mobility during high PM2.5 levels from wildfire smoke, exposure for both residents and individuals on the move remains high. Regions already burdened with high environmental pollution levels face amplified PM2.5 effects from wildfire smoke. Furthermore, we observed mixed correlations between PM2.5 concentrations and various demographic and socioeconomic factors, indicating complex exposure patterns across communities. Urban areas, in particular, experience persistent high exposure, while significant correlations in rural areas with EJScreen factors highlight the unique vulnerabilities of these populations to smoke exposure. These results advocate for a comprehensive approach to environmental health that leverages advanced models, integrates human mobility data, and addresses socio-demographic disparities, contributing to the development of equitable strategies against the growing threat of wildfires.

Environmental noise is positively associated with socioeconomically less privileged neighborhoods in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND

Environmental noise has detrimental effects on various health outcomes. Although disparities in some environmental exposures (e.g., air pollution) are well-documented, there is still a limited and uncertain understanding of the extent to which specific populations are disproportionately burdened by noise.

AIM

To assess whether environmental noise levels are associated with demographic and socioeconomic neighborhood compositions.

METHODS

We cross-sectionally examined long-term noise levels for 9,372 neighborhoods in the Netherlands. We linked these noise levels with administrative data on neighborhood characteristics for the year 2021. Linear and non-linear spatial regression models were fitted to explore the associations between noise, demographic, and socioeconomic neighborhood characteristics.

RESULTS

Our results showed that 46 % of the neighborhoods exhibited noise levels surpassing the recommended threshold of 53 dB to prevent adverse health effects. The regressions uncovered positive and partially non-linear neighborhood-level associations between noise and non-Western migrants, employment rates, low-incomers, and address density. Conversely, we found negative associations with higher-educated neighborhoods and those with a greater proportion of younger residents. Neighborhoods with older populations displayed a U-shaped association.

CONCLUSIONS

This national study showed an inequality in the noise burden, adversely affecting vulnerable, marginalized, and less privileged neighborhoods. Addressing the uneven distribution of noise and its root causes is an urgent policy imperative for sustainable Dutch cities.

Environmental Justice and Health in Nigeria

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) identified 17 goals to achieve by the year 2030, with many of these goals directly or indirectly linked to environmental justice. Health outcomes remain poor in Nigeria; the country ranks low in environmental quality despite supporting environmental treaties and laws. The burden of diseases in the country is in part related to poor environmental quality and is linked to environmental justice issues, such as mining, energy exploration, transport emission, poor waste management, and proliferation of slum settlement.

RECENT FINDINGS

Previous studies found that living in proximity to mines and environmental degradation of land and water disrupts means of livelihood and causes poor health outcomes among children and adults. Specifically, health issues like respiratory illness, malaria, kidney disease, and high blood pressure are likely consequences of proximity to mine waste. Few published studies are available for a developing country like Nigeria, although the link between environmental justice and health in Nigeria is clear enough to require action on the part of the government and polluting industries. This paper reviewed the concept and coverage of environmental justice in the Nigerian context and its impact on health. Addressing environmental injustices related to mining and other environmental issues can accelerate health gains through conscious and concerted efforts towards preserving the environment. Also, the right of everyone to a sustainable city regardless of socioeconomic class and geographical location can only be secured through environmental justice.

Ecosystem service mismatches evidence inequalities in urban heat vulnerability

Exposure to heat poses a pressing challenge in cities, with uneven health and environmental impacts across the urban fabric. To assess disparities in heat vulnerability and its environmental justice implications, we model supply-demand mismatches for the ecosystem service (ES) urban temperature regulation. We integrated remote sensing, health, and socio-demographic data with Artificial Intelligence for Environment and Sustainability (ARIES) and geographical information system tools. We computed composite indicators at the census tract level for urban cooling supply, and vulnerability to heat as a measure of demand. We do so in the context of the mid-size city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country (Europe). We mapped relative mismatches after identifying and analysed their relationship with socio-demographic and health factors. Our findings show disparities in heat vulnerability, with increased exposure observed among socio-economically disadvantaged communities, the elderly, and people with health issues. Areas associated with higher income levels show lower ES mismatches, indicating higher temperature regulation supply and reduced heat vulnerability. The results point at the need for nature-based heat mitigation interventions that especially focus on the more socio-economically disadvantaged communities.

Forging just ecologies: 25 years of urban long-term ecological research collaboration

We ask how environmental justice and urban ecology have influenced one another over the past 25 years in the context of the US Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program and Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES) project. BES began after environmental justice emerged through activism and scholarship in the 1980s but spans a period of increasing awareness among ecologists and environmental practitioners. The work in Baltimore provides a detailed example of how ecological research has been affected by a growing understanding of environmental justice. The shift shows how unjust environmental outcomes emerge and are reinforced over time by systemic discrimination and exclusion. We do not comprehensively review the literature on environmental justice in urban ecology but do present four brief cases from the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia, to illustrate the global relevance of the topic. The example cases demonstrate the necessity for continuous engagement with communities in addressing environmental problem solving.

Health Disparities in the Aftermath of Flood Events: A Review of Physical and Mental Health Outcomes with Methodological Considerations in the USA

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review applies an environmental justice perspective to synthesize knowledge of flood-related health disparities across demographic groups in the USA. The primary aim is to examine differential impacts on physical and mental health outcomes while also assessing methodological considerations such as flood exposure metrics, baseline health metrics, and community engagement.

RECENT FINDINGS

In our review (n = 27), 65% and 72% of studies identified racial, ethnic, or socio-economic disparities in physical and mental health outcomes post-flooding, respectively. The majority of racial/ethnic disparities were based on Black race, while most socio-economic disparities were based on lower household income. Forty-two percent of studies lacked flood exposure metrics, but often identified disparities. Common flood exposure metrics included self-reported flooding, flood risk models, and satellite-based observations. Seventy percent of studies lacked baseline health measurements or suitable alternatives, and only 19% incorporated community engagement into their research design. The literature consistently finds that both physical and mental health burdens following flooding are unequally shared across racial, ethnic, and socio-economic groups. These findings emphasize the need for disaster risk reduction policies that address underlying vulnerabilities to flooding, unequal exposure to flooding, and progressive funding for recovery efforts. Findings also underscore the importance of methodological enhancements to facilitate precise assessments of flood exposure and health outcomes.

Unpacking Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status in Children's Health Research from an Environmental Justice Perspective: A Scoping Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Clearly defining and measuring neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) is a key first step in achieving environmental justice, as the disproportionate distribution of environmental hazards and access to resources is heavily influenced by socioeconomic factors. This scoping review explores the definition of neighborhoods, measurement of neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES), and studies that evaluated the association between nSES and child health in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

RECENT FINDINGS

We identified 4112 articles published on US pediatric populations between 2013 and 2022. We identified 170 distinct indicators across seven broad domains of nSES used to create 121 different measures of nSES across the 206 publications included in this review. While there is considerable interest in nSES and children's health, there is also substantial variation in the measurement of neighborhood as a geographic unit and nSES as a construct. We observed methodological challenges related to the identification of neighborhood boundaries, indicator selection, and nSES measure definition(s). We discuss common pitfalls in neighborhood research that can complicate identifying, targeting, and resolving environmental injustices. Lastly, we put forward a series of recommendations to reduce measurement error and improve inference, in addition to reporting recommendations for neighborhoods and health research that can aid in improving our understanding of pathways between neighborhood context and child health, inform policy development, and allocate resources to achieve environmental justice.

Association of neighborhood-level socioeconomic status and urban heat in China: Evidence from Hangzhou

The escalating contradiction between global urban development and thermal environments has become increasingly apparent, underscoring the imperative to address social inequality in heat exposure and advocate for environmental justice (EJ) in the pursuit of sustainable urban development. To bridge the research gap in this domain, a comprehensive study was conducted to examine the correlation mechanism linking the thermal environment with the socioeconomic status (SES) of Chinese cities, employing Hangzhou as a representative case-a pivotal city among China's "four fire stoves". The investigation involved analyzing the spatial distribution pattern of diurnal Land Surface Temperature (LST) during the summer months spanning 2016 to 2018 (July to September). For SES characterization, a holistic indicator was established. Community-level LST variables were derived from LST surfaces obtained through the Terra and Aqua satellite MODIS sensors, with the community serving as the fundamental unit of analysis. The relationship between SES and LST was explored using random forest regression (RF), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and support vector regression (SVR) to assess socioeconomic inequality in urban heat. The findings reveal that (1) RF exhibits the highest fitting accuracy and adeptly elucidates the nonlinear relationship and marginal effects between LST variables and SES. (2) Community SES in the Hangzhou metropolitan area exhibits spatial clustering. (3) Residents of low and middle SES communities experience heightened heat inequality. (4) A complex nonlinear relationship exists between daytime and nighttime LST and SES, with significant social disparities in urban heat within specific temperature thresholds. When deciding on measures to advance thermal environmental justice, it is crucial to prioritize both relatively disadvantaged groups and specific temperature intervals. This study departs from conventional approaches, exploring the nonlinear relationship between SES and urban heat at a fine scale, thereby assisting urban planners in developing effective strategies.

