Demographic inequities and cumulative environmental burdens within communities near superfund sites on Long Island, New York

Abstract

Nassau and Suffolk Counties of Long Island, New York are densely populated and contain 34 federally-designated and 449 state-designated Superfund sites, potentially exposing communities to toxic releases. We conducted a distributive justice analysis assessing proximity to Superfund sites, community socio-demographics, and other environmental burdens. Socio-demographic and environmental variables for 665 census tracts were obtained from the United States Census and Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool. Hierarchical Bayesian spatial Poisson regression models evaluated the relationship between socio-demographic and environmental variables and counts of Superfund sites per census tract. Analyses were further stratified by county and site type (Federal versus State). A 10% increase in low-income residents was associated with a 47% increase in Superfund sites (Risk Ratio [RR]: 1.47; 95% credible interval (CI): 1.20–1.81). A 10% increase in Hispanic/Latino residents was associated with a 20% increase (RR: 1.20; 95%CI: 1.02–1.42). Higher PM_2.5 concentrations (RR:1.64, 95% CI: 1.09–2.48), higher toxic air releases (RR: 1.27, 95%CI: 1.03–1.61), and greater proximity to underground gas storage tanks (RR: 1.27, 95%CI: 1.09–1.48) were associated with increases in Superfund counts. Stratified analyses revealed that low-income residents are concentrated near state not federal Superfund sites. County stratification found that only Suffolk County residents near Superfund sites have increased lead exposure potential, and Black residents in Suffolk (not Nassau) were more likely to live near Superfund sites. We observed localized distributive inequities in community demographics near Superfund sites on Long Island, and communities near Superfund sites are more likely to experience other environmental burdens.