Addressing Service Gaps in the EPA’s Superfund Program Process: Arsenic & Lead Soil Concentrations External to the 35th Avenue Superfund Site Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

Introduction:

The use of quantitative and technological methods to assess, classify and remediate Superfund Sites may propagate service gaps and perpetuate an elite technocracy that deprioritizes lay observations. The use of qualitative methods in the EPA’s Superfund process has a well-documented history demonstrating its insufficiencies that have influenced mistrust from fenceline communities. These communities present their lived experiences of being victims of environmental injustice yet are not venerated or validated until technical agencies quantify their qualitative observations. When assessing Superfund Sites borne of pollution from industrial processes, community voices play a key role and have optimal potential to clearly define the extent of the contamination and the associated health outcomes. Previous research demonstrates that without those voices, the assessment and remediation process may exacerbate negative health outcomes associated with pollution.     

 

The 35th Avenue Superfund Site is composed of three neighborhoods and has recently expanded. Interviews with residents in the North Birmingham neighborhood, which is adjacent to the Site boundary, demonstrate longstanding concerns about pollution events and adverse health outcomes. However, there is no documented evidence of an exploration of contamination in this neighborhood in response to community concerns.

 

Methods:

This research looked to venerate lay observations of community members by assessing the association of soil concentrations of toxic heavy metals and metalloids (HMM) in this neighborhood in comparison to the 35th Avenue Superfund Site. A nonparametric Wilcoxon Rank Sum (WRS) test was used to assess this association.    

 

Results & Discussion

Findings of the analysis demonstrate no difference in HMM concentrations, suggesting a likely contamination issue in the North Birmingham neighborhood. As such, it may be necessary to reassess soil concentrations in this neighborhood for possible inclusion in the existing site boundary in tandem with assessing lay observations of the contamination issue. 

Table of Contents

Part I: Introduction & Background.................................................................................................. 1

Creation & History of Superfund Sites............................................................................................. 1

Classification Process of Superfund Sites......................................................................................... 2

Service Gaps & Negative Health Outcomes...................................................................................... 5

Part II: Research Question.............................................................................................................. 6

The 35th Avenue Superfund Site..................................................................................................... 6

Part III: Literature Review.............................................................................................................. 9

Popular Epidemiology.................................................................................................................... 9

History of Injustices...................................................................................................................... 11

Environmental Racism.................................................................................................................. 12

The 35th Avenue Superfund Site.................................................................................................... 14

Soil Sampling............................................................................................................................... 18

PART IV: Methods & Analysis....................................................................................................... 18

Field Sampling............................................................................................................................. 19

Part V: Analysis & Results............................................................................................................ 20

Part VI: Discussion, Limitations, & Recommendations.................................................................... 21

Implications................................................................................................................................. 22

Limitations................................................................................................................................... 22

Part VII: Conclusion...................................................................................................................... 23

References.................................................................................................................................... 24

Tables & Figures............................................................................................................................ 33

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Environmental Health
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Environmental Health Sociology, Environmental Justice Agriculture, Soil Science
Keyword	popular epidemiology social movement health cancer risk soil Industrial Revolution Superfund EPA toxics oppression elite technocracy heavy metals CERCLA environmental racism New South pollution environmental injustice environmental justice built environment waste public health
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Dana Barr, Emory University

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