Article
Environmental Sciences
Lauren Freelander, Benjamin McKenzie, Erica Lehnert, Barry Flanagan, Michel Conn, Gabriele Richardson, Angela K. Werner
Summary: This article introduces the innovative approaches of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) at the CDC to improve community health and environment. ATSDR aims to prevent harmful exposures and diseases related to toxic substances by using cutting-edge science, public health actions, and trusted health information. The column highlights ATSDR's activities and initiatives to understand the impact of hazardous substance exposure on human health and protect public health. The findings and conclusions of the column are solely the authors' and may not reflect the views of the CDC or ATSDR. The team at ATSDR consists of geospatial epidemiologists, social geographers, and senior geospatial analysts.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Devon C. Payne-Sturges, Thurka Sangaramoorthy, Helen Mittmann
Summary: The research found that little progress has been made in advancing US federal policy responses to environmental health impacts, largely due to policymakers' perceived lack of data and analytical tools. Additionally, different frames regarding cumulative impacts as a health issue can lead to conflicts over policy reforms in this area.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lily MacIver, Jonathan London, Natalie Sampson, Margaret Gordon, Richard Grow, Veronica Eady
Summary: This study explores the air quality management processes associated with Assembly Bill 617 in West Oakland, California, and highlights the shift in power relationships between government agencies and communities in addressing environmental injustice. The findings emphasize the importance of investing in community partnerships, respecting community knowledge and data, ensuring community constituents have a say in environmental governance, and adopting explicit racial justice frameworks. AB 617 offers valuable lessons for community and policy organizations nationwide engaged in environmental justice.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Joanna Burger
Summary: This paper discusses the issues of risk communication from the perspective of the community and suggests a transformative approach that emphasizes the importance of community knowledge and cultural traditions.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ruipeng Tong, Boling Zhang
Summary: With the increasing awareness of stressors, cumulative risk assessment (CRA) has been proposed as a potential method to evaluate the additive and synergistic effects of multiple stressors on human health and inform environmental regulation and public health. However, CRA is still in its exploratory stage due to the lack of widely accepted quantitative approaches. This study conducted a systematic literature review and identified the need for developing quantitative approaches and including occupational settings in CRA research.
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ben J. Kefford, Susan J. Nichols, Richard P. Duncan
Summary: Understanding the cumulative effects of multiple stressors on biodiversity is crucial for effective management. Our study found that the impacts of salinity and turbidity on the richness of stream macroinvertebrate families varied depending on the environmental context, showing additive, antagonistic, or synergistic outcomes.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Robert Hunt Sprinkle, Devon C. Payne-Sturges
Summary: Toxicants were traditionally believed to be harmless in low doses, but recent research has shown harm to wildlife, laboratory animals, and humans even at previously considered safe exposures. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States lacked coherent strategies to address these risks, leading to scientifically questionable policies and perpetuating environmental injustice. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences took a more proactive approach in investigating these issues compared to the EPA's regulatory actions.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Joan A. Casey, Lara Cushing, Nicholas Depsky, Rachel Morello-Frosch
Summary: The study investigated methane superemitters in California and found environmental injustice in their locations, with disparities in exposure risk related to race/ethnicity. Policy makers should consider previously unrecognized racial/ethnic disparities in exposure to methane superemitters in their methane emissions policies.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sandra Perez, Catherine German-Labaume, Sebastien Mathiot, Sylvaine Goix, Philippe Chamaret
Summary: The study investigated the potential relationships between air pollution, socio-economy, and proven pathologies within an industrial area in Southern France, highlighting correlations between population exposure to air pollutants and some pathologies. Specific health effects were observed for different pollutants at different concentration levels, while the influence of socio-economic factors on diseases was also revealed. Additionally, a diffuse PCB pollution was observed in the study area which may potentially cause lung cancers.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Curtis D. Davis, Clara Frazier, Nihal Guennouni, Rachael King, Hannah Mast, Emily M. Plunkett, Zack J. Quirk
Summary: Compressor stations maintain pressure along natural gas pipelines while releasing chemical pollutants into the air, posing risks to human health and local communities. We provide policy recommendations to minimize harm and protect affected populations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anna Lunde Hermansson, Ida-Maja Hassellov, Jukka-Pekka Jalkanen, Erik Ytreberg
Summary: Marine environmental risk assessments often overlook the cumulative risk from multiple pollutants and sources. This study used the STEAM and MAMPEC models to estimate contaminant loads and predict environmental concentrations of metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in four ports. The results showed that three out of four ports were found to have unacceptable risk levels, highlighting the importance of considering multiple contaminant sources when assessing shipping-related environmental risks.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Maninder P. S. Thind, Christopher W. Tessum, Julian D. Marshall
Summary: This study quantifies and compares the environmental impacts of inter-regional freight transportation in the contiguous United States, including total mortality attributable to PM2.5 air pollution, racial-ethnic disparities in PM2.5-attributable mortality, and CO2 emissions. The study finds that aircraft has the largest impacts per tonne of freight, while rail has the largest health and health-disparity impacts and the lowest climate impacts among nonaircraft modes. The study also reveals variations in exposure and disparity among racial-ethnic groups in urban versus rural areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ciaran L. Gallagher, Tracey Holloway
Summary: By comparing three decarbonization scenarios using the CO-Benefits Risk Assessment Health Impacts Screening Tool (COBRA), this study explores the impact of decarbonization on air pollution and racial disparities. The results show that carbon-free electricity has the greatest effect on reducing PM2.5 concentrations, while carbon-free industrial activity has a significant impact on the Black population, and carbon-free light duty vehicle (LDV) transportation has the largest effect on Asian populations. The study also highlights the variation in air quality improvement across different regions and the importance of considering equity when designing decarbonization policies.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ioana Tanasa, Marius Cazacu, Brindusa Sluser
Summary: The purpose of this study was to evaluate air quality in four cities in Romania (Brasov, Cluj-Napoca, Iasi, and Timisoara) over the period 2011-2021, focusing on arsenic, carbon monoxide, and PM2.5 as pollutants of interest. Data on pollutant concentrations were collected from public reports by the National Environmental Protection Agency and statistically analyzed to identify air quality trends and assess environmental and health impacts. The results showed high concentrations of PM2.5 in Iasi and significant levels of arsenic pollution in Timisoara, posing major risks to human health.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Helen V. S. Cole, Isabelle Anguelovski, James J. T. Connolly, Melissa Garcia-Lamarca, Carmen Perez-del-Pulgar, Galia Shokry, Margarita Triguero-Mas
Summary: Theories of epidemiologic transition analyze changes in mortality causes due to shifts in risk factors over time. However, they do not consider health inequities resulting from environmental injustice. A study on seven case neighborhoods in the United States and Western Europe found that a history of environmental injustice, urban renewal, and green gentrification have complex impacts on health inequity.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2021)