Social barriers to safe sanitation access among housed populations in the United States: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Nearly six million people residing in the United States do not have access to safely managed sanitation. Housed populations may lack access to centralized wastewater treatment systems or functioning onsite wastewater treatment systems, which subsequently places them at higher risk for adverse health outcomes associated with unsafe sanitation.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to understand the various social barriers that impact access to safe sanitation in the United States.

METHODS

We included peer-reviewed studies published between January 2000 and March 2023. The publication search was conducted using Scopus, ProQuest Social Science Database, and HeinOnline. We extracted data on social barriers and physical factors associated with access to sanitation.

RESULTS

Twenty publications met the inclusion criteria, and data relating to 11 social barriers and two physical factors were extracted. The social barriers to safe sanitation access mentioned most frequently were found to be socioeconomic status and race-based discrimination. Studies discussed sanitation in communities in five states.

DISCUSSION

Barriers pertained to lack of access to centralized wastewater treatment system, inadequate repair or replacement of septic systems, and lack of safely managed onsite sanitation systems. We discuss the intersectionality of the barriers, the underlying policy and history that leads to them, and make recommendations to address inequitable access to safe sanitation. Legislation and policy must be critically reviewed at national, state, and local levels to limit or eliminate ability for utilities to be extended on the basis of a community's income and property values or racial makeup. Policy recommendations also include additional community engagement, onsite sanitation system monitoring, and knowledge dissemination and education of septic system users. More geographically diverse research and research on sanitation in specific communities such as those of migrant farmworkers, undocumented persons, and tenants are recommended.

Claiming ecological grief: Why are we not mourning (more and more publicly) for ecological destruction?

Eco-anxiety, grief and despair are increasing, yet these emotions tend to remain private, rarely expressed in public. Why is it important and necessary to grieve for ecological loss? Why are we not-as individuals and societies-coming together to express and share our grief for ecological destruction? I address these questions from three angles. Firstly, I draw on recent literature on ecological grief and prior work on grief for human lives, to argue for the importance and urgency of grieving publicly for ecological loss. Building on this, I identify perceptual, cognitive, affective, ritual and political obstacles to ecological mourning; these obstacles point at critical intersections between emotions, practices, disciplines, public and private realms, which can turn into fruitful venues for further research, debate and action on ecological grief (and its absence). In closing, I propose a set of 'ecological skills' that might help us overcome these obstacles, and lead us to embrace ecological grief and mourning as acts of ethical responsibility and care for the planet.

Residents' experiences during a hydrogen sulfide crisis in Carson, California

BACKGROUND

In early October 2021, thousands of residents in Carson, California began complaining of malodors and headaches. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a noxious odorous gas, was measured at concentrations up to 7000 parts per billion (ppb) and remained above California's acute air quality standard of 30 ppb for a month. Intermittent elevations of H2S continued for 3 months. After 2 months of malodor in this environmental justice community, a government agency attributed the H2S to environmental pollution from a warehouse fire. Research has yielded conflicting results on the health effects of H2S exposure at levels that were experienced during this event. This research fills a critical need for understanding how people perceive and experience emergent environmental health events and will help shape future responses.

METHODS

Through a community-academic partnership, we conducted 6 focus groups with 33 participants who resided in the Carson area during the crisis. We sought to understand how this incident affected residents through facilitated discussion on topics including information acquisition, impressions of the emergency response, health symptoms, and ongoing impacts.

RESULTS

The majority of participants were women (n = 25), identified as Latina/o (n = 19), and rent their homes (n = 21). Participants described difficulty obtaining coherent information about the emergency, which resulted in feelings of abandonment. Most participants felt that local government and healthcare providers downplayed and/or disregarded their concerns despite ongoing odors and health symptoms. Participants described experiencing stress from the odors' unknown health effects and continued fear of future odor incidents. Residents sought to take control of the crisis through information sharing, community networking, and activism. Participants experienced longer term effects from this event, including increased awareness of pollution and reduced trust in local agencies.

DISCUSSION

This study demonstrates the necessity of clear, comprehensive, and prompt responses by relevant decisionmakers to chemical emergencies to appropriately address residents' fears, curb the spread of misinformation, and minimize adverse health effects. Participant responses also point to the benefit of supporting horizontal community networks for improved information sharing. By engaging directly with community members, researchers and disaster responders can better understand the various and complex impacts of chemical disasters and can improve response.

Is air pollution exposure linked to household income? Spatial analysis of Community Multiscale Air Quality Model results for Madrid

This study explores the potential correlation between income and exposure to air pollution for the city of Madrid, Spain and its neighboring municipalities. Madrid is a well-known European air pollution hotspot with a high mortality burden attributable to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Statistical analyses were carried out using electoral district level data on gross household income (GHI), and NO2 and PM2.5 concentrations in air obtained from a mesoscale air quality model for the study area. We applied linear regression, bivariate spatial correlation analysis, spatial autoregression and geographically weighted regression to explore the relationship between contaminants and income. Three different strategies were adopted to harmonize data for analysis. While some strategies suggested a link between income and air pollution, others did not, highlighting the need for multiple different approaches where uncertainty is high. Our findings offer important lessons for future spatial geographical studies of air pollution in cities worldwide. In particular we highlight the limitations of census-scale socio-economic data and the lack of non-model derived high-resolution air quality measurement data for many cities and offers lessons for policy makers on improving the integration of these types of essential public information.

Climate-influenced vector-borne diseases in Africa: a call to empower the next generation of African researchers for sustainable solutions

We look at the link between climate change and vector-borne diseases in low- and middle-income countries in Africa. The large endemicity and escalating threat of diseases such as malaria and arboviral diseases, intensified by climate change, disproportionately affects vulnerable communities globally. We highlight the urgency of prioritizing research and development, advocating for robust scientific inquiry to promote adaptation strategies, and the vital role that the next generation of African research leaders will play in addressing these challenges. Despite significant challenges such as funding shortages within countries, various pan-African-oriented funding bodies such as the African Academy of Sciences, the Africa Research Excellence Fund, the Wellcome Trust, the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as well as initiatives such as the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence and the Pan-African Mosquito Control Association, have empowered (or are empowering) these researchers by supporting capacity building activities, including continental and global networking, skill development, mentoring, and African-led research. This article underscores the urgency of increased national investment in research, proposing the establishment of research government agencies to drive evidence-based interventions. Collaboration between governments and scientific communities, sustained by pan-African funding bodies, is crucial. Through these efforts, African nations are likely to enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity of their systems and communities by navigating these challenges effectively, fostering scientific excellence and implementing transformative solutions against climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases.

The human health effects of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD): A scoping review of epidemiologic studies

OBJECTIVE

Unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD, sometimes termed "fracking" or "hydraulic fracturing") is an industrial process to extract methane gas and/or oil deposits. Many chemicals used in UOGD have known adverse human health effects. Canada is a major producer of UOGD-derived gas with wells frequently located in and around rural and Indigenous communities. Our objective was to conduct a scoping review to identify the extent of research evidence assessing UOGD exposure-related health impacts, with an additional focus on Canadian studies.

METHODS

We included English- or French-language peer-reviewed epidemiologic studies (January 2000-December 2022) which measured exposure to UOGD chemicals directly or by proxy, and where health outcomes were plausibly caused by UOGD-related chemical exposure. Results synthesis was descriptive with results ordered by outcome and hierarchy of methodological approach.

