University of North Carolina
Menaka
Mohan
University of North Carolina
Proportion of low-income black householders compared to low-income white householders within a one mile radius of chemical facilities within Cancer Alley
mmohan81SPAMFILTER@gmail.com
Louisiana is home to 25% of the nation’s chemical facilities and dumps more of its waste into the Mississippi River than any other state in the United States.(1) The Mississippi River Corridor is also one the most polluted waterways, collecting nearly one-half of all the toxic pollutants dumped in the United States.1 The 85 mile segment between Baton Rouge and New Orleans hosts 127 chemical plants and has been named Cancer Alley due to the higher prevalence of cancer rates in this part of the county as compared to the rest of the state and as a result of reporting by residents within the corridor. (2)
In addition to the number of chemical plants located in Louisiana, it is important to note who is living by these facilities. In the United States, the environmental protection movement and the civil rights movement merged to identify who was being affected by pollution from chemical and waste facilities, where they were located, and if they were facing a higher proportion of pollution impacts than the rest of the population.(2) It is widely accepted that communities along Cancer Alley struggle with environmental injustice due to the disproportionate number of chemical plants. (1,2,4) Given the literature, I wanted to explore the spatial relationship between the chemical plant facilities, race, income, and health.
I definied my buffer as a one mile radius surrounding the plant locations. My results included:
• Out of 338 facilities, 128 were located in the corridor 37.9%.
•59.5% of the population living within the buffer is at least 50% black
•51.1% of households living within the buffer earn less than $16,700, the federal poverty level in 1999
•50.1% of black households living within the buffer earn between $15,000 and $19,999
Data Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau 2000
Environmental Protection Agency, Toxic Release Inventory, 2009
Mapmaker: Menaka Mohan
Date: 4/25/11
References
(1) Marshall BK. Gender, Race, and Perceived Environmental Risk: The" White Male" Effect in Cancer Alley, LA. SOCIOLOGICAL SPECTRUM. 2004;24(4):453-478.
(2) Blodgett AD. An analysis of pollution and community advocacy in ‘cancer alley’: Setting an example for the environmental justice movement in St James Parish, Louisiana. Local Environ. 2006;11(6):647-661.
(3) Environmental Protection Agency. Environmental Justice. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/. Accessed 4/25, 2011.
(4) Allen BL. Cradle of a Revolution? The Industrial Transformation of Louisiana's Lower Mississippi River. Technology and culture 2006;47(1):112-119.
In addition to the number of chemical plants located in Louisiana, it is important to note who is living by these facilities. In the United States, the environmental protection movement and the civil rights movement merged to identify who was being affected by pollution from chemical and waste facilities, where they were located, and if they were facing a higher proportion of pollution impacts than the rest of the population.(2) It is widely accepted that communities along Cancer Alley struggle with environmental injustice due to the disproportionate number of chemical plants. (1,2,4) Given the literature, I wanted to explore the spatial relationship between the chemical plant facilities, race, income, and health.
I definied my buffer as a one mile radius surrounding the plant locations. My results included:
• Out of 338 facilities, 128 were located in the corridor 37.9%.
•59.5% of the population living within the buffer is at least 50% black
•51.1% of households living within the buffer earn less than $16,700, the federal poverty level in 1999
•50.1% of black households living within the buffer earn between $15,000 and $19,999
Data Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau 2000
Environmental Protection Agency, Toxic Release Inventory, 2009
Mapmaker: Menaka Mohan
Date: 4/25/11
References
(1) Marshall BK. Gender, Race, and Perceived Environmental Risk: The" White Male" Effect in Cancer Alley, LA. SOCIOLOGICAL SPECTRUM. 2004;24(4):453-478.
(2) Blodgett AD. An analysis of pollution and community advocacy in ‘cancer alley’: Setting an example for the environmental justice movement in St James Parish, Louisiana. Local Environ. 2006;11(6):647-661.
(3) Environmental Protection Agency. Environmental Justice. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/. Accessed 4/25, 2011.
(4) Allen BL. Cradle of a Revolution? The Industrial Transformation of Louisiana's Lower Mississippi River. Technology and culture 2006;47(1):112-119.
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