Overview
The environmental justice movement started with protests in Warren County, North Carolina in 1982. A local landfill was designated to accept PCB-contaminated soil, which endangered the local community that was predominantly African American. Continuing this important mission to support justice for North Carolina residents, we used paint to visually demonstrate where communities of color have been disproportionately affected by toxic releases to air. Different types of paint have different levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Oil paint has higher levels of VOCs compared to water-based and acrylic paint. If inhaled in large quantities, VOCs can be harmful to one’s health. Oil paint will be used to emphasize areas in which communities of color have been disproportionately affected by toxic releases.
The study used the EPA’s EJscreen tool for data collection. The air data includes toxicity-weighted concentrations of Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) listed chemicals in air as modeled by the Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) using Geographic Microdata results data on air pathways from 2021. TRI chemicals can cause significant acute or chronic health problems, such as cancer.
This visualization project highlights areas where communities of color have been made to endure unjust exposure to chemicals that are known to have significant adverse health effects in North Carolina. The aim is to spotlight local communities that have long been overlooked and underserved, lacking essential support and advocacy. Furthermore, amidst mounting scrutiny of environmental policies within the political sphere, this project serves to underscore the need for continued action in addressing environmental concerns. It shows that there is a human cost to inaction on environmental pollution, prompting reflection on how these issues can be redressed. The focus of the project is on North Carolina, grounding it in localities that may be familiar.
Definitions
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are organic chemicals that have a high volatility at room temperature, meaning that they exist in a vapor state. Commonly present in building materials, household items, and personal care products, VOCs pose significant health risks when present in high concentrations, particularly within indoor environments. Exposure to these compounds can lead to a spectrum of adverse health effects, including irritation of the nose and mouth, difficulty breathing, and damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Some VOCs have also been known to cause cancer. (US EPA, 2023; American Lung Association, 2024)
Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)
The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program, overseen by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), serves as a vital resource in identifying and monitoring chemicals with profound impacts on human health and the environment. Researchers use this comprehensive database to catalog substances known to induce chronic health conditions, including cancer, as well as those causing significant acute health issues and environmental harm. Currently, the TRI Program encompasses 794 chemicals spanning across 33 distinct categories, offering invaluable insights for informed decision-making and proactive environmental stewardship. (US EPA, 2024)
EJScreen
EJScreen is a tool developed by the US EPA to make a standardized dataset that enables the juxtaposition of demographic and environmental indicators throughout the United States. This data is combined to create an environmental justice index (see below). The tool can identify geographic areas warranting closer inspection for environmental justice concerns, empowering informed decision-making and proactive intervention efforts.
Environmental Justice Index (EJ Index)
The EJ Index is the combination of one environmental factor with a demographic index. The demographic index is calculated by averaging populations of low income and people of color. The EJ index is calculated by multiplying the environmental indicator percentile for a block group (the smallest grouping from the census) by the demographic index for that block group. Thus, it highlights areas that warrant further investigation into whether a population is unjustly exposed to environmental pollution.
Limitations of the Data
While EJScreen is an invaluable screening tool, it has inherent limitations stemming from the nature of its datasets. Despite its utility, EJScreen does not substitute for a comprehensive risk analysis, as it relies on broadly available data. Given its lack of local variables like indoor air quality and specific environmental concerns, EJScreen lacks the precision needed to accurately estimate potential health risks. Consequently, its utility lies primarily in screening and flagging areas meriting more in-depth investigation and analysis.
Another limitation of the tool is that there is a high level of uncertainty in the dataset. The environmental data relies heavily on estimates and modeling, which introduces a significant margin of error, particularly when investigating smaller geographic areas. Similarly, socioeconomic demographic indicators derived from census data suffer from inaccuracies due to underrepresentation and gaps in data collection cycles. The last census was taken in 2020, so demographic shifts have likely occurred in the intermediary time. Therefore, while EJScreen is a valuable initial investigative tool for screening areas warranting closer examination for environmental justice violations, its limitations necessitate complimenting its findings with additional data and analysis for a more comprehensive understanding of potential risk.
Artifact Creation Process
Our map was painted on a blank 8x16 inch pre-stretched canvas. We started with painting the entire canvas light blue watercolor to represent a clear sky. Then, with the help of Rachel and Grace in the EITM Lab, we printed out a North Carolina map template using the Cricut to trace onto the canvas. All paint materials were acquired through Amazon.
Once we finished outlining our map, we located the approximate cities and counties that we pulled reports for and marked these places with oil paint and hand-written labels. Colors that are closer to blue in the ROYGBIV hue sequence, such as purple and green, indicate lower EJ Index percentiles. On the other hand, colors that are further away from blue, such as yellow and red indicate higher percentiles.
After this step, we wanted to add a little more contrast to the artifact which led us to think of turning the background into a sunset as sunsets tend to be associated with positive emotions. Leaving the blue watercolor for the base of North Carolina and its original symbolism, the background was created using a mix of oil paints to reflect tensions between positive images of the sky and realities of how air toxics disproportionately affect communities of color.
References
American Lung Association. (2024, April 11). Volatile Organic Compounds. https://www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air/indoor-air-pollutants/volatile-organic-compounds
Bregman, Anna. 2021. Oil Painting Guide for Beginners. Anna Bregman Portraits.
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Christensen, Ingrid. 2018. Your Paints May Contain Toxic Chemicals. Here’s How to Avoid Harming Yourself and the Environment. Artsy.
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U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: North Carolina. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/NC/PST045223
US Environmental Protection Agency. (2023, August 15). Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Indoor Air Quality [Overviews and Factsheets]. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality
US Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). EJScreen. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/
VonVille, H. (n.d.). LibGuides: The Air We Breathe. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://hsls.libguides.com/air-pollution/toxics-release-inventory