SYNTHESIS

We identified 52 studies from nine jurisdictions. Only two were set in Canada. A majority (n = 27) used retrospective cohort and case-control designs. Almost half (n = 24) focused on birth outcomes, with a majority (n = 22) reporting one or more significant adverse associations of UOGD exposure with: low birthweight; small for gestational age; preterm birth; and one or more birth defects. Other studies identified adverse impacts including asthma (n = 7), respiratory (n = 13), cardiovascular (n = 6), childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (n = 2), and all-cause mortality (n = 4).

CONCLUSION

There is a growing body of research, across different jurisdictions, reporting associations of UOGD with adverse health outcomes. Despite the rapid growth of UOGD, which is often located in remote, rural, and Indigenous communities, Canadian research on its effects on human health is remarkably sparse. There is a pressing need for additional evidence.

Digitally supported participation in the nexus between public health and urban planning

The nexus between urban planning and public health acknowledges the importance of creating cities that contribute to their residents' physical, mental, and social well-being. The Healthy Cities movement underlines that community participation and intersectoral work are important to create sustainable, equitable, and healthy cities.Several theoretical and practical participatory approaches form the foundation for participation in public health and urban planning. Growing digitalization has significantly transformed how participation is conducted in various fields. Digital technologies not only play a large role in daily life, but they have opened more opportunities for individuals to interact, share, and collaborate in the planning and design of cities.This article explores how digital technologies enable participation among residents and stakeholders in order to support the health-oriented planning of cities and neighborhoods. From the selective case studies presented in the paper, it can be ascertained that digital technologies can support various forms of participation by enabling different levels of engagement as well as both one-way and two-way interactions. Some forms of engagement can be supported entirely within digital platforms. However, in the case of higher engagement, which requires deeper insights into the problems and the codevelopment of solutions, other nondigital formats and traditional methods such as follow-up workshops and focus group discussions are necessary to complement the digital form of participation.

Prioritizing water availability study settings to address geogenic contaminants and related societal factors

Water availability for human and ecological uses depends on both water quantity and water quality. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is developing strategies for prioritizing regional-scale and watershed basin-scale studies of water availability across the nation. Previous USGS ranking processes for basin-scale studies incorporated primarily water quantity factors but are now considering additional water quality factors. This study presents a ranking based on the potential impacts of geogenic constituents on water quality and consideration of societal factors related to water quality. High-concentration geogenic constituents, including trace elements and radionuclides, are among the most prevalent contaminants limiting water availability in the USA and globally. Geogenic constituents commonly occur in groundwater because of subsurface water-rock interactions, and their distributions are controlled by complex geochemical processes. Geogenic constituent mobility can also be affected by human activities (e.g., mining, energy production, irrigation, and pumping). Societal factors and relations to drinking water sources and water quality information are often overlooked when evaluating research priorities. Sociodemographic characteristics, data gaps resulting from historical data-collection disparities, and infrastructure condition/age are examples of factors to consider regarding environmental justice. This paper presents approaches for ranking and prioritizing potential basin-scale study areas across the contiguous USA by considering a suite of conventional physical and geochemical variables related to geogenic constituents, with and without considering variables related to societal factors. Simultaneous consideration of societal and conventional factors could provide decision makers with more diverse, interdisciplinary tools to increase equity and reduce bias in prioritizing focused research areas and future water availability studies.

Examining racial and ethnic heat exposure disparities in New York City (NYC) across different spatial and political scales through geographic effect measure modification

Structural racism in the United States has resulted in neighborhoods with higher proportions of non-Hispanic Black (Black) or Hispanic/Latine residents having more features that intensify, and less that cool, the local-heat environment. This study identifies areas of New York City (NYC) where racial/ethnic heat exposure disparities are concentrated. We analyzed data from the 2013-2017 American Community Survey, U.S Landsat-8 Analysis Ready Data on summer surface temperatures, and NYC Land Cover Dataset at the census tract-level (n = 2098). Four cross-sectional regression modeling strategies were used to estimate the overall City-wide association, and associations across smaller intra-city areas, between tract-level percent of Black and percent Hispanic/Latine residents and summer day surface temperature, adjusting for altitude, shoreline, and nature-cover: overall NYC linear, borough-specific linear, Community District-specific linear, and geographically weighted regression models. All three linear regressions identified associations between neighborhood racial and ethnic composition and summer day surface temperatures. The geographically weighted regression models, which address the issue of spatial autocorrelation, identified specific locations (such as northwest Bronx, central Brooklyn, and uptown Manhattan) within which racial and ethnic disparities for heat exposures are concentrated. Through examining the overall effects and geographic effect measure modification across spatial scales, the results of this study identify specific geographic areas for intervention to mitigate heat exposure disparities experienced by Black and Hispanic/Latine NYC residents.

Modification of the PM2.5- and extreme heat-mortality relationships by historical redlining: a case-crossover study in thirteen U.S. states

BACKGROUND

Redlining has been associated with worse health outcomes and various environmental disparities, separately, but little is known of the interaction between these two factors, if any. We aimed to estimate whether living in a historically-redlined area modifies the effects of exposures to ambient PM2.5 and extreme heat on mortality by non-external causes.

METHODS

We merged 8,884,733 adult mortality records from thirteen state departments of public health with scanned and georeferenced Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) maps from the University of Richmond, daily average PM2.5 from a sophisticated prediction model on a 1-km grid, and daily temperature and vapor pressure from the Daymet V4 1-km grid. A case-crossover approach was used to assess modification of the effects of ambient PM2.5 and extreme heat exposures by redlining and control for all fixed and slow-varying factors by design. Multiple moving averages of PM2.5 and duration-aware analyses of extreme heat were used to assess the most vulnerable time windows.

RESULTS

We found significant statistical interactions between living in a redlined area and exposures to both ambient PM2.5 and extreme heat. Individuals who lived in redlined areas had an interaction odds ratio for mortality of 1.0093 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0084, 1.0101) for each 10 µg m-3 increase in same-day ambient PM2.5 compared to individuals who did not live in redlined areas. For extreme heat, the interaction odds ratio was 1.0218 (95% CI 1.0031, 1.0408).

CONCLUSIONS

Living in areas that were historically-redlined in the 1930's increases the effects of exposures to both PM2.5 and extreme heat on mortality by non-external causes, suggesting that interventions to reduce environmental health disparities can be more effective by also considering the social context of an area and how to reduce disparities there. Further study is required to ascertain the specific pathways through which this effect modification operates and to develop interventions that can contribute to health equity for individuals living in these areas.

The Impact of Climate Change on Global Oncology

Climate change is the greatest threat to human health of our time, with significant implications for global cancer control efforts. The changing frequency and behavior of climate-driven extreme weather events results in more frequent and increasingly unanticipated disruptions in access to cancer care. Given the significant threat that climate change poses to cancer control efforts, oncology professionals should champion initiatives that help protect the health and safety of patients with cancer, such as enhancing emergency preparedness and response efforts and reducing emissions from our own professional activities, which has health cobenefits for the entire population.

A curated data resource to support safe carbon dioxide transport-route planning

Supporting the national target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by 2050, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) authorized investments into carbon capture and storage (CCS), highlighting the need for the safe and sustainable transport of carbon dioxide (CO2). Curated to support CO2 pipeline route planning optimization and assess existing energy transport corridors, the CCS Pipeline Route Planning Database is a compilation of 47 publicly available, authoritative geospatial data resources, spanning the contiguous U.S., and some including Alaska and Hawaii. Key considerations were identified following comprehensive literature review, which included state legislation, known pipeline stressors, and energy, environmental, and social justice (EJSJ) considerations. Data layers were sorted into relevant categories (i.e., natural hazards, boundaries) and assigned preliminary weights representing potential social, environmental, and economic costs associated with routing pipelines. Version one of the CCS Pipeline Route Planning Database, made available on the Energy Data eXchange® (EDX), contains categorized vector features representing protected areas, public and energy infrastructure, EJSJ factors, potential risks, federal and state regulations and legislation, and natural features, along with associated metadata. This paper provides details on individual layers, methods used to identify data needs, acquire, and process the disparate data, as well as planned enhancements to future versions of this database.

Environmental and social inequities in continental France: an analysis of exposure to heat, air pollution, and lack of vegetation

BACKGROUND

Cumulative environmental exposures and social deprivation increase health vulnerability and limit the capacity of populations to adapt to climate change.

