Toxic Releases from Facilities

The Toxic Releases from Facilities indicator measures the proportion of a neighborhood population in close proximity to industrial facilities that release toxic emissions. Toxic pollution poses health risks to over 100 million people, particularly children, in low- and middle-income countries. In addition, to chemical waste, unwanted electronic e-waste (televisions, computer screens and cell phones) gear is rising in toxic piles. Exposure to these pollutants can cause increased cardiovascular disease, respiratory effects such as asthma, decreased neurological function, cancer and a range of other adverse health effects. Listed under the Environmental Hazards domain, this indicator also impacts the Economic Health, Housing, Natural Areas, Educational Opportunities, Employment Opportunities, and Neighborhood Characteristics domains. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides annual emissions data for all major stationary sources of air pollution through the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI).

Neighborhoodsort descending Indicator Value Rank
Acipco-Finley 100.0% 75
Airport Highlands 22.0% 16
Apple Valley 2.3% 11
Arlington - West End 76.5% 49
Belview Heights 65.1% 33
Bridlewood 0.0% 1
Brown Springs 9.2% 13
Brownsville Heights 7.7% 12
Brummitt Heights 29.4% 20
Bush Hills 67.4% 36
Central City 100.0% 75
Central Park 84.2% 57
Central Pratt 74.3% 47
College Hills 85.5% 62
Collegeville 100.0% 75
Crestline 71.1% 42
Crestwood North 67.7% 37
Crestwood South 34.2% 22
Dolomite 56.8% 29
Druid Hills 100.0% 75
East Avondale 90.6% 65
East Birmingham 100.0% 75
East Brownville 77.5% 51
East Lake 54.4% 28
East Thomas 100.0% 75
Eastwood 84.8% 59
Echo Highlands 65.2% 34
Enon Ridge 97.5% 72
Ensley 84.6% 58
Ensley Highlands 75.4% 48
Evergreen 100.0% 75
Fairmont 72.8% 43
Fairview 85.4% 61
Five Points South 98.5% 74
Forest Park 90.1% 63
Fountain Heights 100.0% 75
Garden Highlands 100.0% 75
Gate City 0.0% 1
Germania Park 60.2% 30
Glen Iris 70.0% 41
Grasselli Heights 83.3% 56
Graymont 100.0% 75
Green Acres 20.7% 15
Harriman Park 100.0% 75
Highland Park 97.0% 70
Hillman 100.0% 75
Hillman Park 100.0% 75
Hooper City 69.3% 40
Huffman 26.8% 18
Industrial Center 100.0% 75
Inglenook 100.0% 75
Jones Valley 90.4% 64
Killough Springs 0.0% 1
Kingston 100.0% 75
Liberty Highlands 68.1% 38
Maple Grove 95.2% 68
Mason City 95.5% 69
North Avondale 100.0% 75
North Birmingham 92.9% 67
North East Lake 65.7% 35
North Pratt 54.2% 27
North Titusville 100.0% 75
Norwood 100.0% 75
Oak Ridge 0.0% 1
Oak Ridge Park 0.1% 9
Oakwood Place 81.5% 54
Overton 73.5% 45
Oxmoor 73.0% 44
Penfield Park 0.0% 1
Pine Knoll Vista 42.1% 24
Powderly 77.1% 50
Redmont Park 39.1% 23
Riley 100.0% 75
Rising - West Princeton 84.9% 60
Roebuck 17.5% 14
Roebuck Springs 42.9% 25
Roosevelt 22.5% 17
Sandusky 1.2% 10
Sherman Heights 42.9% 25
Smithfield 100.0% 75
Smithfield Estates 64.2% 32
South East Lake 28.2% 19
South Pratt 100.0% 75
South Titusville 98.2% 73
South Woodlawn 0.0% 1
Southside 100.0% 75
Spring Lake 0.0% 1
Sun Valley 62.7% 31
Tarpley City 68.8% 39
Thomas 30.9% 21
Tuxedo 100.0% 75
Wahouma 80.4% 53
West Brownville 92.2% 66
West End Manor 74.0% 46
West Goldwire 100.0% 75
Woodland Park 79.6% 52
Woodlawn 82.2% 55
Wylam 97.3% 71
Zion City 0.0% 1

Key Citations:
1. Brunekreef B, Holgate ST. (2002) Air pollution and health. Lancet Oct 19; 360(9341):1233-42. Review. PubMed PMID: 12401268. Available at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12401
2. U.S. EPA (2011) An Overview of Methods for EPA’s National-Scale Air Toxics Assessments. United States Environmental Protection Agency. January 2011. Available at: www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/nata2005/05pdf/nata_tmd.pdf
3. U.S. EPA (2012) User’s Manual for RSEI Model Version 2.3.1. Available at: www.epa.gov/opptintr/rsei/pubs/rsei_users_manual_v2.3.1.pdf
4. California Environmental Protection Agency (2013) California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool, Version 1 (CalEnviroScreen 1.0): Guidance and Screening Tool, April 2013. Available at: http://oehha.ca.gov/ej/ces042313.html
5. United States Code, Title 42, Chapter 85, Air Pollution Prevention and Control. Available at: http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title42/chapter85&edition=prelim
6. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/19/us/disposal-of-older-monitors-leaves-a...