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Environmental Risks in the Southern Central Valley, California

Environmental Risks in the Southern Central Valley, California. A presentation for: Californians for Environmental Justice. By: Dan Williams. The Study Area. South Central Valley: Overview. Total Population: 2,292,197 6 Counties: Kern Fresno Tulare Kings Merced Madera.

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Environmental Risks in the Southern Central Valley, California

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  1. Environmental Risks in theSouthern Central Valley, California A presentation for: Californians for Environmental Justice By: Dan Williams

  2. The Study Area

  3. South Central Valley:Overview • Total Population: 2,292,197 • 6 Counties: • Kern • Fresno • Tulare • Kings • Merced • Madera

  4. South Central Valley:Identifying At-Risk Communities • Goal - Identify risks based on: • Ethnic/Racial Background • Age Group • Geographic Residence • Methodology – Examine relationship between Census Data and 3 Pollution Types: • Ambient Air Quality • Point Source Air Polluters • Ground Water Aquifer Contamination

  5. South Central Valley:Ambient Air Quality • Created weighted air pollution index for each county based on number of Orange, Red and Purple days. • Ranked counties from best (Madera) to worst (Kern). • Identified at-risk age and ethnic/racial groups based on demographic distribution between counties.

  6. South Central Valley:Ambient Air Quality

  7. South Central Valley:Demographic Characteristics

  8. South Central Valley:Ambient Air Quality--Conclusions • No significant relationship between county demographics and air pollution rankings • Residents do not choose their home location based mainly on the county, but rather the specific neighborhood or area. • County-level comparisons are insufficient, as air level qualities are certain to differ throughout the county. • Need to compare smaller units of analysis, such as Census blocks.

  9. South Central Valley:Air Pollution Sources and Age/Ethnic Distribution-- Study Methodology • Data:Census 2000 demographics by Blocks • Impact area: a 25 km buffer around major air polluters, defined by the EPA. • Identified at-risk age and ethnic/racial groups based on demographic distribution in relation to impact area.

  10. South Central Valley:Air Pollution Sources and Ethnic Distribution

  11. Point Source Emitters: Racial/Ethnic Groups at Risk • 75.3% of population (1,726,024) lives within 25 km of a major air pollution point source. • The percentage of Asians and Blacks living within the impact area is higher than other ethnic and racial groups in the impact area.

  12. Point Source Emitters: Age Groups at Risk • The age distribution within the impact area shows that the largest single proportion of residents are in the youngest age category (ages 0-17)—among the age groups most likely to be affected by poor air quality.

  13. South Central Valley:Air Pollution Sources and Ethnic Distribution • In general, the proportions of Asians and Blacks within the impact area are higher than outside. • The proportion of Whites, however, is higher outside the impact area than inside.

  14. South Central Valley:Air Pollution Sources and Age/Ethnic Distribution--Conclusions • A very high percentage (75.3%) of all residents live within 25 kilometers of a major air pollution source. • Asians, Blacks, and children are slightly more likely than other groups to live within these areas near sources of air pollution.

  15. South Central Valley: Well Water Pollution and Age/Ethnic Distribution– Study Methodology • Data:Census 2000 demographics by Blocks • Defined impact area: a 10 km buffer around polluted wells, according to the EPA. • Identified at-risk age and ethnic/racial groups based on demographic distribution in relation to impact area.

  16. Polluted Well Water:Ethnic/Racial Groups at Risk • 91.4% of population (2,095,348) lives within 10 km of a polluted water well. • Asians and Blacks have a higher percentage living in these areas.

  17. South Central Valley:Polluted Well Water and Ethnic Distribution

  18. Polluted Well Water:Age Groups at Risk • The largest age group of residents within the impact area is also children— 679,020 persons aged 0-17 live within 10 km of a polluted well.

  19. South Central Valley:Well Water Pollution and Ethnic Distribution • In general, the proportion of Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, and ‘Other’ within the impact area is higher than outside. • However, the proportion of Whites are higher outside the impact area than inside.

  20. South Central Valley: Identification of Highest Risk Block Groups– Methodology • Combined air pollution impact areas with well water pollution impact areas • Selected only Census blocks in both impact areas, in order to identify regions most affected by pollution

  21. South Central Valley: Highest Risk Block Groups

  22. South Central Valley Pollution Study:Final Conclusions • Urban centers are most impacted by air and water pollution • Asians and Blacks are slightly over-represented as residents in polluted areas • Among age cohorts, children are over-represented in areas impacted by pollution • Overall, Hispanics consist of 43.5% of those residents in the highest risk block groups. • 1,665,969 S. Central Valley residents (72.7%) live in the highest risk block groups

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