OBJECTIVE

Our study aimed at providing a fine-scale characterization of exposure to heat, air pollution, and lack of vegetation in continental France between 2000 and 2018, describing spatiotemporal trends and environmental hotspots (i.e., areas that cumulate the highest levels of overexposure), and exploring any associations with social deprivation.

METHODS

The European (EDI) and French (FDep) social deprivation indices, the normalized difference vegetation index, daily ambient temperatures, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide, and ozone (O3) concentrations were estimated for 48,185 French census districts. Reference values were chosen to characterize (over-)exposure. Hotspots were defined as the areas cumulating the highest overexposure to temperature, air pollution, and lack of vegetation. Associations between heat overexposure or hotspots and social deprivation were assessed using logistic regressions.

RESULTS

Overexposure to heat was higher in 2015-2018 compared with 2000-2014. Exposure to all air pollutants except for O3 decreased during the study period. In 2018, more than 79% of the urban census districts exceeded the 2021 WHO air quality guidelines. The evolution of vegetation density between 2000 and 2018 was heterogeneous across continental France. In urban areas, the most deprived census districts were at a higher risk of being hotspots (odds ratio (OR): 10.86, 95% CI: 9.87-11.98 using EDI and OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.04-1.11 using FDep).

IMPACT STATEMENT

We studied cumulative environmental exposures and social deprivation in French census districts. The 2015-2018 period showed the highest overexposure to heat between 2000 and 2018. In 2018, the air quality did not meet the 2021 WHO guidelines in most census districts and 8.6 million people lived in environmental hotspots. Highly socially deprived urban areas had a higher risk of being in a hotspot. This study proposes for the first time, a methodology to identify hotspots of exposure to heat, air pollution, and lack of vegetation and their associations with social deprivation at a national level.

Determining the connectivity of tribal communities to wastewater treatment facilities for use in environmental contamination and exposure assessments by wastewater-based surveillance

BACKGROUND

Limited information is available on the connectivity of Tribal communities to wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs). This is important for understanding current sanitation infrastructure which drives public health and community construction, knowledge of potential routes of exposure through lack of infrastructure and/or discharging facilities, and opportunities to assess community health through wastewater-based surveillance (WBS).

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this work was to assess current wastewater infrastructure for 574 Federally Recognized Indian Tribes (FRITs) in the United States (US) to determine the number and location of facilities on or adjacent to Tribal reservations and Off-Reservation Trust Lands, with the goal of determining the feasibility of employing wastewater-based surveillance within these communities and to identify areas with inadequate sanitation infrastructure.

METHODS

Here, we identified available National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) wastewater discharge permits in the Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Compliance History Online database to assess proximity to and within spatial boundaries of Tribal lands. These data were coupled to race data and tribal spatial boundary information from the US Census Bureau.

RESULTS

94 FRITs have registered NPDES permits within Tribal boundaries including a total of 522 facilities. 210 of these are American Indian (AI)-serving (>50% AI) with the ability to reach 135,000 AI-people through the wastewater network to provide community health assessments via WBS. Of the remaining facilities, 153 predominantly serve non-Tribal populations raising concerns about infrastructure placement and indigenous sovereignty. 523 FRITs were identified as without permitted discharging WWTFs, which may suggest inadequate or alternative infrastructure.

IMPACT STATEMENT

Here, multiple data sources including permit information from the Environmental Protection Agency's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System and US Census Bureau data were used to determine the number of wastewater treatment facilities on or adjacent to Tribal lands and how many community members were connected to those municipal systems. This information was used to assess which Tribal communities may be a viable option for wastewater public health surveillance techniques and were used to answer supplemental questions related to basic sanitation and environmental justice concerns.

Racism as a public health issue in environmental health disparities and environmental justice: working toward solutions

BACKGROUND

Environmental health research in the US has shown that racial and ethnic minorities and members of low-socioeconomic groups, are disproportionately burdened by harmful environmental exposures, in their homes, workplace, and neighborhood environments that impact their overall health and well-being. Systemic racism is a fundamental cause of these disproportionate exposures and associated health effects. To invigorate and inform current efforts on environmental justice and to raise awareness of environmental racism, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) hosted a workshop where community leaders, academic researchers, and NIEHS staff shared perspectives and discussed ways to inform future work to address health disparities.

OBJECTIVES

To share best practices learned and experienced in partnerships between academic researchers and communities that are addressing environmental racism across the US; and to outline critical needs and future actions for NIEHS, other federal agencies, and anyone who is interested in conducting or funding research that addresses environmental racism and advances health equity for all communities.

DISCUSSION

Through this workshop with community leaders and researchers funded by NIEHS, we learned that partnerships between academics and communities hold great promise for addressing environmental racism; however, there are still profound obstacles. To overcome these barriers, translation of research into plain language and health-protective interventions is needed. Structural changes are also needed in current funding mechanisms and training programs across federal agencies. We also learned the importance of leveraging advances in technology to develop creative solutions that can protect public health.

Estimating changes in inequality of ecosystem services provided by green exposure: From a human health perspective

Ecosystem services provided by green spaces are closely related to human health, strongly supporting sustainable urban and territorial development. Urbanization has not only resulted in the reduction of green spaces but has also created inequalities in exposure. Inequitable green exposure creates disparities in residents' access to the ecosystem services provided by green spaces and can lead to significant health inequities. In this context, we first categorized green exposures into active and passive types based on their characteristics. Second, utilizing the benefit transfer method and Gini coefficient, we estimated the value and equity of ecosystem services offered by these green exposures around residences at the municipality level in Japan from 2000 to 2020, with a focus on human health implications. Finally, we explored the potential relationship between socioeconomics and ecosystem service inequity. Our findings reveal that: 1) ecosystem service value per capita and equity provided by green exposure are significantly different across municipalities; 2) although most municipalities show an upward trend in per capita ecosystem service value around residences, ecosystem service inequity increases significantly; and 3) ecosystem service inequity is related to the socioeconomic factors of municipalities and could be non-linear. The results of this study suggest that the government should adopt indicators related to the ecosystem services provided by green exposure during urban planning. While focusing on per-capita ecosystem services, they should also consider the equitable distribution of ecosystem services to promote sustainable urban health development.

Local and traditional knowledge systems, resistance, and socioenvironmental justice

In this essay, for the debate series of Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, I argue against the oversimplified causal argument that the maintenance of local and traditional knowledge systems is related to less advantaged circumstances. This statement is based on a colonialist perspective of what a less advantageous circumstance is, which is being questioned by several authors. It also ignores the struggles and resistance of traditional knowledge holders and the urgent call for socioenvironmental justice. As an ethnobiologist, I argue that we must face this reality to build science with justice and inclusiveness.

Regional and racial/ethnic inequalities in public drinking water fluoride concentrations across the US

BACKGROUND

Although the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers fluoridation of community water systems (CWSs) to be a major public health achievement responsible for reducing dental disease, recent epidemiologic evidence suggests that chronic exposure to population-relevant levels of fluoride may also be associated with adverse child neurodevelopmental outcomes. To our knowledge, a nationally representative database of CWS fluoride concentration estimates that can be readily linked to US epidemiologic cohorts for further study is not publicly available. Our objectives were to evaluate broad regional and sociodemographic inequalities in CWS fluoride concentrations across the US, and to determine if county-level racial/ethnic composition was associated with county-level CWS fluoride.

METHODS

We generated CWS-level (N = 32,495) and population weighted county-level (N = 2152) fluoride concentration estimates using over 250,000 routine compliance monitoring records collected from the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Third Six Year Review (2006-2011). We compared CWS-level fluoride distributions across subgroups including region, population size served, and county sociodemographic characteristics. In county-level spatial error models, we also evaluated geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of CWS fluoride per 10% higher proportion of residents belonging to a given racial/ethnic subgroup.

RESULTS

4.5% of CWSs (serving >2.9 million residents) reported mean 2006-2011 fluoride concentrations ≥1500 µg/L (the World Health Organization's guideline for drinking water quality). Arithmetic mean, 90th, and 95th percentile contaminant concentrations were greatest in CWSs reliant on groundwater, located in the Southwest and Eastern Midwest, and serving Semi-Urban, Hispanic communities. In fully adjusted spatial error models, the GMR (95% CI) of CWS fluoride per a 10% higher proportion of county residents that were Hispanic/Latino was 1.16 (1.10, 1.23).

