You are here:
GIS-Mapping and Statistical Analyses to Identify Climate-Vulnerable Communities and Populations Exposed to Superfund Sites
Citation:
Zartarian, V., J. Xue, M. Weber, AND K. Bailey. GIS-Mapping and Statistical Analyses to Identify Climate-Vulnerable Communities and Populations Exposed to Superfund Sites. ISES 2015 Annual Meeting, Henderson, NV, October 18 - 22, 2015.
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division (HEASD) conducts research in support of EPA mission to protect human health and the environment. HEASD research program supports Goal 1 (Clean Air) and Goal 4 (Healthy People) of EPA strategic plan. More specifically, our division conducts research to characterize the movement of pollutants from the source to contact with humans. Our multidisciplinary research program produces Methods, Measurements, and Models to identify relationships between and characterize processes that link source emissions, environmental concentrations, human exposures, and target-tissue dose. The impact of these tools is improved regulatory programs and policies for EPA.
Description:
Climate change-related cumulative health risks are expected to be disproportionately greater for overburdened communities, due to differential proximity and exposures to chemical sources and flood zones. Communities and populations vulnerable to climate change-associated impacts from Superfund sites were identified using GIS mapping and statistical analyses. Databases from U.S. EPA and other Federal Agencies were combined to overlay Superfund sites by elevation, flood zones, and environmental justice related variables. Vulnerable tribal areas were also identified. Additional analyses examined disparities associated with the most vulnerable communities and particular groups based on socioeconomic, racial and ethnic factors, as well as proximity. The national-scale screening level results could be used to identify areas of potential concern, for informing climate resiliency efforts and conducting cumulative exposure and risk assessments. Next steps would include mapping Superfund sites by the types of specific remediation systems most vulnerable to flooding, and understanding the chemicals and key exposure factors related to increased risk of toxic chemical exposure. These findings enhance understanding of climate vulnerability and resiliency indices used in community adaptation and risk mitigation strategies. Such information can enable vulnerable communities to take effective actions to reduce future risks from impacts of flooding, extreme weather, and sea level rise on contaminated sites and waste-storage releases.