IMPACT STATEMENT

We find that over 2.9 million US residents are served by public water systems with average fluoride concentrations exceeding the World Health Organization's guidance limit. We also find significant inequalities in community water system fluoride concentration estimates (2006-2011) across the US, especially for Hispanic/Latino communities who also experience elevated arsenic and uranium in regulated public drinking water systems. Our fluoride estimates can be leveraged in future epidemiologic studies to assess the potential association between chronic fluoride exposure and related adverse outcomes.

Local exposure misclassification in national models: relationships with urban infrastructure and demographics

BACKGROUND

National-scale linear regression-based modeling may mischaracterize localized patterns, including hyperlocal peaks and neighborhood- to regional-scale gradients. For studies focused on within-city differences, this mischaracterization poses a risk of exposure misclassification, affecting epidemiological and environmental justice conclusions.

OBJECTIVE

Characterize the difference between intraurban pollution patterns predicted by national-scale land use regression modeling and observation-based estimates within a localized domain and examine the relationship between that difference and urban infrastructure and demographics.

METHODS

We compare highly resolved (0.01 km2) observations of NO2 mixing ratio and ultrafine particle (UFP) count obtained via mobile monitoring with national model predictions in thirteen neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay Area. Grid cell-level divergence between modeled and observed concentrations is termed "localized difference." We use a flexible machine learning modeling technique, Bayesian Additive Regression Trees, to investigate potentially nonlinear relationships between discrepancy between localized difference and known local emission sources as well as census block group racial/ethnic composition.

RESULTS

We find that observed local pollution extremes are not represented by land use regression predictions and that observed UFP count significantly exceeds regression predictions. Machine learning models show significant nonlinear relationships among localized differences between predictions and observations and the density of several types of pollution-related infrastructure (roadways, commercial and industrial operations). In addition, localized difference was greater in areas with higher population density and a lower share of white non-Hispanic residents, indicating that exposure misclassification by national models differs among subpopulations.

IMPACT

Comparing national-scale pollution predictions with hyperlocal observations in the San Francisco Bay Area, we find greater discrepancies near major roadways and food service locations and systematic underestimation of concentrations in neighborhoods with a lower share of non-Hispanic white residents. These findings carry implications for using national-scale models in intraurban epidemiological and environmental justice applications and establish the potential utility of supplementing large-scale estimates with publicly available urban infrastructure and pollution source information.

Environmental exposure disparities in ultrafine particles and PM2.5 by urbanicity and socio-demographics in New York state, 2013-2020

BACKGROUND

The spatiotemporal and demographic disparities in exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP; number concentrations of particulate matter (PM) with diameter ≤0.1 μm), a key subcomponent of fine aerosols (PM2.5; mass concentrations of PM ≤ 2.5 μm), have not been well studied.

OBJECTIVE

To quantify and compare the aerosol pollutant exposure disparities for UFP and PM2.5 by socio-demographic factors in New York State (NYS).

METHODS

Ambient atmospheric UFP and PM2.5 were quantified using a global three-dimensional model of chemical transport with state-of-the-science aerosol microphysical processes validated extensively with observations. We matched these to U.S. census demographic data for varied spatial scales (state, county, county subdivision) and derived population-weighted aerosol exposure estimates. Aerosol exposure disparities for each demographic and socioeconomic (SES) indicator, with a focus on race-ethnicity and income, were quantified for the period 2013-2020.

RESULTS

The average NYS resident was exposed to 4451 #·cm-3 UFP and 7.87 μg·m-3 PM2.5 in 2013-2020, but minority race-ethnicity groups were invariably exposed to greater daily aerosol pollution (UFP: +75.0% & PM2.5: +16.2%). UFP has increased since 2017 and is temporally and seasonally out-of-phase with PM2.5. Race-ethnicity exposure disparities for PM2.5 have declined over time; by -6% from 2013 to 2017 and plateaued thereafter despite its decreasing concentrations. In contrast, these disparities have increased (+12.5-13.5%) for UFP. The aerosol pollution exposure disparities were the highest for low-income minorities and were more amplified for UFP than PM2.5. DISCUSSION: We identified large disparities in aerosol pollution exposure by urbanization level and socio-demographics in NYS residents. Jurisdictions with higher proportions of race-ethnicity minorities, low-income residents, and greater urbanization were disproportionately exposed to higher concentrations of UFP and PM2.5 than other NYS residents. These race-ethnicity exposure disparities were much larger, more disproportionate, and unabating over time for UFP compared to PM2.5 across various income strata and levels of urbanicity.

Disparities in joint exposure to environmental and social stressors in urban households in Greater Boston

OBJECTIVES

Understanding how environmental and social stressors cluster is critical to explaining and addressing health disparities. It remains unclear how these stressors cluster at fine spatial resolution in low to medium-income, urban households. We explored patterns of environmental and social exposures at the household-level and potential predictors of these joint exposures in two environmental justice communities in the Greater Boston area.

METHODS

We recruited 150 households in Chelsea, MA and the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, MA, between 2016 and 2019 and collected data on two domains: environmental and social stressor. For each domain, we fit Latent Class Analysis (LCA) models to exposure data to assess intra-domain variability, and cross-classified the resultant classes to identify joint exposure profiles. We compared differences in the distribution of these profiles by participants' demographic and household characteristics using χ2, Fisher's exact, Analysis of Variance, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

RESULTS

We identified two latent classes in each domain: High environmental (n = 90; 60.4%), Low environmental (n = 59; 39.6%), High Social (n = 31; 20.8%), and Low Social (n = 118; 79.2%). Cross-classification yielded four joint exposure profiles: Both Low (n = 46, 30.9%); Both High (n = 18, 12.1%); High environmental-Low Social (n = 72, 48.3%); and Low environmental-High Social (n = 13, 8.7%). Significant group differences were found by housing type (e.g., single-family vs. multi-family) (Fisher's exact p = 0.0016), housing tenure (p = 0.0007), and study site (p < 0.0001). We also observed differences by race/ethnicity, income, and education: households that were Hispanic/Latinx, below the poverty level, and with lower education were more likely to be in the Both High group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analyses confirmed that environmental and social stressors cluster in socially disadvantaged households. Housing type, housing tenure, and location of the residence were also strong predictors of cluster membership, with renter and multi-family residents at risk of high exposures to environmental and social stressors.

Hormonal Injustice: Environmental Toxicants as Drivers of Endocrine Health Disparities

The toll of multiple endocrine disorders has increased substantially in recent decades, and marginalized populations bear a disproportionate burden of disease. Because of the significant individual and societal impact of these conditions, it is essential to identify and address all modifiable risk factors contributing to these disparities. Abundant evidence now links endocrine dysfunction with exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), with greater exposures to multiple EDCs occurring among vulnerable groups, such as racial/ethnic minorities, those with low incomes, and others with high endocrine disease burdens. Identifying and eliminating EDC exposures is an essential step in achieving endocrine health equity.

Fine particulate matter composition in American Indian vs. Non-American Indian communities

BACKGROUND

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure is a known risk factor for numerous adverse health outcomes, with varying estimates of component-specific effects. Populations with compromised health conditions such as diabetes can be more sensitive to the health impacts of air pollution exposure. Recent trends in PM2.5 in primarily American Indian- (AI-) populated areas examined in previous work declined more gradually compared to the declines observed in the rest of the US. To further investigate components contributing to these findings, we compared trends in concentrations of six PM2.5 components in AI- vs. non-AI-populated counties over time (2000-2017) in the contiguous US.

METHODS

We implemented component-specific linear mixed models to estimate differences in annual county-level concentrations of sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, organic matter, black carbon, and mineral dust from well-validated surface PM2.5 models in AI- vs. non-AI-populated counties, using a multi-criteria approach to classify counties as AI- or non-AI-populated. Models adjusted for population density and median household income. We included interaction terms with calendar year to estimate whether concentration differences in AI- vs. non-AI-populated counties varied over time.

RESULTS

Our final analysis included 3108 counties, with 199 (6.4%) classified as AI-populated. On average across the study period, adjusted concentrations of all six PM2.5 components in AI-populated counties were significantly lower than in non-AI-populated counties. However, component-specific levels in AI- vs. non-AI-populated counties varied over time: sulfate and ammonium levels were significantly lower in AI- vs. non-AI-populated counties before 2011 but higher after 2011 and nitrate levels were consistently lower in AI-populated counties.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates time trend differences of specific components by AI-populated county type. Notably, decreases in sulfate and ammonium may contribute to steeper declines in total PM2.5 in non-AI vs. AI-populated counties. These findings provide potential directives for additional monitoring and regulations of key emissions sources impacting tribal lands.

A health data led approach for assessing potential health benefits of green and blue spaces: Lessons from an Irish case study

Research producing evidence-based information on the health benefits of green and blue spaces often has within its design, the potential for inherent or implicit bias which can unconsciously orient the outcomes of such studies towards preconceived hypothesis. Many studies are situated in proximity to specific or generic green and blue spaces (hence, constituting a green or blue space led approach), others are conducted due to availability of green and blue space data (hence, applying a green or blue space data led approach), while other studies are shaped by particular interests in the association of particular health conditions with presence of, or engagements with green or blue spaces (hence, adopting a health or health status led approach). In order to tackle this bias and develop a more objective research design for studying associations between human health outcomes and green and blue spaces, this paper discussed the features of a methodological framework suitable for that purpose after an initial, year-long, exploratory Irish study. The innovative approach explored by this study (i.e., the health-data led approach) first identifies sample sites with good and poor health outcomes from available health data (using data clustering techniques) before examining the potential role of the presence of, or engagement with green and blue spaces in creating such health outcomes. By doing so, we argue that some of the bias associated with the other three listed methods can be reduced and even eliminated. Finally, we infer that the principles and paradigm adopted by the health data led approach can be applicable and effective in analyzing other sustainability problems beyond associations between human health outcomes and green and blue spaces (e.g., health, energy, food, income, environment and climate inequality and justice etc.). The possibility of this is also discussed within this paper.

Constructing a multi-functional small urban green space network for green space equity in urban built-up areas: A case study of Harbin, China

Ensuring equitable access to green spaces in urban built-up areas is not only vital for fostering environmental justice but also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, there is a noticeable gap in the current body of research regarding the role of small urban green spaces, especially their multifunctionality from an ecosystem services perspective. Taking the urban built-up area of Harbin as an example, this study first applied the Analytic Hierarchy Process to classify the supply and demand of green space into three types. Then, the article further analyzes the potential functional positioning of the newly added green spaces, including ecological and social functions, using Minimum Cumulative Resistance and Point of Interest. Finally, multi-criteria decision models are used to explore the priority and functional positioning of green space and construct a multi-functional and highly-efficient small urban green space network. The results indicate a significant imbalance in green space supply and demand, with severe and medium mismatch areas accounting for 30.17 % and 48.50 %, respectively. By assessing the multifunctionality of small green spaces, we propose guidelines that include five types of areas: Concentrated Development (85.85 km2, 16.94 %), Backup Development (70.74 km2, 14.31 %), Maintenance (304.49 km2, 61.51 %), Protection (14.94 km2, 3.02 %), and Optimization (20.89 km2, 4.22 %). Finally, the article proposes a 277.60 km multifunctional small urban green space network. By examining small urban green spaces, this study crafts a pivotal framework for enhancing green space equity in urban built-up environments, providing valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners. The approach has significant implications for developing multifunctional green networks in varied urban contexts and offers a model for wider application, serving as a reference for achieving green space equity in developing countries globally.

County-level artificial light at night (ALAN) in the contiguous US (2012-2019): spatial variations, temporal trends, and environmental justice analyses

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a growing environmental hazard with economic, ecological, and public health implications. Previous studies suggested a higher burden of light pollution and related adverse effects in disadvantaged communities. It is critical to characterize the geographic distribution and temporal trend of ALAN and identify associated demographic and socioeconomic factors at the population level to lay the foundation for environmental and public health monitoring and policy-making. We used satellite data from the Black Marble suite to characterize ALAN in all counties in contiguous US and reported considerable variations in ALAN spatiotemporal patterns between 2012 and 2019. As expected, ALAN levels were generally higher in metropolitan and coastal areas; however, several rural counties in Texas experienced remarkable increase in ALAN since 2012, while population-level ALAN burden also increased substantially in many metropolitan areas. Importantly, we found that during this period, although the overall ALAN levels in the USA declined modestly, the temporal trend of ALAN varied across areas with different racial/ethnic compositions: counties with a higher percentage of racial/ethnic minority groups, particularly Hispanic populations, exhibited significantly less decline. As a result, the differences in ALAN levels, as measured by the Black Marble product, across racial/ethnic groups became larger between 2012 and 2019. In conclusion, our study documented variations in ALAN spatiotemporal patterns across America and identified multiple population correlates of ALAN patterns that warrant further investigations. Future studies should identify underlying factors (e.g., economic development and decline, urban planning, and transition to newer lighting technologies such as light emitting diodes) that may have contributed to ALAN disparities in the USA.

Aircraft and road traffic noise, insulin resistance, and diabetes: The role of neighborhood socioeconomic status in San Diego County

Evidence linking traffic noise to insulin resistance and diabetes is limited and unanswered questions remain regarding the potential effect modification by neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES). We aimed to assess socioeconomic inequalities in noise exposure, whether road and aircraft noise exposures were associated with insulin resistance or diabetes, and whether nSES modified these relationships. Among the Community of Mine Study in San Diego County, road and aircraft noise exposure at enrollment was calculated based on the static (participant's administrative boundary, and circular buffer around participant homes), and dynamic (mobility data by global positioning system, GPS) spatio-temporal aggregation methods. Associations of noise with insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) or type 2 diabetes (T2DM) were quantified using generalized estimating equation models adjusted for sex, age, ethnicity, individual income, and air pollution (nitrogen dioxide) exposure. Additive interaction between noise and nSES was assessed. Among 573 participants (mean age 58.7 y), participants living in low nSES were exposed to higher levels of aircraft and road noise using noise level at the census tract, circular buffer, or Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) of GPS data. Participants exposed to road noise greater or equal to the median (53 dB(A)) at the census tract and living in low nSES had an increased level of insulin resistance (β = 0.15, 95%CI: -0.04, 0.34) and higher odds of T2DM (Odds Ratio = 2.34, 95%CI: 1.12, 4.90). A positive additive interaction was found as participants living in low nSES had higher odds of T2DM. The impact of noise exposure on insulin resistance and T2DM differs substantially by nSES. Public health benefits of reducing exposure to road or aircraft noise would be larger in individuals living in low nSES.

Assessing awareness and compliance with fish consumption advisories on the upper Hudson River: Implications for risk management of the Hudson River Superfund site

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a common environmental contaminant. The NYS Department of Health (DOH) issues fish consumption advisories to limit consumption of PCB-contaminated fish. Fish consumption advisories are utilized as institutional controls within the Hudson River Superfund site to limit exposure to PCBs. There is a "Do Not Eat" advisory for all species caught in the upper Hudson River, from Glens Falls, NY to Troy, NY. The section of the river below Bakers Falls also has a catch-and-release regulation issued by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. There is limited research on the effectiveness of these advisories in preventing consumption of contaminated fish in the context of Superfund site risk management. We surveyed individuals actively fishing on the upper Hudson River in the area with a "Do Not Eat" advisory, specifically between Hudson Falls and the Federal Dam in Troy, NY. The goal of the survey was to assess knowledge of the consumption guidelines, and if the guidelines are effectively preventing exposure to PCBs. A subset of individuals continue to consume fish caught from the upper Hudson River Superfund site. Awareness of advisories was inversely related to fish consumption from the Superfund site. Age, race, and possession of a fishing license were associated with overall awareness of fish consumption guidelines; age and possession of a license were associated with awareness of the "Do Not Eat" advisory. While institutional controls appear to have a beneficial impact, there is incomplete awareness and compliance with advisories and regulations aimed at preventing exposure to PCBs from fish consumption. Risk assessment and management strategies for contaminated fisheries should consider imperfect adherence to fish consumption guidelines.

The Creation of a Multidomain Neighborhood Environmental Vulnerability Index Across New York City

Compared to previous studies commonly using a single summary score, we aimed to construct a multidomain neighborhood environmental vulnerability index (NEVI) to characterize the magnitude and variability of area-level factors with the potential to modify the association between environmental pollutants and health effects. Using the Toxicological Prioritization Index framework and data from the 2015-2019 U.S. Census American Community Survey and the 2020 CDC PLACES Project, we quantified census tract-level vulnerability overall and in 4 primary domains (demographic, economic, residential, and health status), 24 subdomains, and 54 distinct area-level features for New York City (NYC). Overall and domain-specific indices were calculated by summing standardized feature values within the subdomains and then aggregating and weighting based on the number of features within each subdomain within equally-weighted primary domains. In citywide comparisons, NEVI was correlated with multiple existing indices, including the Neighborhood Deprivation Index (r = 0.91) and Social Vulnerability Index (r = 0.87) but provided additional information on features contributing to vulnerability. Vulnerability varied spatially across NYC, and hierarchical cluster analysis using subdomain scores revealed six patterns of vulnerability across domains: 1) low in all, 2) primarily low except residential, 3) medium in all, 4) high demographic, economic, and residential 5) high economic, residential, and health status, and 6) high demographic, economic and health status. Created using methods that offer flexibility for theory-based construction, NEVI provided detailed vulnerability metrics across domains that can inform targeted research and public health interventions aimed at reducing the health impacts from environmental exposures across urban centers.

Characterizing temporal trends in populations exposed to aircraft noise around U.S. airports: 1995-2015

BACKGROUND

Aircraft noise is a key concern for communities surrounding airports, with increasing evidence for health effects and inequitable distributions of exposure. However, there have been limited national-scale assessments of aircraft noise exposure over time and across noise metrics, limiting evaluation of population exposure patterns.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated national-scale temporal trends in aviation noise exposure by airport characteristics and across racial/ethnic populations in the U.S.

METHODS

Noise contours were modeled for 90 U.S. airports in 5-year intervals between 1995 and 2015 using the Federal Aviation Administration's Aviation Environmental Design Tool. We utilized linear fixed effects models to estimate changes in noise exposure areas for day-night average sound levels (DNL) of 45, 65, and a nighttime equivalent sound level (Lnight) of 45 A-weighted decibels (dB[A]). We used group-based trajectory modeling to identify distinct groups of airports sharing underlying characteristics. We overlaid noise contours and Census tract data from the U.S. Census Bureau and American Community Surveys for 2000 to 2015 to estimate exposure changes overall and by race/ethnicity.

RESULTS

National-scale analyses showed non-monotonic trends in mean exposed areas that peaked in 2000, followed by a 37% decrease from 2005 to 2010 and a subsequent increase in 2015. We identified four distinct trajectory groups of airports sharing latent characteristics related to size and activity patterns. Those populations identifying as minority (e.g., Hispanic/Latino, Black/African American, Asian) experienced higher proportions of exposure relative to their subgroup populations compared to non-Hispanic or White populations across all years, indicating ethnic and racial disparities in airport noise exposure that persist over time.

SIGNIFICANCE

Overall, these data identified differential exposure trends across airports and subpopulations, helping to identify vulnerable communities for aviation noise in the U.S.

IMPACT STATEMENT

We conducted a descriptive analysis of temporal trends in aviation noise exposure in the U.S. at a national level. Using data from 90 U.S. airports over a span of two decades, we characterized the noise exposure trends overall and by airport characteristics, while estimating the numbers of exposed by population demographics to help identify the impact on vulnerable communities who may bear the burden of aircraft noise exposure.

Integrating the social environment with an equity perspective into the exposome paradigm: A new conceptual framework of the Social Exposome

The importance of the social environment and social inequalities in disease etiology is well-known due to the profound research and conceptual framework on social determinants of health. For a long period, in exposome research with its classical orientation towards detrimental health effects of biological, chemical, and physical exposures, this knowledge remained underrepresented. But currently it gains great awareness and calls for innovations in rethinking the role of social environmental health determinants. To fill this gap that exists in terms of the social domain within exposome research, we propose a novel conceptual framework of the Social Exposome, to integrate the social environment in conjunction with the physical environment into the exposome concept. The iterative development process of the Social Exposome was based on a systematic compilation of social exposures in order to achieve a holistic portrayal of the human social environment - including social, psychosocial, socioeconomic, sociodemographic, local, regional, and cultural aspects, at individual and contextual levels. In order to move the Social Exposome beyond a mere compilation of exposures, three core principles are emphasized that underly the interplay of the multitude of exposures: Multidimensionality, Reciprocity, and Timing and continuity. The key focus of the conceptual framework of the Social Exposome is on understanding the underlying mechanisms that translate social exposures into health outcomes. In particular, insights from research on health equity and environmental justice have been incorporated to uncover how social inequalities in health emerge, are maintained, and systematically drive health outcomes. Three transmission pathways are presented: Embodiment, Resilience and Susceptibility or Vulnerability, and Empowerment. The Social Exposome conceptual framework may serve as a strategic map for, both, research and intervention planning, aiming to further explore the impact of the complex social environment and to alter transmission pathways to minimize health risks and health inequalities and to foster equity in health.

Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in relation to environmental justice related variables in Wisconsin, United States

BACKGROUND

The growth of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) has caused significant environmental detriments and raised concerns regarding environmental justice with CAFOs exposure.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined environmental disparities in exposure to CAFOs with several environmental justice related variables and considered exposure intensity.

METHODS

We obtained data on permitted CAFOs (July 2021) from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. We used Census tract level variables from the 2010 Census to evaluate environmental disparities by environmental justice related variables (i.e., percentages of Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic Black, or Hispanic; percentage living below the poverty level; median annual household income; income inequality (Gini index); percentage with education less than high school diploma; racial isolation (RI) for Non-Hispanic Black; and educational isolation (EI) for population without a college degree). We assessed exposure to CAFOs as the sum of animal units (AUs) within each Census tract and investigated exposure disparities by comparing distributions of environmental justice related variables based on CAFO status (i.e., never, expired, or current) and Census tract-level CAFOs exposure intensity categories (i.e., from low exposure (quartile 1) to high exposure (quartile 4)).

RESULTS

CAFOs in Wisconsin were generally located in areas with lower percentages of racial minority persons and high SES communities; however, within the areas with current CAFO exposure, areas with high CAFOs exposure intensity had higher percentages of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic, and lower percentages of non-Hispanic White populations compared to areas with low CAFOs exposure.

IMPACT STATEMENT

This study compared distributions of CAFO exposure and multiple environmental justice related variables and considered exposure intensity based on animal units for CAFOs exposure metric. Although CAFOs in Wisconsin were generally located in areas with lower percentages of racial/ethnic minority subpopulations and high SES communities, we found complex disparities with higher exposure for disadvantaged communities within areas with CAFOs. This work adds to the existing evidence that some populations such as racial/ethnic minority populations may face disproportionate burdens from CAFOs.

Climate Change, Air Quality, and Pulmonary Health Disparities

Climate change will alter environmental risks that influence pulmonary health, including heat, air pollution, and pollen. These exposures disproportionately burden populations already at risk of ill health, including those at vulnerable life stages, with low socioeconomic status, and systematically targeted by oppressive policies. Climate change can exacerbate existing environmental injustices by affecting future exposure, as well as through differentials in the ability to adapt; this is compounded by disparities in rates of underlying disease and access to health care. Climate change is therefore a dire threat not only to individual and population health but also to health equity.

Methods in Public Health Environmental Justice Research: a Scoping Review from 2018 to 2021

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.

Structural and Social Determinants of Inequitable Environmental Exposures in the United States

American Indian (AI)/Alaskan Natives, African Americans, and Latino Americans have disproportionally high exposure to harmful environmental conditions as a consequence of unjust laws and policies, systemic racism, residential segregation, and discrimination. In this review, we draw connections between historical policies and social movements in the United States' history that have been rooted in racism and classism, leading to social isolation and marginalization of AIs, African Americans, and Latino Americans. We then discuss the structural factors that stem from the aforementioned inequities and that contribute to the inequitable distribution of environmental hazards.

"The trauma machine expands faster than our services": Health risks for unhoused people in an early-stage gentrifying area

While homelessness continues to be a prevalent problem throughout the United States, many urban neighborhoods are also concurrently experiencing an influx of affluent neighbors through gentrification, exposing the stark inequalities in housing access nationwide. Gentrification-induced changes in neighborhood dynamics have also been shown to affect the health of low-income and non-white groups, with high risks of trauma from displacement and exposure to violent crime and criminalization. This study addresses risk factors for health among the most vulnerable, unhoused individuals, and provides a detailed case study on the potential exposures to emotional and physical traumas for unhoused people in early-stage gentrifying areas. By conducting 17 semi-structured interviews with people who work with the unhoused community - health providers, nonprofit employees, neighborhood representatives, and developers - in Kensington, Philadelphia, we analyze how early-stage gentrification impacts the risks for negative health consequences among unhoused groups. Results show that gentrification impacts the health of unhoused people in four main areas that, all together, create what we identify as a "trauma machine" - that is compounding traumas for unhoused residents by 1) reducing and compromising spaces of safety from violent crime, 2) decreasing public services, 3) threatening the quality of healthcare, and 4) increasing the likelihood of displacement and associated trauma.

Using environmental health dialogue in a Diné-centered approach for individualized results reporting in an environmental exposure study following the Gold King Mine Spill

BACKGROUND

On August 5, 2015, the Gold King Mine Spill (GKMS) resulted in 3 million gallons of acid mine drainage spilling into the San Juan River impacting the Diné Bikeyah (traditional homelands of the Navajo people). The Gold King Mine Spill Diné Exposure Project was formed to understand the impacts of the GKMS on the Diné (Navajo). Reporting individualized household results in an exposure study is becoming more common; however, materials are often developed with limited community input with knowledge flowing in one direction - from researcher to participant. In this study we examined the development, dissemination, and evaluation of individualized results materials.

METHODS

In August 2016, Navajo Nation Community Health Representatives (Navajo CHRs) sampled household water, dust, and soil, and resident blood and urine for lead and arsenic, respectively. From May-July 2017, iterative dialogue with a wide range of community partners and a community focus groups guided the development of a culturally-based dissemination process. In August 2017, Navajo CHRs reported individualized results and they surveyed the participants on the report-back process at that time.

RESULTS

All of the 63 Diné adults (100%) who participated in the exposure study received their results by a CHR in person and 42 (67%) completed an evaluation. Most of those participants (83%) were satisfied with the result packets. Respondents ranked the individual and overall household results as the most important information they received (69% and 57%, respectively), while information on metals exposures and their health effects were the least helpful.

CONCLUSIONS

Our project illustrates how a model of environmental health dialogue, defined by iterative, multidirectional communication among Indigenous community members, trusted Indigenous leaders, Indigenous researchers, non-Indigenous researchers, can improve reporting individualized study results. Findings can inform future research to encourage multi-directional environmental health dialogue to craft more culturally responsive and effective dissemination and communication materials.

Cardiovascular health and proximity to urban oil drilling in Los Angeles, California

BACKGROUND

Although ~18 million people live within a mile from active oil and gas development (OGD) sites in the United States, epidemiological research on how OGD affects the health of nearby urban residents is sparse. Thousands of OGD sites are spread across Los Angeles (LA) County, California, home to the largest urban oil production in the country. Air pollution and noise from OGD may contribute to cardiovascular morbidity.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the association between proximity to OGD and blood pressure in a diverse cohort of residents in LA.

METHODS

We recruited residents in South LA who lived <1 km from an OGD site. We collected three blood pressure measurements for each participant and used the second and third measurements to calculate averages for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) separately. We conducted multivariable linear regression to examine the relationship between distance to OGD sites and continuous SBP and DBP, adjusting for BMI, smoking status, distance to freeway, sex, age, and use of antihypertension medications, with a random effect for household. We examined effect measure modification by BMI category and smoking category.

RESULTS

Among the 623 adult participants, we found that for every 100 meter increase in distance from the OGD site, DBP was reduced by an average of 0.73 mmHg (95% CI: -1.26, -0.21) in this population. We observed stronger effects of proximity to OGD site on DBP among never smokers and among participants with a healthy BMI. The associations observed between proximity to OGD site and SBP were weaker but followed the same patterns as those for DBP.

IMPACT

Our study suggests that living near urban oil drilling sites is significantly associated with greater diastolic blood pressure in urban Los Angeles communities. This research improves understanding of impacts from living nearby drilling operations on the health and welfare of this community, which is critical to inform public health relevant strategies.

The development and validation of a nationwide dataset of water distribution zones in Aotearoa New Zealand: A cross-sectional geospatial study

The reliable supply of safe drinking water is vital for the health of human populations. Despite this, there is no consistent nationwide spatial dataset of water distribution zones (WDZ) for Aotearoa New Zealand (A-NZ). The purpose of this data article is to describe the development and validation of a consistent nationwide dataset of WDZ across A-NZ. We obtained spatial data from all 67 district and city councils through: 1) information requests between 2021 and 2023; 2) the Ministry of Health and; 3) the Institute of Environmental Science and Research. Data were modified to improve the spatial accuracy of the WDZ using auxiliary data on the building footprints (Land Information New Zealand) and the drinking water reticulation (WSP & councils). We estimated the population served by each WDZ through spatial linking to meshblock-level data provided by Statistics New Zealand (meshblocks are the smallest administrative geographic unit in A-NZ). The dataset will be useful to provide insights into the extent of the publicly-owned drinking water assets in A-NZ and is essential for the accurate exposure assessment in epidemiological research investigating the impact of drinking water quality on human health.

Protecting Children's Environmental Health in a Changing Climate: A Model Collaboration of the Maternal and Child Health Section and the Environment Section of APHA

PURPOSE

The complexities of modern civilization, coupled with challenges including systemic racism and climate change-related impacts, compel public health professionals to break down silos and collaborate towards the shared goals of protecting the wellbeing of current and future generations. This article highlights the growing collaboration between the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and the Environment (ENV) Sections of the American Public Health Association (APHA) as members bring their collective focus to the protection of children's and pregnant people's environmental health.

DESCRIPTION

The MCH Section and the Children's Environmental Health (CEH) Committee of the ENV Section are collaborating on efforts to: inform key stakeholders?including public health and health care professionals, child care professionals, families, and youth?about environmental hazards and climate change impacts to children's and pregnant people's health and wellbeing; and provide tools and guidance about how to best protect these groups and how to advocate for climate action. The CEH Committee embraces a health equity paradigm and intentionally centers environmental, racial, and social justice as integral to effective children's health and climate change initiatives.

ASSESSMENT

Projects to date include multiple joint sessions about children's environmental health and climate change at APHA's annual meetings, publications and various children's environmental health tools and resources, including a toolkit and lesson plan that equips public health professionals to provide guest lectures at their local high schools on climate change and health, and educational materials for caregivers on extreme heat, wildfires, and ticks and mosquitos.

CONCLUSION

This collaboration could serve as a replicable model that can be applied to other interdisciplinary efforts seeking strategic partnerships to address complex health issues.

The health impact of freight transport-related air pollution on vulnerable population groups

Every year, over 364,200 people in Europe die prematurely due to the effects of air pollution, in which the transportation sector plays an important role. In Brussels, freight transport generates €61,604 of air pollution health costs daily. Research has shown that dynamic spatiotemporal modeling of both emission sources and exposed people (using mobile phone data) renders more accurate impact results when analyzed in microenvironments. However, mobile data underrepresent population segments that are more sensitive to the effects of air pollution, such as toddlers, children and elderly individuals. This paper examined the link between vulnerable people aged 0-3, 3-18 and >65 years and freight transport-related air pollution concentrations in the Brussels-Capital Region (BCR). To this end, dynamic tailpipe emissions and their spatiotemporal dispersion were calculated using output from the Transport Agent-Based Model (TRABAM) on a daily basis. Population densities were calculated as a function of the residences' occupancy rate and school/class size and opening hours. The effects of exposure were then evaluated using age- and sex-differentiated exposure-response functions and monetized using local hospital cost factors. Data were compiled for 2021. A strong overlap between people's presence at the institutions' locations was noticed with a peak in (freight) transportation movements in the city. The results showed that €37,000 [€34,517.47-€40,047.13] of freight transport-related air pollution health costs were incurred daily by vulnerable population segments. While these vulnerable groups made up 25.34% of the total BCR population, they incurred 60% [56.03%-65.01%] of the engendered transportation air pollution costs. The results were then geographically analyzed to identify 465 traffic-related air pollution hotspots across the territory, which accounted for €36,000 [€33,677.85-€39,101.31] of total costs. The latter can be used in future studies to assess sector-specific freight transportation policies, which should take into consideration spatiotemporal population densities on the local level.